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Document ID: EMON-3JTMTG |
Aptiva-PS/1 - Protection of MODEMs during thunderstorms
Applicable to: World-Wide
Beware! Lightning could strike at any time!
Lightning damage is one of the most common causes of damage to computer modems. If there are thunderstorms in your area, it is good practice to disconnect the phone line connected to your Aptiva or PS/1. When lightning strikes, phone lines can carry the charge from the lightning. Both overhead phone lines and underground lines are susceptible to receiving such charges. Underground lines pick up lightning strikes from nearby tree roots. The charge that the phone line absorbs will be passed on to your modem, which can cause serious damage to it. In order to protect your Aptiva or PS/1, we recommend that you remove the modular phone cord plug from the wall jack when there is a thunderstorm approaching your area.
Surge protectors (or any other type of safety device such as a filter or a voltage spike suppressor) will not "survive" a direct lightning strike. Therefore, they cannot always protect your Aptiva or PS/1. Surge protectors can prevent damage to your computer that results from a normal power surge, but a lightning strike is just too powerful for most household surge protectors.
Phone surge protectors (which ground telephone wiring into the same ground that is used for your power lines) are not safe either. If there is a path for electricity to travel into the ground, electricity can travel the other way on that path, from the ground to your computer. In other words, if lightning strikes the ground around your house and you have a phone surge protector, the lightning can strike your modem through that protector.
Many states and local communities have building codes that allow for a separate grounding rod and lightning arrester that is used exclusively for phone lines. If your home is fairly new, then a properly grounded lightning arrester will already exist for your phone line. This is usually a square box that is labelled "Signal Circuit Protector." Also, your phone company is accountable for lightning safety; so feel free to ask them about their lightning safety devices.
One of the most common misunderstandings about lightning is that the bolt itself must reach the modem in order to damage it. As you can tell from the above explanation, this isn't always true. So, to reduce risk of damage to your modem, it is a good idea to unplug the phone cord from the wall jack when a thunderstorm is approaching.
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Hint Category |
Modems | |
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Date Created |
09-07-97 | |
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Last Updated |
09-03-99 | |
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Revision Date |
09-03-2000 | |
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Brand |
IBM Aptiva | |
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Product Family |
Aptiva, PS/1 | |
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Machine Type |
2134, 2136, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2142, 2144, 2153, 2156, 2158, 2159, 2161, 2162, 2163, 2164, 2168, 2176, 2011, 2121, 2123, 2133, 2155 | |
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