-----Original Message----- From: Nigel Goodwin To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Date: Tuesday, 12 August 1997 15:35 Subject: Re: Switch Mode supply reliability [Was FAQ pointer] >This seems to be more 'scare-mongering' than anything else, I've repaired >many thousands of switch-mode PSU's over the years - including the worlds >first domestic use of an SMPSU, the Thorn 3000 colour TV. During all this >time I've never seen an SMPSU cause a fire, certainly in the UK units are >subjected to stringent safety tests to avoid such an occurance. I've seen one in 'el cheapo' monitor(brand was Teco) - at a TAFE (college to some) Caused a fair mess. Mike will no doubt chastise me for my inconsistency here (leaving CPU on, and letting 'green' monitor sleep, but it is a name brand monitor) > >Having seen mains plugs from Australia and the USA, I would think they >are a lot more likely to give rise to spurious fires than faults in domestic >equipment :-). > Hey, leave our plugs alone! They're nicer than some of the UK monstrosities I've seen. Tackle the UK one's if you must (after all, at a lower voltage, they need to support higher current...) The monitor fire originated in the switch, from memory. >During this same period I have however seen quite a few houses struck by >lightning, certainly into double figures in the relatively small service >area we cover. Now this does make a mess of an SMPSU :-). > >I would certainly consider the likelyhood of your house been struck by >lightning many times greater than an SMPSU burning it down. Esp in some of the more storm-prone areas. MikeS