Electronics Protection - Lathes

Re: Electronics Protection - Lathes

Sean Troy

>Unplugging the lathe is the only sure way of protection.

Re: Electronics Protection - Lathes *LINK*

Rick Allen

>The manual says to use a surge protector like the one you would use for a computer. You can also use a GFI but don't expect the GFI to protect the lathe. GFI is designed to protect you.

(look at page 13 of the link)


PDF of Nova DVR manual

Unplug it

Carole in VA

>That is the only 100% sure way to protect it. Surge supressors (like the one's for computers) can't protect from a direct line hit. Ground fault outlets, I would think, would be useless for lightning protection.

Re: Electronics Protection - Lathes

Bill Howatt

>GFI's aren't designed with that purpose in mind. Unplugging is the safest way which is what I do when storms are around. I tend to use my lathe less in the summer so what happens is that I plug it in when I need it and then unplug it. In the winter I leave it plugged in.

I don't really trust the power bar or plugin protectors although they are way better than nothing at all. Probably the best continuous protection is what they call a "whole house protector" which is mounted in the main panel box. I don't have one.

Bill

Re: Electronics Protection - Lathes

echo8287

>I have installed the whole house breakers for lightning protection,power company ought to give them to you, to protect you from THEM. I'd still unplug it. If the power company happens to cut your power to work on the lines,when they re-apply the power it can damage the electronic parts too.Sometimes they pump up these transformers.Twice I've had them screw up a TV set and they won't do anything about it. I was watching it one of the times when they did it. I'm an electrician in Ga. David

Re: Electronics Protection - Lathes

Wade

>I would be interested in learning more about �pumping up a transformer�. Is this a common occurrence? Something I should watch out for? Any way to prevent it?

Wade

Re: Electronics Protection - Lathes

Frederick Nelson

>Surge protectors of the type that are designed to protect electronic equipment such as computers or entertainment electronics will not work to protect the electronics on a lathe - they simply lack the capacity necessary to protect over that much current. They do make heavier duty surge protectors, but you won't find them in the computer store; most likely you will only find them in electrical supply stores. If your lathe runs on 220 volts, you will find what you need ONLY at an electrical supply store.

Another thing to consider about surge protectors or surge suppressors: they do have a finite life. They work by taking any voltage over a certain amount (about 150 volts in the case of a 110 volt suppressor) and simply short it to ground. Obviously, this works better for a spike in the voltage than for a continuous high voltage condition. These devices work at the expense of the component itself: it is good for only so many spikes in voltage before it fails. It can literally be "used up" and when it is "used up," it offers no more protection. This applies to computer surge suppressors as well. Plan on replacing the suppressor after a few years of operation, more frequently if operated in an area with a high frequency of spikes. (If your computer's surge protector is over 5 or 6 years old, it's probably due for replacement.)

Turn (and compute) safely,

FNelson