MAXIMUM LIGHTNING PROTECTION™ for 66 BLOCKS

The Phone Company always provides basic Lightning Protection at the entrance to a building.

Basic protection prevents an old style non-electronic telephone along with the wiring in the building from burning up. This basic protection lets so much voltage and current through that anything electronic will likely get blown up.

Our Maximum Lightning Protection™ modules are engineered to protect specific types of telephone and data equipment attached to phone lines, based on the type of phone line, and the equipment attached.

Maximum Lightning Protection™ modules are Solid State, automatically clamp large surges down to 10-15 volts, and have self-resetting Over Current Protection to handle up to twice the damaging current of any other Lightning Protector.

We call it Maximum Lightning Protection™ because this is the best lightning protection money can buy...

Unless you use an expensive device that converts to fiber and back (lightning will never get past fiber!)

While the Phone Company has a single type of protector they install on every line (called primary protection... see an explanation below*), if you have electronic phone equipment you also need the Secondary Protection offered by our Maximum Lightning Protection™ modules.

The biggest risk of lightning damage? An OPX (Off Premise Extension), where an electronic or analog station port leaves a building... even for 5 feet!

It doesn't matter whether the cable goes 10 feet or 10 miles, whether it's in conduit or just buried in the ground 2 inches or 2 yards deep, lightning will find that cable and damage your expensive electronic equipment. Conduit will not prevent lightning from getting to a cable running outside a building.

Maximum Lightning Protection™ Features:

• Dual Stage Protection... for Over Current and Over Voltage, that resets Automatically!.
• Solid State Circuit automatically clamps surges to 10-15 volts.
• MLP-270 Telephone Line Protector Module handles up to twice the current of any other Lightning Protector!
• Electronic Resettable Fuse opens above 150ma, providing protection against AC power line crosses, and closes automatically.
• Our T1, T3 and 100-BaseT Protectors stop damaging common mode surges that others don't!
• Each Protector has Test Points to allow a quick check for dial tone with a Butt-set.
• Our Ground Bus allows insertion and removal of one Protector on a 66 Block, without removing other Protectors. Once seated on the 66 block, just tighten the ground screw. You don't have to remove the screw, except to install a Ground Lug on the last Protector.
• Our Test Shoe lets you test a line by removing only one Protector (since you'd have to remove a couple of Protectors from working lines to get your Butt-set clips directly onto the block). A Busy Light on the Test Shoe lets you know when the line is free, so you can push the button to open the line for testing.

When used with our Maximum Lightning Protection™ Modules, the ground diverts high voltage from lightning or a surge to the earth, instead of letting it get to the electronic equipment.

In the old days, a cold water pipe was considered the best ground available. Today, you should never use a cold water pipe for a ground since there is so much PVC (non-conductive) pipe out there.

The Phone Company ground at the NI (Network Interface) is not considered a good ground. It may not even be attached to anything!

The best ground to use today is the electrical panel, which should be grounded to a ground rod driven into the earth just outside the wall where the panel is located. Be sure to check that there is a ground on the outlets with an AC Outlet Tester (above right).

NOTE: An AC Outlet Tester will tell you if the outlet is wired correctly and if a ground is present, but not the quality of the ground. You should look to make sure the AC power panel is physically wired to the ground rod. If you're not sure, special testers are available that will verify the quality of a ground.
 

IMPORTANT!   In rocky and sandy areas (like on a mountain or beach) you'll need a professional to come out and install the best ground possible. A regular ground rod won't give you a good ground in rock, gravel, clay or sand. This applies to both voice and data lightning protectors and AC powered devices with AC surge protectors.

Our Ground Plug with 10' Ground Wire will save you a ton of time running a separate ground to the power panel. Just plug it into an AC outlet, run the wire over to the 66 Block, and attach the wire to the Ground Lug that's included with the Ground Bus.

Click HERE for our Electrical Grounding Tech Bulletin

Phone systems have no protection built-in for stations, so almost any surge will knock out an expensive analog or digital station card. Phone system manufacturers know that the CO lines are coming from outside the building, so they build basic lightning protection into the trunk cards. They figure only a very small percentage of stations will leave a building, so they build no protection into stations (since all of their customers would have to pay for the very small percentage of customers using OPXs).

Don't even think about running a station outside of a building, even for 5 feet, without the correct Maximum Lightning Protector™.

Lightning or Surge Protection (AC or telephone) has worked if the equipment isn't blown up after a storm!

If the equipment is damaged, the Protector(s) should be tested to see if a component is damaged.

