Whole house surge protector

[JethroB]

Hello fellow members,

I recently lost a second PC and some other electronics in about four years from surges or nearby lightning strikes during thunderstorms. Do any of you have knowledge or experience with the surge protectors that are supposed to protect the entire house? My power company offers a device for about $10 per month. See example below from Amazon for about $200.

I am also looking into protection for my coax cable/internet service as I believe the recent Zap came through the cable line as only the equipment hardwired to it got toasted. (cable modem, router and PC) A UPS is used on the power side but it doesn’t have coax protection.

Thanks

 

[Jstpssng]

Not quite the same, but I lost 2 phones and a phone surge protector to lightening strikes. Based on TBN member suggestions I checked where their line was connected to the ground rod and discovered that it was loose and dirty. I cleaned the contacts, tightened it down and haven't had a problem since. :thumbsup:

Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself, for the last couple of hours I've been hearing thunder rumbling off in the distance.

 

[radios1]

that does look like a good device, and should be installed, but you need to have a professional install a lightning rod on your house to lessen the probability of a lightning strike doing serious damage!.. lightning is very serious!.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have two, I have been meaning to put in for years now. But I have my PCs on a UPS. Never had a problem.

Been also meaning to rewire the house so other stuff like entertainment equipment is on a UPS. Hate when the power flickers and everything resets.

 

[Diggin It]

I got one that plugs into my panel. Takes two spaces, but they can still be used for circuits unlike some other plug in ones.

I added a second ground rod about 10' from the first on advice that it will spread the contact.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Makes a lot of sense since you should have a dedicated breaker for the surge suppressor anyway. But curious about that. Do people just put them on some other used circuit?

 

[Diggin It]

I forget now what I put mine on ... an existing 220 two pole circuit, maybe the electric cooktop or water heater.

 

[Industrial Toys]

One of the ones I have is a SQUARE D or something and comes in a HUGE metal box that also has Phone and COAX protection if I recall. For a single point ground. Now I struggle for a place to mount it. Which is probably why I have not installed it. Small is good! As long as it's a quality item.

 

[Diggin It]

Problem I have with all of these types of devices no matter the size, brand or style is.....

How do you know if it worked?

You can have a hundred storms go by and never take a damaging strike. How do you know if you just never got hit, or if you did and this device protected you? If you do get hit and take damage, how do you know if the device failed outright, or if the strike exceeded the device's capabilities? Yes, I know some of them have indicators to let you know protection is 'active', but they still don't let you know if they ever took a strike and protected you.

 

[JPRambo]

Does it matter if you don't know if it took the hit? As long as nothing got damaged in all the storms near you, it's all good.
I was told if you need a really good one, buy one that has a garantee not a warrenty.
Anything that you install must be installed with the wires as short as possible and/or in a straight line to breaker/connection.

 

[Industrial Toys]

These things look impressive but often only have a couple of 30 cent MOVs in there. In better electronics, those MOVs are often accross the power line anyway.

 

[Jstpssng]

Problem I have with all of these types of devices no matter the size, brand or style is.....

How do you know if it worked?

You can have a hundred storms go by and never take a damaging strike. How do you know if you just never got hit, or if you did and this device protected you? If you do get hit and take damage, how do you know if the device failed outright, or if the strike exceeded the device's capabilities? Yes, I know some of them have indicators to let you know protection is 'active', but they still don't let you know if they ever took a strike and protected you.

I had one for the pump in a place I was renting and I knew when it had done it's job. One night we had a fierce thunderstorm go over... I usually enjoy them but this time I was scared witless. (or something. )
The next day I was doing dishes and when the pump kicked on the suppressor went off... it sounded just like an arc welder. I wasn't long pulling my hands out of the dishwater, then realized what had happened.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The thread got me thinking and I spotted the surge suppressor while cleaning my shop today.







So Bob's your Uncle, smaller footprint, I didn't need the Telco or COax protection and now it should be installed in a year or two.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have a Siemens FS140 on my shop and one on the house. Each is a 200 amp feed off of a 400 amp service. Ive sold and installed many of the Siemens FS140痴 over-the years. There is also a flush mount kit available if your panel is in a drywall壇 environment.

funny thing is Amazons crazy pricing has the fs140 cheaper than the fs100 and its a far better unit.

 

[JethroB]

Thanks everyone for the comments. My search also led to this thorough but a little dated article:

What's the "Best" Whole-House Surge Protection?

 

[dlctcg]

One of the most important things is to make sure your connections & the grounding of your main system is good... with out that these other systems will not work correctly... Also that the Intersystem Bonding Terminations are done correctly (or at all)...

We have been using Transient Protection Design (TPD) components on both our commercial & residential installs for the past 7+yrs. We design & install low voltage control systems for automation, lighting, HVAC, access control etc. (we are not electricians)... I'm sure Square D (I'm a fan of their load centers), Leviton, & companies a like all make good products (& are probably cheaper)... I will say we are dealers for TPD but because of our success with the product... not because we have to... (we are also dealers for Surge-X, APC, Liebert, etc)... I have 2 TPD TTLP units in my own home, plus the low voltage protection devices they sell by choice.

We started using these systems do to issues with a control system at a medical facility in which we were seeing unexplained intermittent issues & premature failure of some components. After installing all issues resolved & they are one of our best clients to this day...

TPD has components that cover everything you described... plus. When companies that are completely unaffiliated to them like Lutron, Crestron, AMX, ELAN, etc suggest (or even recommend) their use it say something.

We use the breaker panel units & low voltage pieces on many of our projects... zero failure rate in 7+ yrs. Just another option...

Here are some links to the product & some info:

IEEE Recommended Practices

Panel Protection
TTLP Surge Protection

Panel protection
TPX Surge Protection

Coax Solution:
Cable Lines Surge Protection

Phone Line:
Phone Lines Surge Protection

 

[Arky217]

Here in western Arkansas, it seems that rain is always accompanied by a thunderstorm.
I have a whole house surge protector and also individual surge protectors for each outlet
that anything electronic is plugged into.

However, if you want real, certain protection from lightning storms, then
UNPLUG EVERYTHING ELECTRONIC when a storm is in your area !

This action will remove all paths for the surges, even the ground wire.
This includes things like dishwashers, microwaves, even these newer
refrigerators that have circuit boards.

That's why I even have a 120V submersible pump for my well.
The pump gets unplugged as well, even though it also is plugged
into a surge protector.

There isn't a surge protector or ups made that will withstand a direct lightning strike.

 

[bunyip]

We used to live in an area that had highly mineralised ground, a lightning strike about 100m away killed almost everything in the house via the earth connection except a rubbish fax machine that I wished would die, it was the only thing I got to keep.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I hope you have a good supply of thermal paper rolls. lol

 

[bunyip]

I hope you have a good supply of thermal paper rolls. lol

This was many years ago when thermal rolls were state of the art, haven't seen one of them in years.