I come from dry desert area with minimal rain so not used to storms or lightening.

Is it necessary to unplug router when storm expected?

Will heavy duty surge protector suffice ?(back home had Belkin that was as big as 2 shoeboxes in size and weighed ton bricks as computer was used for.business)

Any suggestions for surge protector available here?

A surge protector doesn't have to be big. You're confusing it with a UPS, which often has surge protection built in.

 

You don't say where you are, but if Bangkok, head to Panthip or Fortune where they have loads.

 

Do a bit of research online first, to make sure you get the protection you need.

 

http://www.ricksdailytips.com/choose-a-surge-protector/

A lightning strike hitting close to a connected cable or ground network can result in a strong Electromagnetic Pulse or High Voltage across electronic circuits in your connected devices that they are not designed to deal with and can result in no damage, temporary resettable error, permanently damage, or even fire and explosion.

 

There have been stories posted here on ThaiVisa related to nearby lightning strike and the range of issues or damage caused.

 

I don't unplug Internet or Computer equipment ...but we do unplug major appliances like TVs, Kitchen Appliances and fans when not in use. Go figure.

 

As Chicog wrote, do a bit of research and see what Surge Protection should give you adequate protection. Just know that having Surge Arresters/Protection isn't a guarantee you won't suffer damage, but it should help to limit it.

And don't forget other cables may be susceptible, such as phone or tv antenna cables.

 

 

Another thing to consider if you have a home network (LAN) setup.

We had a lightning strike which appeared to enter through the internet cable coming into our shop-house.  Not only did we lose various pieces of computer equipment such as two routers and a number of components in my desktop PC but also various other devices connected to our router via ethernet cable (Cat5/6).  My Denon Audio Video Receiver, a Samsung Smart TV,  Security system and 3 IP cameras all got fried.  Luckily we had insurance which took care of all of it.

A strike on our internet may not happen again but I changed as much as I could over to WiFi to direct connections to the main modem/router. 

an UPS itself is quite liable to fail/be damaged when subjected to surges and massive power bumps from up the line. 

I make sure that suitable surge filters are in place to keep the UPS itself healthy, instead of relying on the UPS to survive as the fuse for everything else.

 

Another method, which I recall mentioning in an earlier similar topic, was to install a 240v timer delay device (like the ones you can get for protecting compressors and aircons from trying to restart immediately following power loss transients.

Simply set the timer for a 10 second delay, and the UPS itself takes over during the desired short interval of the timer's lock out period

Great suggestions all, thanks. Avander very scary to lose all of that equipment. I live in older high rise and just got fiber installed last week. Is that type of cable more resistant to lightening strikes?

11 minutes ago, orchidlady said:

Great suggestions all, thanks. Avander very scary to lose all of that equipment. I live in older high rise and just got fiber installed last week. Is that type of cable more resistant to lightening strikes?

Yes,, it was very inconvenient to lose all of that gear and have to source new stuff again.

I am no expert but as I understand it fibre is resistant as it is glass however, it can have copper for part of the line or the run from outside to your router so just to be on the safe side I would take precautions in any case.  

Your provider will tell you there is shielding for every connection ..... I would never count on that.....

If you have real FTTH (Fibre To The Home) it's glass all the way to the router (look for a "PON" connector on the router) and immune to surges getting in that way. You may however find that the last 100m (inside the building) is actually copper which can pick up nasties on its way to you.

 

We live outside town and had a direct hit on the house a few years back, fried a load of stuff that was outside the Faraday cage formed by the building steel (the True LNB, WiNet router etc.) and my UPS. After that I installed a plethora of surge arrestors as a multi-level approach, big meaty beast on the incoming supply and smaller plug-in ones to mop up the dregs. Not had an issue since although we've not had another direct hit.

 

By the way, the flashy-bangy stuff is lightning (no 'e'), lightening is the stuff Thai women splurge all over themselves convinced it makes them look more attractive, I'll stick with my little brown babe

 

One of the first tips I was ever given about life in Thailand was by a wise old electrician who ran a bar in Nana, he said, whenever it rains or there's lightening, never touch anything metal, I subsequently came to realise that was invaluable advice.

Don't buy a cheap crappy Chinese one.  They don't last long, and the protection provided is questionable.

 

I'd suggest something like this:  http://www.invadeit.co.th/product/ups/apc/back-ups-625va-325w-with-universal-sockets-bx625ci-ms-p022510/

 

The batteries are replaceable.  (Batteries typically only last a couple of years.)

 

Note that you probably can't reasonably protect your printer - the current drain is simply too high.  The cost of an appropriate UPS would be higher than the cost of a new printer.

Not at all sure if I have done correct, but for years have the same set up......... have a [or rather a total of 4 ] Gizz 1000VA UPS units..

TV and everything to do/connected to it goes via 1x ups,  PC have another unit but plugged into this is a Power Surge Tower [10 sockets very old came from UK] so everything to do with  Computer, monitor, printer etc is connected to this, even the chargers for mobile and Tablet. same upstairs + a spare unit...  do find need to change the batteries every 12 - 14 months  [couple of Villages down the road is a 'Amon'  shop, OK cheap stuff from China, but they sell the batteries @ 220 baht.]

 

Is this a OK set up ?