Quote:
Originally Posted by CWGUY
You didn't say and nobody has asked..... do/did you have any type of surge protection. Whole house or point of use or both.  |
Good advice on the need to consider surge protection living here in the Lightning Capital of the US (not the world as you often hear). But a caution about "whole house surge protection". Surge protection is for an Indirect Lightning Strike.
To protect against damage to your sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, televisions, microwave ovens, telephone answering machines, games, refrigerators, garage door operators, irrigation controllers, pool controllers, motorized recliners & sofas, etc. you may wish to consider both primary and secondary surge protection. Remember lightning loves technology!
Primary Surge Protection
This is surge protection installed on your electric meter by your electric utility. For example, SECO will lease a surge protector on your meter for $5.95 per month or purchase for $349. It can also be achieved by engaging a licensed electrician to install a surge protector on a dedicated two-pole breaker on your electrical panel. This level of protection is to prevent surge damage to hard-wired equipment that you do not plug into a 120-volt wall outlet. This is not “whole house” surge protection.
Secondary Surge Protection
This level of surge protection is called point-of-use and the devices are sometimes referred to as “plug ins.” These surge protectors plug into a 120-volt wall outlet to protect microwave ovens, garage door openers, refrigerators. Power strips are another form of secondary surge protection for televisions and computers. These devices can be purchased from electronics, hardware, and big box stores.
Surges can also enter your home from other sources such as telephone and satellite/cable TV lines. Therefore, it is vitally important that telephone lines to an answering machine or computer be routed through a secondary surge protector. This is also true for the coaxial cable line for a television.
If your concern is a Direct Lightning Strike to your home consider a lightning protection system installed by a UL listed firm that employs installers who qualify for Master Installer by the Lightning Protection Institute.