Powermatic 3520a

I keep it unplugged as I do all my shop tools. Lightening is a real possiblity where I live (5 hits in 6 years in my subdivision).

MP Wall

Hello George,

I don't have a Powermatic, but a Nova DVR 3000. Teknatool advised me to use a surge protector to prevent voltage surges from causing problems with the electronics. Might be a good idea for you to use a surge protector for your Powermatic.

Fred Holder

I have a brand new one and keep it plugged in all the time.

FYI for those that don't know...

A "surge protector", as is most often envisioned by consumers, are those 6 outlet power strips with the little breaker in them that cost around $6 to $15 US. They won't do much for you and the little protection that they do afford (they don't protect from the little dips and surges that will eat the computer electronics of the DVR) is pretty much gone after several months.

If you actually want to protect the sensitive computer electronics of such equipment you need to step up another $30-$100 US dollars and get a battery backup device. No need to get a big $500 one made to run computers for a couple of hours (although that would be fine) but one of those that look like a big "surge protector" is fine. Now, it's not really the "battery backup" that's going to help you but it's the line conditioning that's built into those products that will protect you not only from the big surges/outages but also (and more importantly in many cases) the tiny dips and surges that you never know are happening. Nothing is going to help you if you get a direct lightning strike. Unplugging doesn't even always work either.

It's the same thing that I tell my computer and electronics clients .... these little dips and surges aren't going to affect your toaster (well, maybe *some* people's toasters are a bit more advanced than mine!) but they'll kill your computer and you'll never know until it just stops working. The effects are cumulative to those parts.

If you're going to protect your equipment then protect it with the right products.

- Andrew

Does anyone have experience with interference from the variable speed drive. I have a wireless intercom that use the house wiring to connect and the static makes it impossible to use. Has anyone used a RF Supressor?

I have a General 260 with inverter. I usually leave it plugged in but if the weather looks bad I unplug it. Billh

Only on my fencer. Keeps the family happier while the fencer keeps the deer out of the garden.

Seems the voltage stabilizer mentioned above would suck up some of that out of phase stuff in reverse as well.

I keep mine unplugged, but thats only because it makes a godawful high pitched whine when its plugged in (even ifits not running...)

--JD

I know that Oneway offers an optional RF Supressor for their lathes.

Voltage threshold on surge protector and plug-in UPS. Let-through voltage of 330 volts? That means a surge protector and UPS protection does nothing until voltage exceeds that limit. What happens to 120 volt electronics when exposed to constant 200 volts? Electronics damaged and surge protector did nothing.

But it gets even more interesting. That plug-in UPS and power strip surge protector forget to mention that they don't protect from the type of surge that damages electronics. To sell their grossly overpriced and undersized product, they must forget to mention that multiple types of surges exist. Plug-in protectors protect from the surge that does not typically exist.

A surge protector is not surge protection. They would encourage that word association only to make the sale. A surge protector is only effective when it connects short to surge protection. Yes, protectors and protection are separate items. A surge protector does not stop, block, eat, or filter surges. An effective protector simply connects a surge to surge protection - earth ground. It simply does what Ben Franklin demonstrated in 1752. Protection means earthing before lightning can find a church steeple ... or household electronics.

So where is that earth ground inside that plug-in UPS or power strip surge protector? No earth ground is why they forget to mention "no protection from the destructive type of surge".

Effective 'whole house' surge protectors make that less than

Yes I keep my 3520a plugged in all the time. But I also installed a 20amp switch just above that plug and I turn off the switch when I'm done for the day. No sense using up power if I don't have to.

Jeff Jilg Austin, TX

Most of the overvoltage conditions are brief spikes not constant but I agree with your perspective. It is very difficult to protect from these conditions without a thorough analysis and spending more than $100 and for the most part it isn't worth the bother since a direct lightning hit on the power line near your home is just too much to deal with.

I live in an are where summer storms are common and can't say that it has been much of a problem. I do unplug my PC and lathe when I can. The TV is never unplugged and is still going strong after 12 yrs. Note that it can be zapped by either line voltage or TV cable hits. The stereo tuner is in the same category.

I do use the el-cheapo thyrector protected plug-in strips for my PCs because they are cheap and are better than nothing. They can fail but you can throw them out once in a while if it suits you. If you are electrically capable you can buy the actual devices very cheaply and change them yourself.

Billh

Effective protection costs on the order of tens of times less per protected appliance as compared to the ineffective plug-in protector. There is no reason for spikes to damage any interior electronics. Protection is that well proven since before WWII. Protection that well proven is neither claimed nor found in plug-in protectors.

Destructive spikes occur typically about once every eight years AND vary significantly in frequency of occurrence even locally. Geology is one factor in that frequency. (One can get to hate the letter 'y'). Furthermore, T-storms do not necessary mean electrical spikes. For example the Mid-west may have many T-storms but less result in spikes. T-storms in WV tend more often to create destructive spikes.

Pr> Most of the overvoltage conditions are brief spikes not constant but

I will still retain my unplugging procedure when a storm is imminent especially since some "whole house" protection systems recommend the additional use of a plug-in surge protector on circuits for computers and A/V equipment. Billh