[sci.electronics] Surge Supresspression

uchuck@ecsvax.UUCP (Charles Bennett) (05/24/88)

I work in at a University in a building that is only 16 years old.  The
reason I mention its age is that it is relatively new as university
buildings go.  It has appropriate lightning protection, all power lines
are in conduit.  There is a full TV production and distribution system
(approx. $2,000,000 worth) and a remote computer system(control unit,
printer, terminals) and a growing number of microcomputers.

The line power is relatively[D[C stable, very few flucuation[D[Cs, occasional[D[C
power outages during storms.  In addition, the building is on an
emergency power system, NOT a UPS but a switch to a die[Desiaiesel generator.
Up until recently we have not had any transient voltage problems.
However, within the last two weeks we have has one AST board go bad and
one TV time base corrector power supply.  No one can absolutly[Dely[D[C say that
these were caused by transients, but they did occur during a period of
testing the backup generators and/or scheduled power outage/restart.

With all that background the real question is - rather than spend
$20 times X for individual surge suppressors scatterd all over the
building, what is needed to properly protect the ENTIRE building.  The
power transformers are located in the basement of the building all in
one room.  There appear to be two or three secondaries that feed the
whole building.
-- 
                   -Chuck Bennett-  UNC - Chapel Hill
                    919-966-1134
                    uchuck@ecsvax.UUCP
                    uchuck@unc.BITNET