Power Surge vs Spike

Sounds improbable to me that an internal modem should succumb to either event. Computer PSU normally executes some kind of regulation. Other components (memory, video card) seem more fragile. Not that it's impossible of course. Overvoltage on line in seems a more reasonable cause for damage. That would be a "spike" probably, caused by lightning or other violent electrical event, rather than a "surge", since it is hard to imagine a damaging surge in such a system (if we agree on a surge being some sort of prolonged overvoltage).

Regards
/RID

Weblink on power surge & spike are good reading materials. I now understand better, though it's a litte too late. I slept through a thunderstorm and the next morning, my modem couldn't make a dial tone. So I have to purchase another modem card. Since warranty for modem covers only power surge, I guess power spike make a hole on my pocket as well. Better buy a surge/spike supressor to prevent any more damage.

Thanks Wakeup and RID

Cheers..

no prob rid.  I have seen that happen before with a couple clients in the past.  Even with surge/spike supressors, modems fry because they are hooked into the fone line.  If a fone pole gets zapped with electricity it Can/May/could/would cause problems.  So if you get a surge/spike supressor make sure it has ones capable of protecting the fone line.

Additional:
Many devices intended for phone line connection have a spike protection circuitry at the input point, consisting of two small resistors and an overvoltage breakdown device. A spike will cause a breakdown/shortcircuit and the resistors will fry, all according to plan. If you're lucky these resistors are "big" enough to see and unsolder/replace. This has helped me on a few occasions.

Cheers
/RID

Thanks for the added comments.

Cheers again...