Bit dancing off course...suggestions?

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Tex_Lawrence
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Re: Bit dancing off course...suggestions?

Post by Tex_Lawrence »

FabLab Wageningen wrote:
Wed Dec 14, 2022 9:54 am
Why would no surge protection be a good thing ? (as opposed to icluding surge protection ?)
Because "surge protection" doesn't actually do a damn thing unless there's been some catastrophic event, and then its likely that everything gets blown out; "protection" included.

Have you ever had a "surge" in your location? How would you know? (Does a BEEP occur?) Can one define what the "surge" is that one is getting "protection" for? How often does this "surge" happen?

What a perfect marketing world to operate in ... fear, uncertainty and doubt.

A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) on your whole system will do more to protect the electronics, because then electronics doesn't lose power. Losing power and restoring power can stress the electronics in day-to-day use. (And, the UPS has built in "surge protection", too! :shock: )

PS. None of my electronic equipment operates without a UPS.
Tex — Crooked Wood Products
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FabLab Wageningen
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Re: Bit dancing off course...suggestions?

Post by FabLab Wageningen »

Put an industrial laser on the same group as a PC. Connect them via USB. Forget to check the earthing of the laser.

Now turn the laser on. Do a job, creating massive static. Turn the laser off. And see what's left of your PC.

Happened to us after moving workshop. An earth outlet was not, er, earthed...


Marcel.

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Tex_Lawrence
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Re: Bit dancing off course...suggestions?

Post by Tex_Lawrence »

In the Netherlands, perhaps "surge protection" is not typically just installed in every electrical power extension built like here in the USA? You asked a question about "surge protection", but what you left as an example is in the category of static protection.

There are isolaters available to separate the communication lines from one piece of equipment to another. One of these probably would have stopped damage in the situation you spoke of. Should be standard between any high powered gadget and the electronics used to control it.
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RickW3DS
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Re: Bit dancing off course...suggestions?

Post by RickW3DS »

I read the directions for the UPS and it said do NOT use a power strip with surge protection. Flame away, I read the directions. And yes, those bitches beep a lot! Power surge, power loss, just cause it's Tuesday but they seem to help. Didn't break a bit after setting it up. Lightning still kills everything...even though it was grounded (earthed) to the copper water line but no more random crazy movements.

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Re: Bit dancing off course...suggestions?

Post by jsheley »

The symptoms the original poster described represent classical intermittant digital feedback signal loss.(very evil!!)
Signal connectors (connections) are enemy #1 for reliable electical engineering projects.

Please try the following on any moving electical cable:
1) Manually examine signal cable seatings. loose?.
2) Attach and re-attach cables.
3) If possible apply anti-wiggle cable strain relief. (Nylon wire ties)
4) search for corrosion any buried contacts exposed to occasional water splashes. (rare) Corroded conductors will have a "dull" fuzzy apeance.

If you have a servo-design look for cable attachments to your rotational encoders.

Also make sure the metallic frame of your mill is electronicall attached to the same ground plane of your controller. Use "earth ground' if you can not find (or use) contoller plane. Floating ground planes are a nasty source of electical noise.

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