Referring to the Service Panel Installed type.

Worth it or Hype??

What do the resident SigForum Electricians recommend??

What brand is recommended or how to size for a given structure.

Thanks in advance for time and efforts.

Andrew

I suggest checking with your electric company to see if they offer a whole house unit. We have one installed at the meter.

So do I. Main value: Replacement of blown shit when it doesn't work at the power companies expense.

RMD

Mine are Square D. Solid, well-recognized name in the business.

For me, absolutely worth it. Too many computers, TVs, iPads, projectors, appliances, routers, etc. (name your expensive electronics here) hooked up to risk frying them. I think installing one in each of my two panels was less than $400 all-in, parts included.

That's a low price to pay for all that security.

Read the fine print on these things.

quote:

Read the fine print on these things

Can you elaborate please?

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

Read the fine print on these things

Can you elaborate please?

There is a million ways for them to get out of paying claims. Often second to homeowners insurance. Also many will not pay for computers and other electronics unless also covered by their surge protectors. Lightening is never covered. Surges from within the home not covered. Must be installed by licensed electrician. Some limit warranties to 3, 5, or 10 years.

They will boast $25,000, or $50,000 dollar coverage, but read fine print.

All that being said, I install them all the time, and I installed one on my own house. It's cheap insurance. Rather pay the cheap insurance and never make a claim, than lose something and have no recourse, even if they can't stop all surges. I also use both whole house and good quality point of use surge protectors.

Also know they are consumable products and need to be replaced, how often will depend on how often you get spikes.

quote:

All that being said, I install them all the time, and I installed one on my own house. It's cheap insurance. Rather pay the cheap insurance and never make a claim, than lose something and have no recourse, even if they can't stop all surges. I also use both whole house and good quality point of use surge protectors.

Thank you. Any brands you would suggest? Approximate cost? I am an expert with Homeowners Insurance. I went through Katrina.

I have one on my house. We took a lightning strike close to the house that took out 2 tvs, a satelite box and my bad ass router that would serve a coffee shop. I called the power company only to find out that it only covers appliances that have motors such as a washer, dryer or fan blower and not electronics. I had to watch youtube videos on how to take my flat panel tvs apart and troubleshoot them down to the bad boards, order them and repair them. I was out the modem and direct tv sent me a new box.

quote:

have one on my house. We took a lightning strike close to the house that took out 2 tvs, a satelite box and my bad ass router that would serve a coffee shop. I called the power company only to find out that it only covers appliances that have motors such as a washer, dryer or fan blower and not electronics. I had to watch youtube videos on how to take my flat panel tvs apart and troubleshoot them down to the bad boards, order them and repair them. I was out the modem and direct tv sent me a new box.

Did I understand you to say that you had a whole house surge protector when the lightning struck or purchased one later? Can you please clarify? Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

All that being said, I install them all the time, and I installed one on my own house. It's cheap insurance. Rather pay the cheap insurance and never make a claim, than lose something and have no recourse, even if they can't stop all surges. I also use both whole house and good quality point of use surge protectors.

Thank you. Any brands you would suggest? Approximate cost? I am an expert with Homeowners Insurance. I went through Katrina.

Note, once again, none cover lightening.

Intermatic Residential.

CH Ultra

Sycom - SYC-120/240-T2

I have the Sycom, unit. I also use the point of use surge protectors. The Amazon listing is the only one I can find online, if you have an electrician friend they can get them for $40-50 if they buy direct.

Thanks Jesse, appreciate the help.

Speaking of lightning, the AC lines coming into your house may not be the only way in for lightning. When we were using some irrigation automation equipment in the orchard, it was controlled by a computer in the office which was connected by a radio link. Well, when we took a lightning strike on the antenna, it smoked the radio, then ran down the serial line into the computer and smoked that too. Next step was out the power cord of the computer and into the UPS. Guess what? Most, if not all UPSs and surge protectors protect against problems coming down the line, but they do not protect against other ports load side. Ended up frying everything attached to the UPS. Ooops.

If you can protect any phone or networking lines coming into your house, that is a good thing too...

Most people that actually try, protect their incoming power via UPS or many other means, they also usually neglect cable/phone/DSL or other entry points, it's damn hard to cover every base... But it is possible.

Look at the joule ratings for all your devices and protect yourself accordingly...

I am so highly conditioned to seeing political threads here, that I mis-read the title to this thread as "White House Surge Protector."