My cable blew out my high-definition television, and it won't turn on
any more. Surges come through the cable lines, and without a fuse to
protect against abnormal voltage, I'm sure it will happen again.
Craigm displayed what is required on every cable where that cable
enters the building:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=2403&sku=41035
Either you don't have it or it is not connected to the same earth
ground also used by AC electric and telephone. Even National
Electrical Code (NEC) says that connection must exist.
You don't need a surge protector. Surge protectors are only devices
to connect to earthing. Earthing is the protection. If you have:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=2403&sku=41035
properly connected to that earth ground, then your cable is already
earthed.
Meanwhile, AC electric does require a 'whole house' protector. No
effective protector has been seen in Sears, Best Buy, Radio Shack,
Staples, Circuit City, K-mart, or your grocery store. Those
protectors also do not have the dedicated earthing wire. An effective
'whole house' protector is sold in Lowes, Home Depot, and electrical
supply houses. And, of course, your earthing must meet and exceed
post 1990 NEC earthing requirements.
More numbers. Fuses take milliseconds to trip. Surges are done in
microseconds. You could have 300 consecutive surges before a fuse
even considers blowing. Meanwhile, you obviously don't have something
on your cable equivalent to
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=2403&sku=41035
Thats maybe $2 at Lowes, Radio Shack, Home Depot, or anyplace else
that sells cable connecting materials. An earthed ground block is
that routine, that essential, and obviously not on your service.
Anyone with no technical knowledge can follow that earthing wire. A
'less than 10 foot' wire goes from each: breaker box, from telephone
NID, and from cable ... all to the same dedicated earthing rod. Not
to a water faucet. Not to a cold water pipe. Not to dirt in a flower
box. Earthing wire must go to a dedicated ground rod that is also
used by all other utilities. Otherwise your wiring does not even meet
1990 NEC requirements. And who is responsible for providing that
earthing? You.
Service man has installed in violation of NEC if he did not install
a 'less than 10 foot' connection to that earthing also used by AC
electric. No way around those code requirements. Neither fuse nor
surge protector on cable is a solution.