Shopsmith Forums

When I looked at some of the electronic parts they seem to be automotive grade, which are designed for higher temperatures and longer life. Hopefully I am correct.

JPG40504 wrote:Since the PP and the earlier headstocks all have a switch that disconnects the 'innards' from the supply, switching it off is essentially the same as unplugging it except unplugged, it is no longer grounded.]constantly [/B]connected to the ac and therefore ARE more prone to damage caused by line surges etc.

I disagree! When a lightning strike hits the difference with a switch in the off position is a few millimeters versus many feet when the plug is pulled.

Lightning is a werid thing but the distance between contacts in an open switch is nothing to lightning.

I will say I have seen lightning destroy electronics that weren't plugged in at the time but this is far less likely than destroying electronics that are plugged in but turned off.

Ed in Tampa wrote:I disagree! When a lightning strike hits the difference with a switch in the off position is a few millimeters versus many feet when the plug is pulled.

Lightning is a werid thing but the distance between contacts in an open switch is nothing to lightning.

I will say I have seen lightning destroy electronics that weren't plugged in at the time but this is far less likely than destroying electronics that are plugged in but turned off.

In my former life as the systems and networking manager for a university, I had an outdoor antenna for wireless networking take a direct lightning hit. The wiring for the antenna had the lightning arrestor properly installed/grounded. The lightning went thru, or arced around, the arrestor and into a building wiring closet, took out the first equipment rack, then arced to a totally separate rack to take out the building distribution rack, and about half of the PCs in the building. The racks were 2' - 3' apart and there were definite burn marks showing the arc path between the racks.

IMHO, a physical single or double-pole switch will block most power surges that we see, but there ain't much, except a lot of distance, to handle a direct strike.

bffulgham wrote:In my former life as the systems and networking manager for a university, I had an outdoor antenna for wireless networking take a direct lightning hit. The wiring for the antenna had the lightning arrestor properly installed/grounded. The lightning went thru, or arced around, the arrestor and into a building wiring closet, took out the first equipment rack, then arced to a totally separate rack to take out the building distribution rack, and about half of the PCs in the building. The racks were 2' - 3' apart and there were definite burn marks showing the arc path between the racks.

IMHO, a physical single or double-pole switch will block most power surges that we see, but there ain't much, except a lot of distance, to handle a direct strike.

Yes Ed! This 'discussion' is about surges/voltage spikes, not direct lightning strikes. A few feet is nothing to a direct strike.