Re: System Saver IIgs -- ID of burned part?

["Tom Zuchowski" <tzuchow@attglobal.net>]

FWIW, MOV surge protectors are like crash helmets, they are good for one (1)
use and then you have to replace them.

MOV's are also subject to "wear and tear". Every time they stop a surge,
they lose some effectiveness, until the day comes when they fry like yours.
People who are serious about surge protection will replace all of their
MOV's once per year or thereabouts.

Tom Zuchowski


"Mitchell Spector" <a_specto@alcor.concordia.ca> wrote in message
3b304d6e.12513045@newsflash.concordia.ca">news:3b304d6e.12513045@newsflash.concordia.ca...
> Greg Buchner <nobody@wavetech.net> wrote:
>
> >In article <3b2ee077.13731649@newsflash.concordia.ca>,
> > a_specto@alcor.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector) wrote:
> >
> >> I just opened up my Kensington System Saver IIgs to have a look
> >> inside (I've been wanting to replace its noisy fan for years) and just
> >> found something I wasn't expecting. The orange disc-like part at
> >> location 'V1' (there's also one at V2 and V3) split open and the
> >> plastic cover above it is badly scorched and burned. It looks to be
> >> some sort of large capacitor, resistor or regulator--I'm not sure,
> >> only that I've seen these on other electronics only much, much
> >> smaller in size. It has two points that solder to the board, probably
> >> a postive and negative contact.
> >
> >That's the surge protection...as soon as I read this message, the
> >mind just went blank on the subject....
>
>     Hmm, well that shouldn't pose too much of a problem at the moment,
> as I keep my System Saver plugged into a surge protection outlet bar.
> Years ago I had the unit plugged directly into the wall, which is when
> it probably blew that MOV.
>
>     I suppose the surge protection is ineffective on both lines now,
> both 'Master' (plug outlet 1 and 2) and 'Aux' (plug outlet 3 and 4)?
> I do have a spare System Saver in the closet (in it's terrible
> condition, yellowed and cracked) though maybe I can swap the
> circuit board from that one and save myself the trouble of doing
> some soldering.
>
> Mitchell Spector
> a_specto@alcor.concordia.ca
>
>
>