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From: pjg@unrvax.UUCP (Paul Graham)
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Re: lightning, PACXs and computers
Message-ID: <380@unrvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 28-Jul-85 23:08:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: unrvax.380
Posted: Sun Jul 28 23:08:34 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Jul-85 05:49:48 EDT
References: <1397@islenet.UUCP> <646@mcnc.mcnc.UUCP>
Reply-To: pjg@unrvax.UUCP (Paul Graham)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of Nevada Reno
Lines: 25

[]
I've experienced two lighting related problems that had nothing to do
with power lines.  Both cases involved nearby strikes that got onto the
phone lines and crept into computers via serial ports.  In one case
the modem damage was obvious but it took awhile to conclude that a
computer to computer line that ran parallel to a phone line for about 15
feet (under the same cable cover) had a current induced in which took
out a serial port on one of the machines.  Just about a month ago the
same thing happened but two IBM PCs with internal modems had everthing
inside fried.  Interestingly an XT with the same modem just lost the modem.
In response to this some users are getting phone line protectors.
These differ from surge/transient suppressors by attempting to short the
over voltage to ground.  However they demand a fairly good ground
(like a cold water pipe).

One of PC owners wanted to know why the phone company didn't  worry
about stuff hanging on the other end of their lines, I asked him if his
phone still worked (naturally it did).

-- 
Thanks for your time.

Paul Graham 702/784-6007
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