I'm helping rebuild a co-workers computer after it was completely fried during a lightning storm a couple of weeks ago. He asked me if it was possible if the surge could have came through his modem, then through his network cable and fried the system? He has a good surge protector that everything was plugged into (i.e. computer, monitor, speakers) but the only thing that got fried was the computer, and the only thing that was plugged into his computer and not into the surge protector was his network cable. I honestly have no idea, so I thought I'd ask around...
Is it possible for a power surge to come through your ethernet cable...
- Thread starter NathanBWF
- Start date
I wouldn't think so... your network cable isn't really plugged into anything that would get hit and flow it down the line...
You can get zapped through phone line though if he has a modem.
You can get zapped through phone line though if he has a modem.
Originally posted by: MCrusty
How do they send data across the cable then?
im talking actaul voltage like USB ports do.
Yes you can have a fryage through your Cat 5 cables. Why do some surge protectors offer Ethernet ports. I have co-axial, telephone and cat5 ports on my surge protector (of course in addition to power ports)
My cousin's computer got fried during a lightning storm under similar circumstances.
He also has a surge protector and his computer was not connected to a phone line. I'm almost certain that it was a surge through the cable line to the modem and router that killed his because a television that was also connected to the cable line was fried during the same lightning storm.
Since that was the only unprotected line going into his computer, and because of the simultaneously fried TV, I'm inclined to believe that it;s indeed possible that a power surge through the ethernet cable can fry your computer.
He also has a surge protector and his computer was not connected to a phone line. I'm almost certain that it was a surge through the cable line to the modem and router that killed his because a television that was also connected to the cable line was fried during the same lightning storm.
Since that was the only unprotected line going into his computer, and because of the simultaneously fried TV, I'm inclined to believe that it;s indeed possible that a power surge through the ethernet cable can fry your computer.
Crusty
Lifer
- Sep 30, 2001
- 12,684
- 2
- 81
http://www.citap.com/documents/tcp-ip/tcpip021.htm
Perhaps that will help clear up some mis-information
Perhaps that will help clear up some mis-information
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
How do they send data across the cable then?
im talking actaul voltage like USB ports do.
V = IR
Voltage = Current * Resistance
You can't have current without voltage
me and my stupid varying terms.
im trying to say I don't think they have enough power to do stuff like usb does, and usb can fry stuff
Crusty
Lifer
- Sep 30, 2001
- 12,684
- 2
- 81
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
How do they send data across the cable then?
im talking actaul voltage like USB ports do.
V = IR
Voltage = Current * Resistance
You can't have current without voltage
me and my stupid varying terms.
im trying to say I don't think they have enough power to do stuff like usb does, and usb can fry stuff
But we don't care what kind of power the cables carry during normal usage, we care about what the hell is going through them when lightning strikes... and that's ALOT. It doesn't matter what something is used for. Lightning will follow the path of least resistance, if that so happens to be your ethernet cable then tough luck.
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
How do they send data across the cable then?
im talking actaul voltage like USB ports do.
V = IR
Voltage = Current * Resistance
You can't have current without voltage
me and my stupid varying terms.
im trying to say I don't think they have enough power to do stuff like usb does, and usb can fry stuff
But we don't care what kind of power the cables carry during normal usage, we care about what the hell is going through them when lightning strikes... and that's ALOT. It doesn't matter what something is used for. Lightning will follow the path of least resistance, if that so happens to be your ethernet cable then tough luck.
how can the power get to your ethernet cable?
Dunno how. It seems to like going through the cable line to a cable modem. From there it can get to your computer. It CAN happen. See my earlier post.
Crusty
Lifer
- Sep 30, 2001
- 12,684
- 2
- 81
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
How do they send data across the cable then?
im talking actaul voltage like USB ports do.
V = IR
Voltage = Current * Resistance
You can't have current without voltage
me and my stupid varying terms.
im trying to say I don't think they have enough power to do stuff like usb does, and usb can fry stuff
But we don't care what kind of power the cables carry during normal usage, we care about what the hell is going through them when lightning strikes... and that's ALOT. It doesn't matter what something is used for. Lightning will follow the path of least resistance, if that so happens to be your ethernet cable then tough luck.
how can the power get to your ethernet cable?
The same way it comes in through a phone line. it just has to go through a modem/router/switch or whatever else. I've lost a modem/router/switch in a lightning storm before. It comes in through you cable line/phone line and trashes everything in it's path.
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
Originally posted by: MCrusty
How do they send data across the cable then?
im talking actaul voltage like USB ports do.
V = IR
Voltage = Current * Resistance
You can't have current without voltage
me and my stupid varying terms.
im trying to say I don't think they have enough power to do stuff like usb does, and usb can fry stuff
But we don't care what kind of power the cables carry during normal usage, we care about what the hell is going through them when lightning strikes... and that's ALOT. It doesn't matter what something is used for. Lightning will follow the path of least resistance, if that so happens to be your ethernet cable then tough luck.
how can the power get to your ethernet cable?
The same way it comes in through a phone line. it just has to go through a modem/router/switch or whatever else. I've lost a modem/router/switch in a lightning storm before. It comes in through you cable line/phone line and trashes everything in it's path.
ah, okay. just wanted to know if I should do anything becasue it has never happened to me .
Fern
Elite Member
- Sep 30, 2003
- 26,907
- 174
- 106
I worked with a tech company for some years that specialized in lightning protection etc.
Surge protectors work only ONCE. There is no way to attach, say, a diode to use as an indicator when it has been "used up".
It is entirely possible that a previous electrical storm has rendered his surge protector useless now. Nor is there any way to test. To long to explain here, but the surge protection market is really nothing more than a vehicle to sell insurance. Now a UPS system/unit has merits beyond any surge protection aspect. However, it's "surge protection" aspect suffers from the same limitations as a regular surge protector
Yes, RJ45 etc CAN carry electrical surges from lightning.
