HEATH Digest - 24 Mar 2000 to 25 Mar 2000 (#2000-86)

[ekotkie]

Steve & Anne Ray wrote:

> I have had a slightly different experience with GFIs.  I recently installed
> one in my late father-law-house in the kitchen.   After a few minutes it
> would pop off.  I traced the lines and found it went to the refrigerator,
> unplugging that did not cure the problem.  The next outlet in the line had a
> surge protector in it.  That was the cause of the problem.  I tried the
> surge protector in the GFI (brand new and expensive) in my ham shack and it
> pop it over immediately.  It pop over the GFI in my bathrooms after several
> minutes.  I conducted a break down test on the surge protector and found
> that one of the surgistors broke down about 120 V.  Needless to say I
> disposed of the surge protector.

EK> Steve, you uncovered a very interesting point that a lot of folks are not aware of.
MOV's, (Metal Oxide Varistors) are used in surge protectors and they degrade, over time.
Everytime the power goes out in your house they will take a hit when the power comes back
on.  These are very inexpensive devices and probably should be replaced every couple of
years.  Also, a good protector has three of them.  Its called "three node".  I would have
just recommended replacing all of them.  Curious, which leg had a bad MOV in it??

Ed

Sponsored by the City of Tempe 

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