Without more details, it is hard to say what happened, but....
Problems with power will RARELY have any affect on a modem.
If the modem failed, I would look for a different cause.

As for the Surge Protectors....  they do one job only.
Block high voltage spikes (like lightning).

If there are problems caused by the vacuum cleaner,
then it is either a brown out -- too much equipment on
a single circuit.   Which __should__ trip the circuit breaker.

Or -- most likely -- an EMF/noise problem,  in which case,
an UNinteruptible Power Supply (UPS) should be used.
As Daniel and others have suggested.

Jim Meagher
Staff Editor

----- Original Message -----
From: "Twin*.*Star" <[log in to unmask]>


> I recommend a high quality Interruptible Power Supply with line
> conditioning.
>
> Also the quality of the power supply will have a lot to do with how it can
> handle the AC fluctuations.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James E. Griffin <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >Got a client with a power problem at home. His two computers, and
> >assorted peripherals, were on surge protectors.
> >
> >When I went over to see what was wrong with a modem, his wife was
> >vacuuming another room. Noticed the other computer re-booting. Yup, too
> >much drain on the circuit; checked the breaker box in basement,
> >professional install, everything up to code. Despite the surge
> >protectors -- you can't depend on this stuff entirely -- his modem
> >became an expensive fuse.

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