If the equipment is damaged, and the Protector isn't damaged, that means there was a bad ground (or no ground) attached to the Protector. A Protector should fail shorted to ground before allowing damaging voltage or current to get to the equipment it's protecting.

Unlike a Protector with a "Sneak Fuse," our Maximum Lightning Protectors™ have a solid-state self resetting electronic fuse that prevents service calls in all but the worst lightning storms (where the whole Protector will be blown-up, saving the telephone equipment).

So what's the difference between Primary and Secondary Lightning Protection?

Primary Protection is normally a carbon or gas tube protector with a good ground (usually installed by the phone company) that diverts high voltages of over 500V or so to ground, in 100ns or more. Secondary Protection will divert the high voltage surge to ground at a much lower voltage, much faster, and will also usually add over current protection.

NOTE: Nothing will stop a direct hit from lightning. A direct hit (or even a hit in the general area) is so powerful that it can blow up battery operated devices like smoke detectors. Regular business insurance generally doesn't cover telephone systems that are damaged by surges, flood or water leaks. It's not a bad idea to check out EDP (Electronic Data Policy) insurance, which will cover you for this type of damage to your computers as well as telephone equipment (subject to a deductible).

So far every direct hit has resulted in the Maximum Lightning Protector™ turning into a glob of bad smelling plastic. It gave its life to protect the equipment, but it failed shorted to ground (so the equipment can't be damaged by further lightning hits) and will need to be replaced.

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MLP-270 1 CO LINE PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each regular phone line or analog station port (pair) with ring voltage.

If the line doesn't have ring voltage, use one of our lower voltage Protectors (below).

If you're putting this on an analog station port going to another building (OPX), be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

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Part # KIT1O

MLP-270 1 CO LINE PROTECTOR

22.95

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MLP-070 1 PAIR DIGITAL EXTENSION PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 70V.

Be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

NOTE:   We received a report that the MLP-050A didn't work on a digital station port on a Samsung system, which the customer measured at 55VDC. The MLP shorts the line to ground if the voltage on the pair is higher than the voltage the MLP is rated at, which is what it's supposed to do.

The MLP-070 will work on a digital station port up to 70VDC.

Be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

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Part # KIT4H

MLP-070 1 PR DIGITAL EXT PROT

20.95

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MLP-050A 1 PAIR DIGITAL EXTENSION PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 56V. For higher voltages on digital extensions, use the MLP-070 with a maximum DC voltage of 70V (below).

Be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

This is the most common Protector used for a digital or electronic station port, or ISDN (with or without DC sealing current).

NOTE: Some electronic phone systems use two pairs for the electronic stations, but the first pair is actually also an analog station port with ring voltage (examples would be most Panasonic systems and the AT&T/Avaya Partner). In that case, you would use an MLP-270 Protector on the first pair, and an MLP-050A Protector on the second pair that you send outside the building.

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Part # KIT1P

MLP-050A 1 PR DIGITAL EXT PROT

20.95

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MLP-030 12/24V 1 PAIR DATA PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 30V.

This could be used on a data pair (RS-232 etc.), or a station port with very low voltage.

Be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

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Part # KIT1Q

MLP-030 12-24V 1 PR DATA PROTE

20.95

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MLP-014 14V 1 PAIR DATA and AUDIO PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 14V.

This could be used on a data or audio pair with very low voltage.

Be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

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Part # KIT2S

MLP-014 14V 1 PR DATA/AUDIO PR

20.95

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MLP-021 T1 / E1 PAIR PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each pair (normally two) of a T1 or E1 circuit.

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Part # KIT1K

MLP-021 T1/E1 1 PR PROTECTOR

24.95

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MLP-123 T3 / E3 1 PAIR PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each twisted pair of a T3 or E3 circuit.

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Part # KIT1L

MLP-123 T3/E3 1 PR PROTECTOR

27.95

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MLP-110 10/100 BASE-T 1 PAIR PROTECTOR

You need one Protector for each pair (normally two, sometimes four) of a 10Base-T or 100Base-T circuit leaving a building.

Be sure to put them at BOTH ENDS of the cable leaving the building!

Works with POE (Power over Ethernet), which usually takes four pairs (so you need four Protectors).

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Part # KIT1R

MLP-110 10/100BASE-T 1 PR PROT

24.95

66 BLOCK GROUND BUS AND LUG

You need one Ground Bus with Ground Lug for each 66 Block with Maximum Lightning Protectors™.

If you only have a few Protectors on a 66 Block, you can cut the Ground Bus in half (or to any size), and buy spare Ground Lugs (below) to save a little money.

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66 BLOCK GROUND BUS & LUG

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SCREW FOR 66 BLOCK LIGHTNING PROTECTOR

Spare Screw for the side of the Protector (included with Protector).

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Part # KIT1A

SCREW FOR 66 LIGHTNING PROTECT

0.06

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GROUND LUG FOR PROTECTOR

Spare Ground Lug (included with Ground Bus).

Use with #6 to #14 wire.

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Part # KIT1E

GROUND LUG FOR PROTECTOR

2.29

66M - 50 PAIR SPLIT BLOCK

66M Split 50 Pair Block - CAT5 Rated - WHITE

66M1-50 Block   •   White   •   No Cover

NOTE:  This is the lowest priced block because there are a ton of them made
            compared to all of the other 66 Blocks!

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66M BLOCK-50 PAI

89D BRACKET FOR 66M BLOCK

For Full-Size 66M Block.

This Bracket allows you to remove a wired punched down block from the Bracket.

This is the most popular 66M Block Bracket.

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89D BRACKET

66 BLOCK TEST SHOE

If you need to test one line in the middle of a bunch of lines, it can be hard to get your Butt-set clips on the 66 block.

The 66 Block Test Shoe lets you test a line by removing a 66 Regulator, 66 Lightning Protector, or 66 Line In-Use Indicator, and placing the Test Shoe in its place. Attach your Butt-set to the clips on the front, and push the red switch to open the line and disconnect the equipment during testing.

Remember that the phone line always comes in on the left on an RJ-21X block, and the CPE equipment is always on the right.

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66 TEST SHOE

10 FOOT AC GROUND PLUG WITH 10 GAUGE WIRE

This is as easy as it gets!

Plug the Yellow Plug directly into a wall outlet that you've tested to make sure it's wired correctly (see our AC Outlet Tester below). Strip the #10 Green Stranded Wire and put it in the 66 Block Ground Lug.

Click HERE for our Electrical Grounding Tech Bulletin

Don't plug this into a power strip! You want the best ground you can get, and you don't want to include all the extra (smaller) wire in a power strip.

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10' AC GROUND PLUG W/10G WIRE

UNIVERSAL GROUND BUS with COVER

Inter-system Bonding & Grounding

Takes #2 to #6 Main Ground Wire
(Solid or Stranded)

Takes Four  #4 to #16 System Ground Wires
(Solid or Stranded)

Zinc Plated. Two Lugs for Mounting to a Wall or Backboard.

Paintable Plastic Cover. Use the Cover, or put it on the Backboard without the Cover.

Cold Water Pipes are no longer safe to use for a ground since there's likely to be PVC pipe somewhere. The electrical panel should be grounded to a ground rod outside. Check to make sure there's a wire from the ground rod to the panel and that it's all connected.

Use a ground from the electrical panel to this Ground Bus, and connect your systems and lightning protection to the common ground through this Ground Bus.

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UNIVERSAL GROUNDING BUS W/COVE

3 PRONG AC OUTLET TESTER

Use it for every piece of equipment that plugs into AC!

Just plug it into an AC outlet! It tells you whether the outlet is wired correctly, and if there's a ground on the third prong. Without a ground, electronic equipment may not operate properly, which is also the case if hot and neutral are reversed.

If something strange is happening this is the first thing you should check!

NOTE: An AC Outlet Tester will tell you if the outlet is wired correctly and if a ground is present, but not the quality of the ground.

Style may vary.

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3 PRONG AC LINE TEST PLUG

MLP-270M MODULAR MAXIMUM LIGHTNING PROTECTION™

Modular Maximum Lightning Protector™ Module

For standard telephone lines or analog station ports with ring voltage.

Same protection as our 66 Block model, but with modular jacks. Comes with Double Stick Tape and Ground Lug, or can be mounted to a Wall Mount Ground Bus

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MLP-270M MODULAR LIGHTNING PRO

MAXIMUM LIGHTNING PROTECTION™ with SCREW TERMINALS

Terminal Strip Maximum Lightning Protector™ Module

Comes in 3 Voltage Ranges

Same protection as our 66 Block model, but with a Terminal Strip with screw terminals. Mounts to a Wall Mount Ground Bus

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MLP-270T 1 CO LINE PROTECTOR with SCREW TERMINALS

You need one Protector for each regular phone line or analog station port (pair) with ring voltage.

If the line doesn't have ring voltage, use one of our lower voltage Protectors (below).

Attach the ground using the opening on the Terminal Strip (maximum 12 Gauge Wire), use a Ground Lug (not included) attached to the Screw, or mount to a Wall Mount Ground Bus.

Phone Orders at 630-980-7710, or this item can be ordered Online:

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Part # KIT4A

MLP-270T SCREW TERM LIGHTNING

30.95

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MLP-050T 50 VOLT PROTECTOR with SCREW TERMINALS

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 56V.