Fern
Crusty
Lifer
- Sep 30, 2001
- 12,684
- 2
- 81
I find this hard to believe. I have a UPS that I use 24/7/365 for a few years now. I have monitoring software that will tell me the input voltage/current and the output voltage/current.
I get power surges all the time, and my UPS still put outs a constant signal.
Any links to back up your information?
3com has that stuff too.. got them at home.. little network jack with power..
expensive but kinda cool..
Jeff7
Lifer
- Jan 4, 2001
- 41,596
- 19
- 81
If it's a conductor connected to something that is plugged into the wall, it can carry a power surge. Doesn't matter if it carries a lot of power normally or not, it's still conductive.
Just as if you are standing in a swimming pool (very well grounded object) and you touch an outlet - it doesn't matter if you aren't "meant" to carry current or not. You're going to anyway.
This is also why when scientists are launching small rockets with wires attached to produce lightning strikes, they use either fiber optics or an air hose to produce a charge at the launch site to ignite the engine. If they use a wire of any kind, some power will flow through it and fry their equipment.
Lightning also does not behave as many might think - ok, it hit the ground, it's not going to go anywhere else, right? Nope. As in the above example - sure, the bolt has hit the ground, why go to the trouble of flowing along another conductor? The wire will have less resistance than the ground, so some power takes that route. It's damn powerful stuff too - we're used to dealing with small amounts of power. A blast of a few thousand amps and volts will behave slightly differently than 15 amps of 120VAC.
Just as if you are standing in a swimming pool (very well grounded object) and you touch an outlet - it doesn't matter if you aren't "meant" to carry current or not. You're going to anyway.
This is also why when scientists are launching small rockets with wires attached to produce lightning strikes, they use either fiber optics or an air hose to produce a charge at the launch site to ignite the engine. If they use a wire of any kind, some power will flow through it and fry their equipment.
Lightning also does not behave as many might think - ok, it hit the ground, it's not going to go anywhere else, right? Nope. As in the above example - sure, the bolt has hit the ground, why go to the trouble of flowing along another conductor? The wire will have less resistance than the ground, so some power takes that route. It's damn powerful stuff too - we're used to dealing with small amounts of power. A blast of a few thousand amps and volts will behave slightly differently than 15 amps of 120VAC.
Ok, so let's say I buy a surge protector that has power, cat5, and coax ports.
If I plug my TV into the protector with power and coax, and the cable from the wall into the protector I should be protected.
My apartment is wired with cat5, so I have a cat5 jack in my room. If I connect that cat5 from the wall jack to the surge protector, and then have cat5 from the protector to my router, all of my computers should be protected from cat5 surges since the surge can only originate from the wall jack right?
So if I have my computer on the other side of the room, plugged into another surge protector but still connected to my router, I'd still be protected correct?
I may just order a strip that'll cover all the bases...
If I plug my TV into the protector with power and coax, and the cable from the wall into the protector I should be protected.
My apartment is wired with cat5, so I have a cat5 jack in my room. If I connect that cat5 from the wall jack to the surge protector, and then have cat5 from the protector to my router, all of my computers should be protected from cat5 surges since the surge can only originate from the wall jack right?
So if I have my computer on the other side of the room, plugged into another surge protector but still connected to my router, I'd still be protected correct?
I may just order a strip that'll cover all the bases...
Fern
Elite Member
- Sep 30, 2003
- 26,907
- 174
- 106
No, I don't have any links and am too lazy to try to find some.
This info comes from actual field work with scientist, Universities (mostly NV State) etc.
It's been about five years, so I'll do my best to remember.
The original and current surge protector technolgy was invented by a group working for G.E. (IIRC) many years ago. I did have the opportunity to speak with some of that original team ( I believe some has passed away). I negiotiated and obtained the rights to acquire their developing new technology (they had long since left GE) for the company I was working with. Their work was effort to overcome the shortcoming I mentioned above. Specifically, to put in a diode to warn when the resistor (or whatever it's called) had expired/burned out, and to be able to remove and replace it.
I ceased work with that company around 2000-2001. The name of that compamy was "Consumer Lightning Protection", one of their many patents dealing with lightning was "lightning retardant cable". I believe you can google and find it.
I also negotiated with AIG (very large, if not largest insurance company) for the insurance CLP packaged with their products. It's widely know in the industry that surge protectors are really just vehicles for selling insurance. You'll note when you purchase any of these type products there is a card included with the product that MUST be sent for the insurance company.
The card goes to insurance company processing facility which bills back to the surge protector company to pay for the insurance, If you buy the product and fail to complete the card, you have NO insurance ( & enhanced profit for the suge protector company as they then don't have to pay).
As to why in your case the unit seems OK after experiencing surges, I don't believe it's a matter input/output readings. Rather whether there is still protection. No software or other means can test whether your lightning surge protector is still "active". That was an original problem with the tech to begin with.
Hope that helps,
Fern
kitkat22
Golden Member
- Feb 10, 2005
- 1,464
- 1,332
- 136
I don't remember any card with my surge protector. The surge protector came in a box that only wrapped the protector, no card or installation instructions for that matter yet it said there was some outragious coverage for all connected devices. Did I miss something?
Crusty
Lifer
- Sep 30, 2001
- 12,684
- 2
- 81
But if the software is still reporting constant signals then afaik the surge system in my UPS is still completely functional. If I see a voltage spike go up to say 600VAC my UPS might say 112VAC on the output, but 90% of the time it sits constant. But if one of those spikes causes my surge protection to stop working.... why does it still work?
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 19K
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter