stevens@hsi.UUCP (Richard Stevens) (08/05/85)
While reading all of this interesting discussion on lightning effects,
thinking it'll never happen to me, last week our front yard got zapped
by a bolt during a good storm (there was a small hole in the front yard that
wasn't there before). It took out our VCR, television and Heathkit terminal.
The VCR was connected to the local cable company (all underground
utilities) and the TV was conected to the VCR. The VCR appears to have taken
the worst hit (it wouldn't even power on) while the TV was protected a little
I'd guess by the VCR - it would at least power on but that's it - I'll find
out when the repair bills come in. The terminal was connected
with about 10 feet of cable to a Racal-Vadic modem which was connected to
the telephone line. (I don't know whether or not the modem got yapped
or not.) All three items were connected to the AC power but
none were powered on when the zap occured. The point where I think the
lightning hit is at least 40 feet away from the underground utility wires.
Naturally, the power to the house and the telephone weren't affected at all.
The TV repair person's first question was whether we were connected to the
cable or not.
Question - Are there any protective devices available for a VCR or
TV ? How about for the RS232 port of a terminal ? Any additional insight ?
Richard Stevens
Health Systems International, New Haven, CT
ihnp4 ! hsi ! stevens