cable modem and thunder-lightning

I have cable modem installed on my computer. When there is thunder-lightning outside I do not turn my computer on. Is this sufficient to protect my computer? If not, exactly what should I do when there is thunder-lightning outside? And what if I am not home when there is thunder-lightning? Thank you. abm

 

I go further and say that ALL computers should be on a good UPS with AVR - automatic voltage regulation. This is not so much for coverage during a complete outage, but to compensate for ALL anomalies and not just surges and spikes. IMO, a surge and spike protector is nothing more than a fancy and expensive extension cord because surge and spike protectors are incapable of compensating for sags (opposite of surges), dropouts (opposite of spikes) or extended surges. UPS do. Without an UPS, the "duty" to compensate for these anomalies falls on the power supply and motherboard regulator circuits, already major heat producers. And since heat is the bane of all electronics, added heat adds stress, and increases component aging.

Note that ALL high wattage devices introduce anomalies down the power line each time they cycle on and off. These include microwave ovens, toasters, coffee pots, hair dryers, water coolers, refrigerators, and more. If you have one of these devices in your home or office, or you live in an apartment building, you need to be on an UPS with AVR.

I note my 1000VA UPS protects my computer, all my network equipment, my PDA, and TWO 22" LCD monitors. I also have an UPS on the big screen TV and another on the home theater audio equipment - and recommend all do the same.

 

Please tell me what the letters UPS stands for and what is it and where do I buy it? Thank you. abm

 

If you look at the posts the acronym UPS should be underlined, move your mouse over it and you'll see Un-interuptable Power Supply. Most computer stores will supply you with one either instore or online.

 

I'm sorry. Yes, uninterruptible power supply, or commonly referred to as a battery backup. But as I noted, backup power in the event of a power outage is just the icing on the cake. Feeding your computer good, clean, stable power is what it is all about.

 

Let's add another comment, especially since the title of this thread is cable modem and thunder-lightning. Although its been a while since I last saw it happen, a lightning strike to the cable coming into the house can also fry a machine. This all should be grounded but lightning is an amazing phenomena.

Last instance I witnessed jumped from a tree that was hit to underground cable and subsequently toasted the user's ethernet card and took the motherboard and CPU with it. Cable company replaced cable and cable modem and user replaced computer. Despite this being an Act of God, Insurance Company paid for user's new computer after the deductable.

 

Well, not exactly. DC is used in digital electronics because, for example, on (+5V or high) = 1 and off (0V or low) = 0. That's 2 possible values, and only 2 (binary) "states" - the fundamental foundation for "digital" electronics. You don't have "instant" full potential (voltage) on and off states with a sine wave (alternating current). Instead, there's an infinite number of voltage values on a sine wave during each cycle. AC, by definition, already has a frequency - not something you want in digital electronics controlled by a clock. In fact, removing AC "ripple" a major concern.

I agree an UPS without AVR is not near as good as one with AVR, and why I stated with AVR above. This is especially true for fast digital equipment. But an UPS without regulation is not really even a glorified surge protector - it is just a battery backup in the event of a full outage. The ability for an UPS to compensate for abnormal line conditions (high and/or low) comes from intelligent regulator circuits in the UPS. In the most basic UPS, when an abnormal condition (high or low) is sensed, line voltage is simply removed, and the batteries kick in until normal power is restored (or batteries run out).

In an UPS with AVR, the batteries are used to soak of excess voltage (which they do with ease), and to dispense a "boost" when low line voltage conditions exist. The better UPS do this very fast, and can switch from line to battery in just a few milliseconds. Some of the best (and very expensive) UPS supply fully regulated battery power 100% of the time.

Yes it is and it is important to note that NOTHING can protect your computer from a direct hit. And so as noted by Steve above,