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From: steele.Henr@XEROX.COM
Newsgroups: net.micro.atari16
Subject: Re: :-(  It doesn't work. Oh, no!
Message-ID: <861001-065236-2389@Xerox>
Date: Wed, 1-Oct-86 09:52:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: Xerox.861001-065236-2389
Posted: Wed Oct  1 09:52:42 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 3-Oct-86 00:47:51 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
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RE:we've been experiencing some VERY nasty weather
here, (thunderstorms) BUT

	Although you are using a plug strip ('power bar'),most of these units
only switch AC hot and not the neutral line. Lightning strikes can jump
the gap in those switches anyway. My suggestion, after you get your
machine fixed of course, is to install a different switch so both sides
of the AC line are switched and to add transient/surge protection.You
can buy plug strips with the transient/surge protection
built-in(expensive) or you can add MOV's(metal oxide Varistors-
available at Radio Shack) to your existing plug strip. If you add it
yourself put one between AC hot and ground;another between AC neutral
and ground;and a third between AC hot and AC neutral. MOV's act like a
gate and turn on to voltages over their rating (the ones at Radio Shack
have a rating of about 130 volts),so they tend to regulate the AC line
to somewhat 'normal' conditions and will conduct those nasty high
voltage spikes to ground. But non of this is any good if you don't have
a good ground at your outlet. If you live in an older home with 2 wire
outlets make sure that the plug strip is getting the ground you need.
You can buy cheap testers for correct wiring/grounding for $2-$5.

						good luck,
						John