Whole house surge supressors

[784caroline]

I undersatnd that you can get a surge supressor from the elecric company attached to your electric meter OR you can have a electricain add one in your electric box inside your garage that covers all outlets of the house.
Who has a "surge supressor" and if so what kind? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type and approximate cost. I know most people are probably familiar with the "surge strip" that we plus our computers into!

[villages07]

Caroline,

We opted to go with outside electrician vs SECO...Ace Electric installed ours at a special price of $199 (special was a result of going to hurricane preparedness seminar). They install the suppressor in the garage, right before the electrical box. I believe SECO puts it on the outside wall where electrical enters the house.

I don't know if there is a significant performance difference between the two. Also, check out any guarantees for the replacing the device itself if it blows and any appliances/devices that are fried if the device did not properly do its job.

We did not want to get locked into a perpetual monthly recurring charge, that could go up, hence our decision to buy it outright. I vaguely recall that SECO would let you buy it but seems their cost was much higher.

Cheaper than a lightning protection system and the minimal investment is worth some peace of mind that your major appliances can be protected from a surge.

[Mikitv]

In Michigan lightening struck in our neighborhood twice and both times destroyed some of our electrical appliances. When we built in NE Ark we had a whole house surge protector wired during the construction period. It helped that my husbands employer Eaton Corpration sells them. We get a lot of storms through here and have never had a problem with the surge protector. IMHO I would go for it if there are a lot of storms in the area.

[dadspet]

There was a contractor advertising in the Paper with a surpressor that went into the Electrical box in the garage. If I remember correctly he wanted about $148 which seemed like a good price. Seco put theirs on the meter itself and wanted about $299. The one problem I saw with the one that went into the meter was it took up 2 circuit breaker slots. My ranch house only has 3 empty slots so that would only leave me one spare slot. A Hot tub ( In my dreams) take 2 slots also so If I want one I would have to add another box of some sort. Other then that I don't really know much difference

[REDCART]

The SECO whole-house surge suppressor ranges in monthly costs depending on the price when you enroll in the program. My sister pays $5 per mo. We signed up a year later and it costs us $5.50 per mo. SECO will sell you the unit for $299 and no monthly charge. By renting the unit, if it takes a hit, they replace it. Of course if you bought it outright, it's yours. There's also an insurance policy included on designated major appliances.

[zcaveman]

When I first moved here in 2001 you could only rent the whole house surge protector (at the meter) from SECO. Then they switched to a purchased one installed by an outside contractor for $299. After paying $5.50 for the rental for 5 years ($330), I decided to buy one since I have no plans on moving.

Mine takes no circuit beaker slots so I am confused about dadspet 's statement of two circuit breaker slots.

The surge protector does not protect from a direct lightening hit - only a surge from the ground.

They give you a bunch of surge protector plugins that you are still supposed to put on your electronic equipment just in case a surge does get in.

I figure it is better than nothing.

[gfmucci]

Here is the SECO whole house surge suppressor web site: http://www.secoenergy.com/surge.html

What other brands are recommended and available in the TV area?

[784caroline]

Thanks for the link to the SECO site regarding surge protectors. I guess you never know if it works until you need it..or was something else better!!

[dadspet]

Mine takes no circuit beaker slots so I am confused about dadspet 's statement of two circuit breaker slots.

The surge protectors from the private contractor I checked with require two circuit breakers because they can't change the meter on the outside in any way. SECO surge protectors do not require circuit breaker slots.