Value of good whole house surge protector.

[suzy]

I had one installed years ago, but on the breaker panel in the house. Smart meter is on the outside, before the panel.

 

[Bird]

I had one installed years ago, but on the breaker panel in the house. Smart meter is on the outside, before the panel.

In my house, the meter is on the outside, on the bricks, and the master breaker panel is right behind it on the inside of the garage. The garage walls are finished out, so there's no access to the top, bottom, or sides of the panel.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

There are surges, drops (brownouts), and spikes.
Surges and drops are killers of things with electric motors in them, so freezers, fridges, pumps, blowers, etc have a tendency to burn out if in use when the surge or drop happens. Usually from brown outs as a long lasting surge will usually pop a breaker or burn a fuse out before it kills a motor.
Spikes are nasty and usually blow right past a breaker, fuse, or surge protector. They will fry you electronic equipment; usually by arcing across close connections or actually exploding the components (I've pulled circuit boards from spikes where resistors, capacitors, and transistors were popped into fragments from the inside out, and have had many chips blown the same way.)
What you really want is a line conditioner between the house and the mains coming in. A conditioner is a combination surge protector and spike protector, and the better ones come with a battery system to boost the power during brownouts.

 

[brin]

There are surges, drops (brownouts), and spikes.
Surges and drops are killers of things with electric motors in them, so freezers, fridges, pumps, blowers, etc have a tendency to burn out if in use when the surge or drop happens. Usually from brown outs as a long lasting surge will usually pop a breaker or burn a fuse out before it kills a motor.
Spikes are nasty and usually blow right past a breaker, fuse, or surge protector. They will fry you electronic equipment; usually by arcing across close connections or actually exploding the components (I've pulled circuit boards from spikes where resistors, capacitors, and transistors were popped into fragments from the inside out, and have had many chips blown the same way.)
What you really want is a line conditioner between the house and the mains coming in. A conditioner is a combination surge protector and spike protector, and the better ones come with a battery system to boost the power during brownouts.

So in my case where we pay the power company $6 a month for a special surge protection meter...do you think that is a conditioner as well..? We have lots of lightening storms and have never had any problem with electronics or electric lines in some 9 yrs...?

 

[Redneck in training]

I finally got home from a business trip and first thing on my list was replacing the whole house surge protector. The original model died during the surge but protected the house was Intermatic Panel Guard IGI 240RC.

Intermatic IG1240RC Intermatic, 3W Panel Surge Arrestor - Crescent Electric Supply Company

 

[Scooby074]

I finally got home from a business trip and first thing on my list was replacing the whole house surge protector. The original model died during the surge but protected the house was Intermatic Panel Guard IGI 240RC.

Intermatic IG1240RC Intermatic, 3W Panel Surge Arrestor - Crescent Electric Supply Company

Thanks

You do know that many of the whole home protectors sacrifice themselves in the event of a surge, and therefore are a one time use only item. Some manufacturers do offer a free replacement unit for one destroyed when protecting the home.

Id consider the Intermatic a "good" unit, it did its job. Is there a particular reason you are looking at the Siemens? From what Ive seen so far it appears to be significantly more expensive than that intermatic.

 

[Michelle K linnane]

Hi Guys
I know nothing about electrically work, but I work in computers and we always I mean always plug
computers into a power strip, does it give that much protection no, put I try and have all my computers,
TV, Etc plugged into a circuit power strip. Does it give that much protection more than likely not but
it is better than nothing.

 

[Redneck in training]

Thanks

You do know that many of the whole home protectors sacrifice themselves in the event of a surge, and therefore are a one time use only item. Some manufacturers do offer a free replacement unit for one destroyed when protecting the home.

Id consider the Intermatic a "good" unit, it did its job. Is there a particular reason you are looking at the Siemens? From what Ive seen so far it appears to be significantly more expensive than that intermatic.

I bought Siemens because it came as one of the best when searched for replacement. After I removed the damaged surge arrester I took it appart and looked inside. One of the varistors was burned.

 

[Scooby074]

Thanks.

Just trying to see if the Siemens justifies 50% more.

 

[cqaigy2]

I bought Siemens because it came as one of the best when searched for replacement. After I removed the damaged surge arrester I took it appart and looked inside. One of the varistors was burned.

View attachment 341136

Thinking on replacing it or do you suspect more damage?