All house Surge protection

Tekkie

1. Make certain the house ground system is up to snuff. Most aren't & probably need at least a second ground rod.

2. Get a whole house surge protector and install it at the main panel. Intermatic comes to mind (faulty mind). Don't bother with strips or point of use junk. Too late by then and too weak to work.

Wayco Wayne_2

We had a storm last week

that had some spectacular lightning strikes that had my dogs hanging from the light fixtures. I also had some calls the next days with varying items of appliances with burnt out micro chips. As fate would have it I bought a magazine the other day. One of my favs. Family Handyman. It had an article on whole house surge protectors. After reading about them I'm thinking it would be a good investment. Does anyone in the collective knowledge of the Wall have any suggestions as to which surge protector is a good one. I' don't want to go cheap and have it not work. Conversely I don't want to over pay. Thanks for any input. WW

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Brad White_200

Price-Wheeler \"Brick Wall\".

Good product line and service.

When I ordered mine, from their San Diego HQ, the fellow called me (called me!) to tell me that they have a NJ warehouse and would reduce the shipping time and shipping charges; they credited me the difference.

For that alone. But the units according to my electrical engineers, work on a more reliable principle than other units such as those which are UPS type devices.

[Deleted User]

Brad, according to the Price-Wheeler Web site...

...they don't offer a whole-house protector. Did you use multiples of the 20-amp panel mount protector shown here?

http://brickwall.thomasnet.com/category/industrial-surge-protectors?

Thanks.

Unknown

Hi, Wayco!

I've been preaching the value of whole house surge supressors for years, since they protect every circuit in the house, not just the one that the computer is plugged into. Today, almost every appliance has some sort of electronics in it, and are subject to damage from power surges. Lightning is not the only cause either. Utility load switching, "dirty" power etc. all can contribute. A surge supressor wil not stop a direct hit lightning strike, but will manage about anything else. Square D and Leviton make good ones, available from your electrical supply house.

Any pro installing heating equipment should include one of these in the quote to protect oil/gas ignition control boards, fan boards, electronic air cleaner power supplies, advanced boiler controls etc. The added benefit is that the homeowner's computer, range, fridge, TV and other entertainment gear are protected as well.

Brad White_200

Hi Sal

I must have glossed over the whole house part, but did buy a few for selected circuits, (The Vitodens, the computer room (office) and weather station server).

I did not know that they did not make whole-house units, good to know. But then, maybe they might know whom?

Thanks for being more thorough than I was, Sal.

Brad

Bob B_2

I used this

(just a homeowner here...)

I found this and had it installed. Both the lightning arrestor and surge capacitor:

Delta Surge Protectors

which is a front for the company's website (with lots of electrician technical detail) here:

Delta LA site

Pretty inexpensive - around $120 for the parts and some small $$ for an electrician to do it for me. Compared with two other quotes for only surge protectors of $250 and $400, sounded good to me. Not sure if the "you get what you pay for" scenario fits here or not.

Tom