wes,can you provide some links to back up what you are saying?
Posted was known and well understood for over 100 years. Is easily found in most professional source. But well over 90% of the information out there is only propaganda that contradicts well proven science. Because the profit margins on ineffective products are so massive. And because urban myths are routinely believed if one does not dispose of every subjective answer.
Some concepts were introduced in
Any really effective surge protectors? .
NIST (US government research agency) says what any protector must do:
> You cannot really suppress a surge altogether, nor "arrest" it.
> What these protective devices do is neither suppress nor arrest
> a surge, but simply divert it to ground, where it can do no harm.
Sun Microsystems "Planning guide for Sun Server room" says:
> Section 6.4.7 Lightning Protection:
> Lightning surges cannot be stopped, but they can be diverted. The
> plans for the data center should be thoroughly reviewed to identify
> any paths for surge entry into the data center. Surge arrestors can
> be designed into the system to help mitigate the potential for
> lightning damage within the data center. These should divert the
> power of the surge by providing a path to ground for the surge energy.
IEEE Standards (where IEEE makes recommendations) say same. IEEE Emerald Book:
> It is important to ensure that low-impedance grounding and
> bonding connections exist among the telephone and data
> equipment, the ac power system's electrical safety-grounding
> system, and the building grounding electrode system. ...
> Failure to observe any part of this grounding requirement
> may result in hazardous potential being developed between
> the telephone (data) equipment and other grounded items
> that personnel may be near or might simultaneously contact.
Or IEEE Red Book:
> In actual practice, lightning protection is achieve by the process of
> interception of lightning produced surges, diverting them to ground,
> and by altering their associated wave shapes.
A professional demonstrated these concepts in an application note. Even underground wires must be earthed before entering a building:
http://www.erico.com/public/library/fep/technotes/tncr002.pdf
From the ARRL in QST Magazine July 2002 "Lightning Protection for the Amateur Radio Station"
> The purpose of the ground connection is to take the energy arriving
> on the antenna feed line cables and control lines (and to a lesser
> extent on the power and telephone lines) and give it a path back to
> the earth, our energy sink. The impedance of the ground connection
> should be low so the energy prefers this path and is dispersed
> harmlessly. To achieve a low impedance the ground connection needs
> to be short (distance), straight, and wide.
> ...
> The goal is to make the ground path leading away from the SPGP
> more desirable than any other path.
Dr Ronald Standler in his book "Protection of Electronic Circuits from Overvoltage" complains about why most all homes have no effective protection:
> This situation could be resolved by the use of mandatory standards ...
> At this time this book was written (1988), the author saw no hope of
> such standards being adopted in the United States for overvoltages on
> the mains.
"Practical Guide to Electrical Grounding" by W Keith Switzer page 33:
> The overall purpose of a lightning protection system is to protect a
> facility and it's inhabitants from the damage of a direct or nearby
> lightning strike. Since ERICO believes that trying to prevent a
> lightning strike is unreliable, the best way to protect is to shunt
> the lightning energy "around" the vital components/inhabitants of
> the facility and dissipate that energy into the earth where it wants
> to go anyway.
IEEE Green Book entitled 'Static and Lightning Protection Grounding':
> Lightning cannot be prevented; it can only be intercepted or diverted
> to a path which will, if well designed and constructed, not result in
> damage. Even this means is not positive, providing only
> 99.5-99.9% protection.
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_lhm/surge.html
> Grounding Is Fundamental
> A surge protection device (SPD), also known as a transient voltage
> surge suppressor (TVSS), is designed to divert high-current surges to
> ground and bypass your equipment, thereby limiting the voltage that
> is impressed on the equipment. For this reason, it is critical that your
> facility have a good, low-resistance grounding system, with a single
> ground reference point to which the grounds of all building systems
> are connected. Without a proper grounding system, there is no way
> to protect against surges. Consult with a licensed electrician to
> ensure that your electrical distribution system is grounded in
> accordance with the National Electric Code (NFPA 70)
IEC 1024-1 "Protection of Structures Against Lightning" page 23:
>In order to disperse the lightning current into the earth without causing
> dangerous overvoltages, the shape and dimensions of the
> earth-termination system are more important than a specific value
> of the resistance of the earth electrode. However, in general, a low
> earth resistance is recommended.
Mil Std 419 entitled "Grounding, Bonding, and Shielding for Electronic Equipments and Facilities"
> 1.3.3.5.12 Surge Arrester Installation.
>5c. Surge arrester ground connection. When the surge arrester is not
> properly grounded, its response time will be delayed and a higher clamp
> voltage than that of the surge arrester will be impressed across the
> equipment being protected. This can also be expected if the earth
> ground connection for the surge arrester contains loops or sharp bends
> or is not properly bonded to the earth electrode subsystem.
More citations provided by dshoaf:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=4818545&postcount=34
A short sample of what was well understood for over 100 years. And what an overwhelming majority would not know due to 'education by advertising'. These concepts are always implemented in any facility that can never have surge damage. Always.