Low Surge Energy Rating even for expensive Smart Online UPS's ... Why ?

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

If a surge protector is burned out by a surge, then first, it did not provide protection. And second, it was grossly undersized.

Protectors adjacent to appliances must somehow block that surge or absorb its energy. So power strips and UPS are rated in joules. A problem when a protector (ie UPS) has near zero joules. Meanwhile another, different, and effective solution is rated in amperes. Since a lighting strike is typicaly 20,000 amps, then a minimal 'whole house' protector (to protect downstrem SPDs) is 50,000 amps. An effective protector must not fail even with direct lighting strikes. This proven solution should remain functional for decades.

Nothing new here. Effective protection as done even 100 years ago. That IEEE article is specific as to why earthing the SPD (whole house protector) is essential. To even protect near zero joules in a UPS.

But the most important thing, is that we are talking about an UPS device, whose main/primary purpose is NOT to act as a surge protector.
Laws/regulations permitting, they are entitled to sell UPS with minimalistic or even no, surge protection whatsoever.

Any surge protection they offer, is merely a bonus, on top of the UPS capabilities.

It should be fine for the user manual to tell the users, that they can get proper/powerful external (to the UPS) surge protector(s) if they want and if they are needed.

But I agree that the limited capability surge protection offered in the OP, may fool some users, into a false sense of security. Leading them to incorrectly fail to also buy adequate surge protectors. So there could be an issue there.
But all or much of the responsibility still really falls on the users.

As the reference(s) I provide earlier say, the Joules ratings are NOT a good way of comparing surge protection capabilities.

 

[westom]

Any surge protection they offer, is merely a bonus, on top of the UPS capabilities.

Depends on which of so many 'surges' we are discussing. Some surge protectors adjacent to appliances can even make surge damage easier.

OP asked why a smallest of joules is in a UPS. Near zero surge protection can be *subjectively* called complete surge protection when so many consumers routinely ignore all numbers.

Meanwhile, most UPSes connect a surge directly to attached appliance. A relay can only disconnect an AC mains surge after maybe 300 consecutive surges exist. A UPS's ability to disconnect a surge from attached appliances only exists, again, because so many layman ignore numbers.

Effective protection mean this question is answered. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? If that question cannot be answered, then effective protection does not exist - is often an urban myth. Even a protector must not be damaged by typically destructive surges. Lightning is the example used here to summarize what an effective protection 'system' must do.

Joules measures protector parts (see manufacturer datasheets). Joules are a ballpark number that defined protector life expectancy. Protectors that work by blocking or absorbing surges are all but useless without the other and necessary device. That other and completely different device, also called a surge protector, is measured by amperes. And so the criticlly important number was discussed previously. Since lightning is typically 20,000 amps, then a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Because no protector must fail catastrophicallly due to a surge.

Why near zero joules in a UPS or power strip? That failure gets the naive to recommend it. Then buy more grossly undersized protectors with obscene profit margins. Manufacturers of the other and effective solution put more of your money into the protector. The other and proven solution costs a homeowner about $1 per protected appliance.

Now most important. No protector does protection. Best protection is provided by a hardwire from each wire inside each incoming cable to earth. But some wires (ie telephone, AC electric) cannot be connected directly to earth. So a protector does what a hardwire would do better. That is the purpose of the other and 100+ years proven solution. To connect hundreds of thousands of joules to what actually does protection - to what harmlessly absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules. Again, best recommendations cite these and other numbers.

Above demonstrates why a UPS, that claims surge protection, is only for a type of surge that typically does not do damage AND does not claim to protect from another and typically destructive type of surge. Easiest is to put near zero protector parts in a UPS. Then hype a half truth - call it a surge protecctor.

Joules measure protection when adjacent to appliances. Amperes measure a completely different solution that has been the proven solution for over 100 years. Amperes for a protector without that low impedance connection to earth does not report anything useful. Be careful when reading that IEEE description. Since two completely different devices are both called surge protectors. Making confusion easy.

 

[westom]

Or will the resistor read as about 1000 MegaOhms ?

That 10E9 ohm resistor means the voltage current relationship has both a voltage and current numbers between zero and infinity. Therefore it conducts electricity.

To say more, again, requires perspective. A 10 Megohm resistor leaks so little current from a 120 volt mains as to be irrelelvant. That same 10 Megohm resistor is essentially a short circuit for another electricity called static discharge. Again, perspective.

Described is why anti-static wrist straps must contain a 10E7 ohm resistor. So that relelvant electricity has a near short circuit. To discharge a human body while not putting a human at 120 volt electrocution risk. Again, perspective.

Wood is an electrical conductor. So Franklin earthed lightning rods. Then lightning currents need not flow destructively through wood, Same applies to protection of appliances. Protection is also about a more conductive (low impedance) path to earth. To say what is and is not effective means perspective - numbers.

How does one quickly dispose of bogus claims? A recommendation that does not also say why with perspectives (numbers) should be considered a myth. And possibly a scam. No numbers is a first indication of a scam.

 

[imagoon]

That 10E9 ohm resistor means the voltage current relationship has both a voltage and current numbers between zero and infinity. Therefore it conducts electricity.

Pedantic. Insulators exist as defined by organizations such: Common sense, IEEE, ANSI etc.

To say more, again, requires perspective. A 10 Megohm resistor leaks so little current from a 120 volt mains as to be irrelelvant.

1 x 10^-5 amps to be precise.

That same 10 Megohm resistor is essentially a short circuit for another electricity called static discharge. Again, perspective.

Actually no it is not a short, it is still a 10 megaohm path to ground.

Measured static electric charges you see around a home peak at around 25,000V

Going farther

150000V -> 1.5 x 10 ^ -2 amps

3million volts -> 3 x 10 ^ -1 amps

However comparing static electricity to current electricity is a bit of a fallacy because static power will have nearly zero staying power.

Described is why anti-static wrist straps must contain a 10E7 ohm resistor. So that relelvant electricity has a near short circuit. To discharge a human body while not putting a human at 120 volt electrocution risk. Again, perspective.

It isn't perspective but an innate understanding that static charges will dissipate through that resistor because the actual "power, (watts, joules or whatever)" that there is barely anything to dissipate while the current electricity will still flow through the resister just in tiny amount but it will continue doing it until the source is removed.

Wood is an electrical conductor. So Franklin earthed lightning rods. Then lightning currents need not flow destructively through wood, Same applies to protection of appliances. Protection is also about a more conductive (low impedance) path to earth. To say what is and is not effective means perspective - numbers.

What is amazing about this section is you claim that wood is a conductor and then infer it is an insulator all in one breath.

Let me correct this for you (again.) The "wood" you are claiming is a conductor has a lower resistance as the air around it. The difference here is that the lightning has broken down the resistance of air, and converted the air in to a plasma state. At this point the string of plasma is no longer "air" but an electron and proton soup similar to metals. When wood is near this effect, it also converts to plasma (and is no longer wood) and conducts electricity. This exact effect is viewable in neon signs and florescent lamps.

How does one quickly dispose of bogus claims? A recommendation that does not also say why with perspectives (numbers) should be considered a myth. And possibly a scam. No numbers is a first indication of a scam.

Ah this makes sense. Westom provides no numbers and as such what he says should be considered a myth and is the first indication of a scam. We therefore should dispose of his bogus claims. I finally agree with something he said.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Redacted.

This isn't even funny any more. :thumbsdown:

 

[Rubycon]

This isn't even funny any more. :thumbsdown: