SECO Surge Protectors

[rhsgypsylady]

I am thinking of getting a whole house surge protector from SECO. Have others done this? If so, did you purchase it outright ($349) or do you rent it ($6/mo)? Why did you purchase or why do you rent? How long do they last? Have you had to replace yours? If so, how many times? I've gone to the SECO website and read on them but am looking for feedback from those who actually have them. Thanks for your input.

[jimbo2012]

Do a search been discussed recently, there are better alternatives

[jebartle]

Give your house a wind test and get your surge protector free....Wind test is free also...

[zcaveman]

I got the whole house surge protector in 2001 when I moved here. You could only rent them back then. By the time they started selling them, I could have paid for one or maybe two with the rent money. If you are planning on staying in the same place for more than 5 years. Buy it. That is your break even point (more or less).

I understand that there are other types of whole house surge protectors. You could also look at those.

[mulligan]

The only problem with buying is if they take a hit, they need to be replaced. Buy it again??

[jimbo2012]

They sell good ones at HD about $200 that appear to be better.

[keithwand]

The only problem with buying is if they take a hit, they need to be replaced. Buy it again??

Thats what we were told so we changed from purchasing to renting.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

What happens if the SECO 'surge collar' (as they call it - the device that installs on the meter socket outside your house) fails and you're leasing the device.....or if you bought it outright up front? I was scratching my head over this as well as SECO's web site regarding surge protection doesn't spell it out:

Protect your equipment from lightning with SECO Energy's Surge Protection System (http://www.secoenergy.com/surge.html)

Soooooooooooo......I called them and spoke with Linda in Customer Service. She wasn't sure of the answer either so she put me on hold to go check with someone else. She came back on and told me that the only difference is if you bought the surge collar outright, you have a 10 year warranty on it. If the device itself fails within that 10 year period, SECO will come out and replace the device at no charge. On the other hand, if you're leasing it, your warranty on it is for as long as you're continuing to lease it - SECO will replace the surge device at no charge, even if it's past the 10 year mark.

Regardless of lease vs. purchase, if you have an appliance failure (say your washing machine fries) and you feel the surge collar is at fault, it's up to you to deal with the manufacturer directly regarding them covering the appliance.

SECO (352) 793-3801

Bill :)

[Jim 9922]

How do you know if they take a fatal hit? The whole house goes dark? A breaker trips? What?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

How do you know if they take a fatal hit? The whole house goes dark? A breaker trips? What?

http://www.secoenergy.com/pdfs/Surge/MeterTreaterQA.pdf

See #11.

Bill :)

[Joaniesmom]

I thought I had this all figured out. Now I'm back at zero! Moan!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

FWIW......

We opted to rent ours. The surge collar was already in place on our patio villa - the prior owners had been renting it - so we just signed up to keep renting it. Our overriding thought was that we don't necessarily intent to own the place long term so we just went with the rental. Less cash outlay up front versus buying......but more expensive over the long haul to lease.

Do whatever seems to make the most sense to you! :wave:

Bill :)

[CarGuys]

Was talking with my builder armed with a bazillion Surge Protection discussions from TOTV and information from SECO themselfs. By the way very nice people.

Builder looks at me and say's " Your a CarGuy right" Yep" You know the difference between good better and the best protection on a vehicle right? Yep"

Know anything about Surge Protection here in Lighting Capital Florida? Nope!

See them guys wiring your entire home. Yep"

If you call Galaxy and inquire about the system they sell service warranty and install you will buy it.

BUT you will get every one in the world telling you you did not follow " The everybody does SECO way. Remember WE ALL BUNDLE! Love that commercial!

So in our Home is the Galaxy Communication Whole Home Surge unit for The Wiring Appliances Cable and Phone systems. In its own nice panel under my inside Garage Fuse Panel. Green light on the panel shows good! :thumbup: Did not spend that much more and feel I have a much better system installed.

But I don't have the outside meter night time Red Light District Glow light the SECO people have. No Fair! Yet im confused as the Auto World Green is GOOD Red is BAD still trying to figure out that one on my night walks.

[getdul981]

FWIW......

We opted to rent ours. The surge collar was already in place on our patio villa - the prior owners had been renting it - so we just signed up to keep renting it. Our overriding thought was that we don't necessarily intent to own the place long term so we just went with the rental. Less cash outlay up front versus buying......but more expensive over the long haul to lease.

Do whatever seems to make the most sense to you! :wave:

Bill :)

Bill - since the device was already installed, did they charge you an installation fee?

[2 Oldcrabs]

I worked for a Utility and installed the "Surge Protectors" that SECO installs. They are designed to protect your home from "voltage surges out on the line". Lightning strikes on the line, poles getting hit by vehicles, trees down on the lines and animals climbing on transformers. TV is underground but some of the underground is fed from aerial pole lines. We had a pole hit one time where a 34,000V line on the top of the pole fell into the 12,000 volt line below it. About 20 house close to where the pole was hit had their "surge protectors" blow out of the meter socket and land about 10 feet in the yard. Some of the houses had damage and some did not. You be the judge! I have SECO's surge protector and will be installing another one on the panel box when my one year warranty is up. :pray:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Bill - since the device was already installed, did they charge you an installation fee?

Nope! Lucky us.

They said that's how the lease dealie-o works if you "inherit" one. We still had to commit to the one year minimum as with their standard lease arrangement.

Bill :)

[Dirigo]

We had SECO put one on the meter a couple of weeks ago. We bought. Buying is cheaper in the long run unless it blows and chances are good that it won't.

We think of it as insurance. We've never had a homeowners claim in our lives, but we have always had excellent insurance (including flood and sinkhole).

[jimbo2012]

I have SECO's surge protector and will be installing another one on the panel box when my one year warranty is up. :pray:

R U saying that the collar isn't enough or U want double protection?

I read the installs in or next to the box are a safer bet.

[Lightning]

The term "whole house surge protection" can be misleading. The device that SECO (or Progress Energy) puts on your meter protects the hardwired equipment like A/C, furnace etc. This is called PRIMARY surge protection. You also need SECONDARY surge protection on your sensitive electronics like computers, TVs microwave ovens, etc. This is frquently overlooked by consumers who think that the device on the meter (or a device installed on your electrical panel by an electrician) is all you need. FALSE you need both.

The above is only for INDRECT lightning that strikes nearby. If your concern is a DIRECT lightning strike to your home you should consider a Lightning Protection System (LPS) commonly called lightning rods from a QUALIFIED installer.

I purchased my primary and secondary surge proectors from SECO because I relied on their engineers selecting good products. But you can also get them from hardware, electronics, and the big box stores.

For more information see the forthcoming Lightning Matters column in the July POA Bulletin or search the back issues on the POA4us.org web site.

[2 Oldcrabs]

R U saying that the collar isn't enough or U want double protection?

I read the installs in or next to the box are a safer bet.

I retired 8 years ago so they may have made improvements. Inside the protector is 2 lightning arrestor. When there is a voltage surge the arrestors will send the surge to "ground". Most of the time it destroys the arrestors and creates a "gas" that causes the protector to come out of the meter socket. They were working on a way to "vent" the gas. Looking at it, I do not see it. I will be installing another one on the panel box and on the A/C diconnect switch. I do have plug in type on TV & computer. FYI IF lightning hits the ground (known as a ground strike) close to your house, all bets are off. The surge can come in the ground. Its mother nature & you can't beat mother nature!:ohdear:

[scrapple]

In the post by CarGuy, there is mention of a "Galaxy Communication Whole Home Surge unit" I tried looking up more info about such a thingy, but got nowhere.
Can somebody tell me who to contact for more info about this device?

[Lightning]

There is no known single device for "wholehouse" surge protection. You need PRIMARY protection on your meter by your electric utility OR a surge protection device (SPD) on your electric panel by an electrician. Checkout Pike's on Canel St in Sumter Landing where they have a display Also Lenhart Electric among others will install them. But you need SECONDARY SPD on all of your senitive eletronic equipment -TVs, computer, microwave - anything that you plug in and value. See the July POA Bulletin for more etails.