Whole house surge protectors

Posted by Jack on November 2, 2009, 9:24 am

I'd like to install a whole house surge protector. Using the GoogleWeb,
there appears to be a variety of types with all sorts of prices. I really
don't care about the price as long as it's worth it. The Intermetics are
about $60.00 while the Square D's are $275.00. The guy doing my electrical
work recommended I buy the Square D online.

What are you guys installing now? Thanks.

Posted by dpb on November 2, 2009, 9:21 am

Jack wrote:

> I'd like to install a whole house surge protector. Using the GoogleWeb,
> there appears to be a variety of types with all sorts of prices. I
> really don't care about the price as long as it's worth it. The
> Intermetics are about $60.00 while the Square D's are $275.00. The guy
> doing my electrical work recommended I buy the Square D online.
>
> What are you guys installing now? Thanks.

Nuthin'...

Local co-op installs lightning arresters and haven't ever had any issues
even in SW KS t-storm country.

What problems have ever had have been on phone line to modems, faxes,
etc., not on power.

--

Posted by RicodJour on November 2, 2009, 11:52 am

> Jack wrote:

> > I'd like to install a whole house surge protector. =A0Using the GoogleW=

eb,

> > there appears to be a variety of types with all sorts of prices. =A0I
> > really don't care about the price as long as it's worth it. =A0The
> > Intermetics are about $60.00 while the Square D's are $275.00. =A0The g=

> > doing my electrical work recommended I buy the Square D online.
> > What are you guys installing now? =A0Thanks.

> Nuthin'...
> Local co-op installs lightning arresters and haven't ever had any issues
> even in SW KS t-storm country.
> What problems have ever had have been on phone line to modems, faxes,
> etc., not on power.

There's too much money hooked up to electric/phone/cable to go
unprotected.
These are good for coax:
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=3D212FF75F22521&mc=3D09&d=3DTII-InLi=
ne-Coaxial-Lightning-Surge-Protector-Female-to-Female-Connector-%28212FF75F=
22521%29&sku=3D212FF75F225-21&source=3Dgoogleps

R

Posted by on November 2, 2009, 2:02 pm

On Mon, 2 Nov 2009 08:52:03 -0800 (PST), RicodJour

>> Jack wrote:

>> > I'd like to install a whole house surge protector. Using the GoogleWeb,
>> > there appears to be a variety of types with all sorts of prices. I
>> > really don't care about the price as long as it's worth it. The
>> > Intermetics are about $60.00 while the Square D's are $275.00. The guy
>> > doing my electrical work recommended I buy the Square D online.
>> > What are you guys installing now? Thanks.

>> Nuthin'...
>> Local co-op installs lightning arresters and haven't ever had any issues
>> even in SW KS t-storm country.
>> What problems have ever had have been on phone line to modems, faxes,
>> etc., not on power.

>There's too much money hooked up to electric/phone/cable to go
>unprotected.
>These are good for coax:
>http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=212FF75F22521&mc=09&d=TII-InLine-Coaxial-Lightning-Surge-Protector-Female-to-Female-Connector-%28212FF75F22521%29&sku=212FF75F225-21&source=googleps
>R

The thing you have to be sure of is that your power and your
TV/Telco/Satellite surge protection all connect to the same grounding
system with as short a bonding jumper as possible. It is best if they
are all grouped together.
Otherwise your equipment will bond them together ... explosively..

Posted by bud-- on November 3, 2009, 9:47 am

gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

> On Mon, 2 Nov 2009 08:52:03 -0800 (PST), RicodJour
>

>>> Jack wrote:
>>>> I'd like to install a whole house surge protector. Using the GoogleWeb,
>>>> there appears to be a variety of types with all sorts of prices. I
>>>> really don't care about the price as long as it's worth it. The
>>>> Intermetics are about $60.00 while the Square D's are $275.00. The guy
>>>> doing my electrical work recommended I buy the Square D online.
>>>> What are you guys installing now? Thanks.
>>> Nuthin'...
>>> Local co-op installs lightning arresters and haven't ever had any issues
>>> even in SW KS t-storm country.
>>> What problems have ever had have been on phone line to modems, faxes,
>>> etc., not on power.

>> There's too much money hooked up to electric/phone/cable to go
>> unprotected.
>> These are good for coax:
>>

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=212FF75F22521&mc=09&d=TII-InLine-Coaxial-Lightning-Surge-Protector-Female-to-Female-Connector-%28212FF75F22521%29&sku=212FF75F225-21&source=googleps

Says they are "listed to UL 497" which may or may not mean they are UL
listed. Should be better than the center conductor protection provided
by a cable entry ground block (none).

>
> The thing you have to be sure of is that your power and your
> TV/Telco/Satellite surge protection all connect to the same grounding
> system with as short a bonding jumper as possible. It is best if they
> are all grouped together.
> Otherwise your equipment will bond them together ... explosively..
>

The best information on surges and surge protection I have seen is at:

<http://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/LightningGuide_FINALpublishedversion_May051.pdf>

- "How to protect your house and its contents from lightning: IEEE guide
for surge protection of equipment connected to AC power and
communication circuits" published by the IEEE in 2005 (the IEEE is the
major organization of electrical and electronic engineers in the US).
And also:

<http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/practiceguides/surgesfnl.pdf>

- "NIST recommended practice guide: Surges Happen!: how to protect the
appliances in your home" published by the US National Institute of
Standards and Technology in 2001

The IEEE guide is aimed at those with some technical background. The
NIST guide is aimed at the unwashed masses.

Both emphasize what gfretwell said above. The NIST guide suggests most
damage is from high voltage between power and phone/cable wires (modems,
faxes, TVs ...). If phone or cable entry protectors are distant from the
power service, so a short bonding jumper is not possible, SquareD and
others make service panel surge suppressors that have ports that
incoming phone and cable attach to and ports that then supply phone and
cable to the house.

Get a suppressor that is listed under UL1449. The IEEE guide recommends
suppressors with ratings of 20,000 - 70,000 amps per service wire, or in
high lightning areas 40,000 - 120,000 amps per wire. Because there is no
standard method of measurement, Joule ratings are not a reliable way of
comparing products. I would only buy from a well known company. If your
service panel is SquareD, a SquareD suppressor that plugs in like a
circuit breaker is easiest to install.

--
bud--

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