Does a 400 Watt Ballast need surge protection?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by MtnDude, Feb 25, 2015.

  1. #1 MtnDude, Feb 25, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 25, 2015
    Hi:  I'm looking for an electronics expert to give me a knowledgeable answer on this subject:
     
    Does a 400 Watt Ballast need surge protection?
     
    Thanks!

     
  2. Anything you value dealing with electricity needs surge protection.
     
  3. Yes, thank you.  When I didn't get a quick response, I just went out and got a 1440-Joule surge protector with 6 outlets. 
     
    Thanks!
     
  4.  
    Long before requesting a solution, first a threat must be defined.  Frequency variation?  Bad power factor?  Are these of concern? Harmonics? Floating ground?  Reverse polarity?  Sag? Overvoltage?  Which one is a threat?  Why did another recommend a solution to a threat that is not defined?  Because most only speculate that a surge protector will avert all anomalies.  Most are only educated by advertising.  An informed reply includes reasons why with numbers.
     
    What appliances are damaged by hourly and daily anomalies?  Furnace? Dimmer switches? Recharging mobile phone? GFCIs? Dishwasher?  Why are some less robust appliances not damage?  Because all appliances already contain robust protection from many of the above and other anomalies. Unfortunately many recommendations assume a surge protector will protect from everything rather than learn it does not claim to protect from any of the above.
     
    Since a unique ballast was not defined, we can only assume it is a type that is typically more robust than dimmer switches and GFCIs. Potentially destructive surges occur maybe once every seven years.  So how often are you replacing digital clocks?  Why do others not include these numbers?
     
    That 1440 joules protector does not even claim to protect from a type of surge that typically causes damage.  It claims to protect from another type of surge that does not even damage dimmer switches and GFCIs.
     
    More numbers.  A typically destructive surge can be hundreds of thousands of joules.  What does that 1440 joule protector do during a destructive surge?  Disconnects its protector parts as fast as possible.  Leaves a surge still connected to attached electronics.  Where is the protection?  Again, it only claims to protection from another type of surge that typically causes no damage.
     
    Facilities that cannot have damage routinely use a completely different solution that costs much less than your undersized 1440 joule protector.  Even direct lightning strikes need not cause damage.  This other proven solution is made obvious by one simple question.  Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate?  Informed consumers earth one 'whole house' protector to protect everything - for about $1 per protected appliance.  How many tens of times more money did you spend on that 1440 joules protector?
     
    This proven solution connects low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to single point earth ground. Because if anything needs that protection, then everything needs it. How to separate ineffective and high profit protectors from the other and proven solution?  This was understood even 100 years ago.  A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Where are hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly absorbed?
     
  5. #5 Grefen, Mar 13, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 13, 2015
    Last year I heard the power line make a loud pop. 2 of my tv's were fried. Everything I had plugged in to my surge protector was still working fine after turning back on.
     

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