Surge through ADSL line
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Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

78 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
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Sitting here putting the finishing touches to my Ark, I had a bit of a scare when my wireless ADSL router appeared dead to all intents and purposes. Luckily, unplugging it for a few seconds and then back in again resurected it to full working order.

However, it got me thinking. The power supply of said router and other associated computer bits and pieces is connected to the mains by a Belkin Surgemaster trip thing. However, it's connected to an ADSL filter that's directly plugged into the phoneline.

I know surges down the phoneline can kill a Modem, but should I be worried about the router? I'm hoping that in the event of a surge, the filter will bite the dust, saving any expensive problems with the router. Or should I be attempting a spot of rewiring to get the phone line going through the Belkin surge protector before the ADSL filter?

Amsingly, this post is delayed by 20 minutes as just after I started writing it, the power went completely for a while.

Pigeon

18,535 posts

270 months

Friday 6th August 2004
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Gear which is connected to both the phone line and the mains is particularly vulnerable to lightning-induced damage. The filter won't make any difference and I'd hesitate to trust a surge protector. Unplug the router from the phone line if it thunders.

Stu4690

6 posts

260 months

Friday 6th August 2004
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I`ve got my adsl filter plugged directly into a surge protector and never had any trouble with it (touch wood)

Having said that, I doubt it`ll stop 50000 volts coming down the line....

charlie sprout

76 posts

264 months

Sunday 8th August 2004
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Lightning is between 15 and 100 million volts

apache

39,731 posts

308 months

Sunday 8th August 2004
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I lost a modem this way, apparently there should be protection fitted by your supplier but there isn't and there's no legislation for it either