A couple of weeks ago we had a bad thunderstorm while I was out of town. When I came home I had lost a modem (Comcast), a computer, and 2 out of 3 cameras. I put in a service call for Comcast to come replace their modem while I licked my wounds over my lost equipment. It should have been a wake-up call last year when lightning took out my previous Comcast modem. Comcast came and replaced the modem then as well as a couple of others in the neighborhood. I didn't give it much thought since I didn't lose any equipment.
When they installed the new modem this time, I quizzed my tech about lightning protection and he installed a ground block inside the house where the cable enters. I'm not sure why there wasn't already one there? The new block is grounded inside my electric panel next to where the wire comes in from my ground rod. We also verified there was a ground rod at the service pole about 200 ft away. What else should be done to protect my system?
Should I install a lightning/surge suppressor in the line between the modem and my router? My APC UPS has ethernet ports, does anyone actually use them? Will they degrade performance?
Something interesting, I have two routers and two switches in the network, but none of them lost any ports. There were also several other PC's, Dish box and an internet radio connected to the network that were not bothered, only the PC connected to my router. The two cameras that were knocked out were connected to a POE switch. The wiring runs from one end of the basement to the other, up 3 floors to the attic, back to the other end of the house, then down a gable to the soffit for an under hung mount. The cable is not shielded and was run in pvc conduit most of the way just for some minimal protection. Did the long cable runs pick up EMR and knock out the cameras (located 5 feet apart)? Should I install surge suppressors at both ends of the camera runs? Can the camera suppressors be grounded to a flood light nearby or do I need to run to an earth ground?
I read a post further down with some recommendations for lightning suppressors (L-Com) which should work. Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.
When they installed the new modem this time, I quizzed my tech about lightning protection and he installed a ground block inside the house where the cable enters. I'm not sure why there wasn't already one there? The new block is grounded inside my electric panel next to where the wire comes in from my ground rod. We also verified there was a ground rod at the service pole about 200 ft away. What else should be done to protect my system?
Should I install a lightning/surge suppressor in the line between the modem and my router? My APC UPS has ethernet ports, does anyone actually use them? Will they degrade performance?
Something interesting, I have two routers and two switches in the network, but none of them lost any ports. There were also several other PC's, Dish box and an internet radio connected to the network that were not bothered, only the PC connected to my router. The two cameras that were knocked out were connected to a POE switch. The wiring runs from one end of the basement to the other, up 3 floors to the attic, back to the other end of the house, then down a gable to the soffit for an under hung mount. The cable is not shielded and was run in pvc conduit most of the way just for some minimal protection. Did the long cable runs pick up EMR and knock out the cameras (located 5 feet apart)? Should I install surge suppressors at both ends of the camera runs? Can the camera suppressors be grounded to a flood light nearby or do I need to run to an earth ground?
I read a post further down with some recommendations for lightning suppressors (L-Com) which should work. Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.