Be sure to put them at BOTH SIDES of the cable leaving the building!

Attach the ground using the opening on the Terminal Strip (maximum 12 Gauge Wire), use a Ground Lug (not included) attached to the Screw, or mount to a Wall Mount Ground Bus.

This is the most common Protector used for a digital or electronic station port, or ISDN (with or without DC sealing current).

This Protector is the one to use for our World's Best Door Box if the pair leaves the building to go to a gate. The Protector is not necessary if the Door Box is mounted to the building, and the wire doesn't go outside. On the Door Box end, use our Door Box TVS across the screw terminals to protect the Door Box itself.

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Part # KIT4B

MLP-050T SCREW TERM LIGHTNING

29.95

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MLP-030T 30 VOLT PROTECTOR with SCREW TERMINALS

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 30V.

This could be used on a data pair (RS-232 etc.), or a station port with very low voltage.

Be sure to put them at BOTH SIDES of the cable leaving the building!

Attach the ground using the opening on the Terminal Strip (maximum 12 Gauge Wire), use a Ground Lug (not included) attached to the Screw, or mount to a Wall Mount Ground Bus.

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Part # KIT4C

MLP-030T SCREW TERM LIGHTNING

29.95

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MLP-014T 14 VOLT PROTECTOR with SCREW TERMINALS

You need one Protector for each line (pair) with a maximum DC voltage of 14V.

This could be used on a data or audio pair with very low voltage.

Be sure to put them at BOTH SIDES of the cable leaving the building!

Attach the ground using the opening on the Terminal Strip (maximum 12 Gauge Wire), use a Ground Lug (not included) attached to the Screw, or mount to a Wall Mount Ground Bus.

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Part # KIT7H

MLP-014T SCREW TERM LIGHTNING

29.95

WALL MOUNT GROUND BUS with GROUND LUG

Ground Bus bent at a right angle to allow Maximum Lightning Protectors™ to mount to the wall from the Ground Screw on the side of the Protector.

Includes Ground Lug

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WALL MOUNT GROUND BUS/LUG

10 FOOT AC GROUND PLUG WITH 12 GAUGE WIRE

This is as easy as it gets!

Plug the Yellow Plug directly into a wall outlet that you've tested to make sure it's wired correctly (see our AC Outlet Tester). Strip the #12 Green Stranded Wire and put it in the Modular or Terminal Strip Lightning Protector ground, or in a Ground Lug.

Don't plug this into a power strip! You want the best ground you can get, and you don't want to include all the extra (smaller) wire in a power strip.

Click HERE for our Electrical Grounding Tech Bulletin

NOTE: Use this #12 Ground Wire with our Terminal Strip or Modular Maximum Lightning Protectors™. #10 wire won't fit in the terminal for the ground wire on those Protectors, unless you cut some of the strands off (not a good idea).

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10' AC GROUND PLUG W/12G WIRE

1080 JOULES AC SURGE SUPPRESSOR

Great Inexpensive AC Surge Protector!

Has three AC outlets on the front

EMI / RFI Filtering

125 Volt, 15 Amp, 1800 Watt, Full 3 Line AC Surge Protector

This is really a great surge protector!   When our engineer was investigating AC surge protector manufacturers he looked at this one, checked the specs, checked the components used, and decided it will give you great surge protection for phone systems and most modern electronic equipment.... At a great price!

There is a difference between this surge protector and others!  Some surge protectors continue to provide power to the outlets after they've been damaged by a surge (they will all go bad eventually). A light may go off on some, which nobody will ever notice, or on high end surge protectors a beeper will go off indicating there is no longer any surge protection.

That means the phone system, computer or whatever is plugged into it will go dead, because the power to it has been shut off by the Surge Protector. Is that a good idea? I think so, but you should consider the application before using this type of AC Surge Protector.

Even if you are using a Battery Backup with surge protection, most of them will still provide power after the internal surge protection is damaged. They'll usually light a cryptic light on the front panel that gives you no clue of why it's on.

If your phone system or computer goes dead after the Surge Protector is damaged, at least you'll have a chance to replace the surge protector... which isn't always your option with surge protectors that just light a light when they're damaged.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Like our phone line protectors, this AC Surge Protector won't survive a direct lightning strike, which is so strong that it will often damage a battery operated device (like a battery operated smoke detector!). That's a good reason to make sure you have electronic equipment insurance coverage on your business insurance policy (believe it or not, it's not automatically included unless you ask for it).

Specifications:

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1080 JOULES SURGE SUPPRESSOR