Electrical sub-panel question

[Dennis Peacock]

If you want "true" protection from surges as well as lightening, then go and talk with most any recording studio worth their weight and they will tell you that good "true" protection is gonna cost you in the 10's of thousands of dollars.

I ain't gonna get in this arm wrestling match. Just install a dedicated ground for the computer circuits and put them on a GFI circuit. All the rest, you are at the mercy of the power company and any passing storm in your area.

[Don Abele]

I'm going to echo a few other posts and maybe add my 2 cents as well. A whole house protector will do just that, protect the house - but only from conditions on the incoming power line. As was pointed out, if lightening hits a portion of the house which can conduct to those outlets the computers are plugged into, then that arrestor in the breaker box will do nothing.

With that said, here's what I have. I currently have 4 dedicated desktops, a server, and a laptop in my "computer room". These are supplied their power via UPS's. I have 2 1500 volt units protecting the 4 desktops, a 700 volt unit protecting the server, and a 450 volt unit protecting the laptop - all are the Smart-UPS variety made by APC. They all have replaceable batteries (which typically need to be changed about every 3-5 years). These units will protect the computers from anything, as any change in the line condition will cause it to disconnect from the line service and go to battery. About the only thing I could think of that would get past it is if a bolt hit the computers directly. I have used this setup for many years, through many lightening storms, brown and black outs, and have never had any problems with my computers.

I also have a very extensive home theater system. For it, I use a UPS and an automatic votalge stablizer (both by Monster Power) to ensure crisp clean power to the components and line protection.

Be well,

Doc

[Joe Suelter]

Thanks for the suggestion guys. Really helps out a lot. I'm not too familiar with them, I just knew that I've seen them out there before. We know that lightning does some pretty strange things. At this point, I think I'll leave it up to him, as it's his house and project. I was at his house the other night and couldn't find what I was looking for so I decided to log on here to see if ya'll new anything about them or not, which you clearly do. Thanks again for all your help.