On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:28:39 +0000, Larry wrote:

"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in
news:MbOdnWJlr9NSLYXUnZ2dnUVZ_rHinZ2d@wvfibernet. net:

"Roger Long" wrote
I'm beginning to get the picture. Lightning will go everywhere and
the charge can't be led.

One thing to consider is that air is generally a good insulator with
the kind of electricity we're used to dealing with, but that lightning
bolt just travelled through half a mile or more of it to get to you,
so you probably shouldn't much count on being able to change its mind
about where it's going.




What never ceases to fascinate me is the number of people who think
switching the switch on something to "off", making that miniscule gap in
the power switch so the 60 Hz AC line can't jump the gap, protects it from
the 400,000,000 volt, 500,000 amp jolt that just came 5 miles through the
air to hit it.

......or how that same jolt is, somehow by magic, going to be BLOCKED from
tearing up the sensitive electronic device by a $2.79 white plastic block,
3x2x1 inches from Radio Shack, the electronic 7-11 store.

SURGE protectors must all be lightning protectors.......NOT!

Well, to be fair, they are honestly labeled, and commonly called
"Surge protectors", not Lightning Protectors. There are plenty of
surges other than a direct lightning strike that can damage
electronics, and surge protectors are a very cheap and relatively
effortless measure to help with some of those surges.