FAQ - Surge Protection
What is the purpose of the 10A micro-fuse in the premium line of lightning protection power strips?
To protect the built-in EMI filters
How are our surge protectors for DSL used?
Our surge protection devices with RJ-45 sockets can be used to protect your DSL line from surges. The protection device is positioned between the DSL splitter and the DSL modem/router end device. The connection cables must at least be connected to the two middle pins on the RJ-45 plug.
How are our surge protectors for ISDN used?
Our surge protection devices with RJ-45 sockets can be used to protect your ISDN line from surges. The protection device is positioned between the NTBA and the ISDN end device. The connection cables must at least be connected to the four middle pins on the RJ-45 plug.
Is a lightning protection power strip still appropriate for further use after a power surge has occurred?
Yes, so long as the indicated threshold limit has not been exceeded.
Are all DSL providers and DSL modems/routers suitable for our surge protectors?
In general, our surge protectors can be used with all DSL lines. However, there are now a variety of DSL providers and DSL modems/routers on the market, therefor we cannot be familiar with all of the different types. Some providers provide special devices that combine several functions in one casing (e.g. splitter, telephone system, DSL modem, router). These can contain manufacturer-specific plug connections that may not be compatible with our RJ-45 connection. Some problems can be solved using adapters, but this must be determined by a specialist on-site.
What is the difference in protection between 4500A / 10000A / 30000A etc in lightning protection systems?
These ampere denotations indicate threshold values for the power strokes that each respective protection element can absorb without the protective element itself being immediately destroyed in the process. Surges above these threshold values can lead to the destruction of the protective device and the devices connected to it. This is the case, for example, when lightning strikes a house directly. A surge of several hundred thousand amperes is unleashed in that case.
What restrictions are there for surge protection for DSL lines?
Because DSL signals are so sensitive, the additional signal dampening from the surge protection device can sometimes lead to interference in the DSL line (e.g. reduced transfer rate or interruptions in the connection.) Whether this problem arises, depends on the DSL signal quality on your line. This is in turn dependent upon the distance between your connection and the transmission station, the wire size used and possible disturbance variables. Unfortunately, it is not clear whether the surge protector can or cannot be used without issues in your case. In general however, DSL lines with higher transfer rates are particularly sensitive due to the higher frequency used and are thus more likely to be problematic.
How does the protection system work for the pass through of TV, telephone, and data conduits?
Same as for the lightning protection explained above, but using protective elements that are suitable for higher data rates.
How does lightning protection equipment work?
The use of protective elements like voltage dependent resistors and gas diverters provide for dangerous power surges to be diverted into the ground in fractions of a second, hence preventing the destructive high voltages from reaching the protected devices.
How are our RJ-45 surge protection sockets set-up?
Our surge protection devices with RJ-45 sockets are suitable for ISDN and DSL and have the following pin assignments: Twisted pair 1 / 2 -> not connected Twisted pair 3 / 6 -> protected (ISDN S0) Twisted pair 4 / 5 -> protected (ISDN S0 or DSL) Twisted pair 7 / 8 -> not connected The surge protection devices are not suitable for ethernet connections.