SECO Surge Protector
 

Before I call them, would there be a way to know if I already have it installed?

(a new resident)

Easiest way is to call Seco and have them check the history on your address.
I believe there is a red light on side of meter that indicates a surge protector is installed.

Look at your electric meter on the outside of your house. The surge protector will be installed between the round meter and the rectangular metal box. It is cylindrical, the same shape as the meter, and causes the meter to extend about 2 inches further out from the box. It will also have a few red lights on it. If you are not sure, walk around the neighborhood and compare the appearance of your meter to other meters. Also, if you are renting the surge protector, there will be a $5.95 per month charge on your electric bill. I know others will disagree, but in my opinion, the surge protector is a waste of money.

I had one installed when we build. Ours is right under the utility box in the garage.

Why do you think they are a waste of money? Figure stopping the surge before it gets inside my house is a good thing.

There are other threads on this topic, with various opinions. Even SECO recommends installing point of use surge protectors. Their website says, "Members should consider the purchase of point-of-use devices to protect sensitive electronics such as computers and televisions." Also, their warranty was apparently written by a team of lawyers who are trying to exclude just about every type of damage you could experience. The power company is already spending millions of dollars to provide a consistent surge free service to your house. If a $300 device is really needed to prevent surges, why don't they build it into their electric service in the first place? I think it is just another way to increase profits. That is my opinion. But, if people think it is good, then they should buy it. I would rather depend on my homeowners insurance, which covers surge related damage. It would be interesting to see how much profit they make on these devices after paying the claims for damage.

Interesting

I started a thread on it a few months ago and after reading the opinions had Seco install it. Also put in a number of point of use protectors as well.

Figured the more protection the better given all the electrical storms we have during the summer. Who knew?

No idea how hard it would be to actually collect on their warranty but putting a claim in our homeowners insurance will probably mean a large increase on next renewal.

Completely agree. I paid for 6 years and got a lightening strike. Lost over $2,000 worth of electrical items. They refused to pay for anything because they said the strike didn't go through their lines. Had it removed last week.

Surge Protector...................Not: Lightening Protector.

Nothing will help with a lightening hit.

I agree. But, that is not what the SECO sales pitch says. They claim that their surge protector will protect against lightning, but only if the lightning hits the wire between the nearest transformer and your meter and causes a surge in your power. Highly unlikely because the wires are underground. But, if it does happen, you may need a lawyer and an engineer to read the warranty coverage and try to understand all of the things that are excluded from coverage.

Here is the exclusion............

Under no circumstances will MTI guarantee performance due to a lightning strike not carried down the utility power lines and through the utility transformer and then the SPD to the residence.

FYI, here is what the warranty doesn't cover. Apparently, it doesn't cover damage to your electrical system or to your computers, televisions, security systems, or anything with a microchip or processor. I think most appliances have a microchip. What's left to be covered?

D. What Does This Warranty Not Cover? This warranty shall not
apply to any defect, failure, damage caused by improper installation,
improper use, or inadequate maintenance or care. MTI shall not be
obligated to furnish service under this warranty (a) to repair damage
resulting from connection to incompatible equipment; or (b) to service
a SPD that has been modified, altered or integrated with other
products when such modification, alteration, or integration increases
the time or difficulty of servicing the SPD. This warranty excludes (a)
bodily injury to persons, (b) defects caused by or damages resulting
from operation of the SPD under conditions exceeding MTI’s
published SPD specifications, such as continuous steady over-
voltages as a result of power delivery system damage or flaws, (c)
structural damage (d) damages to the electrical system including but
not limited to wiring, electrical outlets, breaker panels, and meter
sockets, (e) electric cars; (f) solar panels and solar equipment; (g)
elevators and elevator equipment; (h) damages to all wells, well
pumps and supplementary well pump equipment (i) generators and
any damages caused by an on-site backup generator, (j) damages
caused by negligence in the use of the SPD or (k) any damages
caused by a defective SPD other than physical damage to Standard
Residential Equipment. Under no circumstances will MTI guarantee
performance due to a lightning strike not carried down the utility power
lines and through the utility transformer and then the SPD to the
residence.
This warranty excludes all stand-alone “electronic equipment”
using microchip, microprocessor or transistor technology, such as but
not limited to computers, televisions, DVD Players/Recorders and
Security Systems.
Notwithstanding any other term of the warranty, in no event
is medical and/or life support equipment covered under this
warranty.
MTI shall only be liable to pay those damages incurred which are
covered under this Warranty and for which you have not recovered or
do not intend to recover from a third party or insurance carrier. In no
event shall you be entitled to a “double recovery”.
Any and all possible subrogation claims which may be made by a
homeowner’s insurance company are hereby waived. Homeowner
expressly acknowledges this provision and intends for its insurance
company to be bound by this subrogation prohibition.

so buy a whole house surge protector, and forget about it. having all those protectors laying around the house on the floor collecting dust is a pain in the azz. if the exclusions is like a pill with 50 potential side effects including death, why buy it?

The whole house surge protector may not cover many of the stand alone electronics in the house.
In my opinion they are very limited to things like major appliances (if I remember right).
Look their coverage up on line to completely understand what is covered (and as important or more....what is not covered).
I personally think the term "whole house" surge protection is somewhat mis-leading.
Based on what I recollect from several years ago.

