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Idalia and Power Issues

I had started another thread on whole house surge protectors and the value of using them in combination with plug-in surge protectors. Forty-eight hours after I started that thread the weather models all started forecasting it would go over my head sometime Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

I’m going to use this thread to keep track of any power problems I experience.

My power protection:

  • Siemens BoltShield in the panel
  • Furman with SMP, LiFT and EVS in the HT rack
  • Three APC UPS used for PC’s, telecom and nightstand
  • External gas-discharge tube on coaxial Internet
  • 3’ of fiber to air gap the modem from the router
  • Ethernet isolator before HT network switch
  • Tripp Lite Isobar surge strips in a couple of locations.

Of course, the ideal situation is to unplug everything before a major storm, but that only works if you know they are going to happen.

I'd like to ask this thread to stay focused on Idalia and any power related issues you suffer as a result.

erik_squires
thermionicemission
16 posts
 

Being in North Central Florida I alway leave my rig unplugged until listening time. Currently feeling the effects as Idalia passes through. Fingers crossed the electricity stays on. I hear transformers popping in the distance. 

rsmith73
26 posts
 

Good luck Eric!  I live in the Daytona Beach area and I am so fortunate that this area is just getting some rain (much needed!) and light wind.  I feel for those in the path!  Let us know how things go for you. 

thecarpathian
4,170 posts
 

"And yet again you build your house out of cardboard and stick it with bubble gum. Boggles my mind."

What does that even mean??

Post removed 
erik_squires OP
15,729 posts
 

An SPD, (Surge Protection Device), will do nothing to protect from Utility Power surges, overvoltages, caused the high winds and storm water of the storm. SPDs only protect from high voltage transients lasting in a duration of a few milliseconds. Voltage surges, overvoltages, caused by the storm will last far more in duration than a few milliseconds.

Not always true. Furman protectors with Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS) provides protection against lower but longer lasting voltage issues than the surge protection feature (SMP) .

These voltages can be otherwise undetected until equipment starts to fail.

Also, of course I will turn things off from power strips and breakers if the storm gets bad near me. For now I need it working so I can keep up with the news.

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