See Post No. 12. If your major appliance has a microchip, micro processor, or transistor, it is not covered by SECO. I could be wrong, but I think almost everything you plug in today has some type of electronics. If so, I can't figure out what the warranty covers.

i have a non Seco whole house surge protector, paid for and installed, and I work at a gas/electric utility company. The electrical grid has such built in protections from surges, that all one really has to worry about is a direct hit. its not like 30 years ago when I walked down the hall at work in Boca Raton and all you heard was click click click of computer surge protectors every afternoon.

but if buying one and or surge strips make you feel better, it won't hurt. . . .

sportsguy

A family down the block from us had a fire last week from a lightning strike.

Is there a way to protect your self from it?

You can buy a lightning protection system, which would include a grid of lightning rods mounted on the roof and connected to a cable that would run down the exterior wall and into the ground. I don't know the cost, but it would be at least several thousands of dollars. It think most people would conclude that it is not worth the cost, but some people do have them.

Our house came with one (fully pre-paid by original owner). It was bad when we moved it, had only 1 of 2 red indicators lit (both needed to be red). SECO replaced it for free.

We have a whole house protector at the box then we have a Battery Backup UPS that covers the TV's and components and the computers. All the appliances, sprinkler system, HVAC etc. are covered by insurance :)

should be a red light blinking on the unit installed outside on the wall,near were the power comes in ...??

At night, you will see a red light on the side of your meter

There should be one or two red lights on your meter depending on which surge protector
is there. However, there is a monthly fee to SECO and you still have to have surge protectors on your devices in your home. Call SECO to get the details.

What you have is not from SECO.

I had the SECO surge protector installed after I lost a record turntable motor due to a surge. As has been noted, there is a red light that can be seen on the base of the external meter. There is also a $5.95 charge on the bill.

Learned the hard way
 

I’m from Maryland. Never had T’storms like these. I learned a lesson now that my PC fried and won’t boot up as normal.
1. Old surge protectors are useless. Buy New Device strips with high Joules rating.
2. Turning off the TV or PC Isn't sufficient. Safer to unplug your TVs. Electronics PCs And plugIn after The storm
3. After my PC ceased Working,. The next SECO bill came with brochure offering whole house surge protection for $5.95 a month. Too little—too late!
4. SECO should have secured the necessary Surge equipment so EVERYONE IS COVERED /PROTECTED from Fire and electronic failures—instead of offering it to you as an ADD-ON!

SECO Surge Protector
 

Check your bill. If you have a surge protector, you are paying for it.
In my case it is $5.95/month, billed as a separate item above the tax line.

Not necessarily. When we got ours a few months ago we elected to pay the cost in full.

I suggest reading the things that the SECO surge protector and their guarantee does not cover in Post No. 12. Computers and televisions and any device with a microchip are not covered or protected by the SECO device. In fact, SECO recommends, on their website, that you use individual surge protectors where you plug in electronic devices. Also, they don't even cover damage to your electrical system, wiring, outlets, etc.

Surge protector
 

When I moved to the Villages, I purchased a pre-owned, 5 year old home that purchased the SECO surge protector. They also supplied a box with inside surge protectors for individual items like computers. I think there were at least three.

I have Duke and the were charging almost $10/month. I hired just right electric to install one in the box for about $250. No more forever charges to Duke. I suggest you know what they charge per month before you get it!

Computer Club Lightning Presentation
 

For a complete write up on lightning living here in the Lightning Capital of the US see the April 17, 2020, presentation at this link:
07-VCC-2020-04-17+04-24-lightning.pdf - Google Drive

I agree 100%. Waste of money. Paid my monthly fee for 8 years. Lightening struck. There went my counter depth Maytag Refrigerator $2999. Dishwasher and garbage disposal. Called and filed a claim. Claim denied. Items were not plugged in to the wall on surge protector strips or plugs. Like to know how to do that with a dishwasher and garbage disposal. Only way they pay is if the items are on the surge protectors AND, only if they determine, which she could not explain how, that the lightening strike was powerful enough to trigger that surge protector on the outside of the house. Now everything is on my own surge protectors. After living in Florida my whole life, I have never had a refrigerator on a surge protector tor strip. The motherboard for the fridge was $500. The dishwasher was replaced $1000. Garbage disposal $150.

Very interesting. Never thought to do a secondary one for our land line with answering machine.

If your house gets a direct lightning strike I don't think anything can stop it.

:beer3:

Ohiobuckeye
 

I don’t think most builders install them! Beside Surge Protectors are pretty inexpensive! You might have one put in because there is a lot of power surges. At least in the area we live in they were!

You can call them. Not sure how much help they’ll be. I have SECO and my house was hit with lightening. I have now additional surge protectors installed by my electric company, In Charge. Their technician told me I cannot have too many surge protectors

Unless it was PURCHASED and not "leased." We have no charge because the previous owner paid for it in full. Not sure they still offer that.

Lightning protection systems (lightning rods) have been around since Franklin invented them in 1752. They do work if they are designed, installed , and maintained to the national standard on lightning. They are used extensively in The Villages. All water & sewer pumping stations, fire headquarters on Morse Blvd, The Sharon, nearly all buildings at Sumter Landing, major churches, Savannah Center, many residences and other properties are protected from a direct lightning strike. One home was heavily damaged this year and two last year. We have had 20 homes struck and damaged since 2004. None had lightning rods. The cost depends on the size of the home to be protected; estimated cost $1,000 up to $3,500 for larger homes. Only use lightning protection system installers listed by UL who employ a Master Installer certified by the Lightning Protection Institute. Reference: "The Art & Science of Lightning Protection" by Dr. Martin Uman from the University of Florida, NFPA-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems.