SECO Surge Protector
 

There was a blurb yesterday on TOTV re: SECO installing a surge protector @ the the electric meter. Is this what they call a whole house surge protector? Or is a WHOLE HOUSE surge protector something completely different?
If you had this done what was the cost to you from SECO.
THANK YOU in advance for any input that you may have on this topic.

We had SECO install one when we moved in 2 months ago. The cost is $5.95 per month, but I think you can buy it from them for $350.

Yes this is a whole surge protector, added in front of the meter, about 300.00to buy installed or a small installation fee and 5.00 per month to lease, we bought ours for 300.00. They also give you local surge protection devices for your tv's and electronics.

Well worth it ... unless you have never heard thunder or witnessed any lightening this summer. A whole house lightening system is also well worth it (IMHO) ... if you plan to be here for a number of years (Cost = $1200).

SECO surge protector
 

Is the unit GUARANTEED thru SECO? If so for how long.
THANKS AGAIN for the previous input.

Yep, it is guaranteed for damages up to $25,000 for as long as you have the unit.

This sounds like pretty good protection, but it's only part of the story. For the thousands of homes in TV which have flexible gas lines in the attic, the very real risk is a lightning strike starting a small roof fire, then melting the gas line and destroying the home literally in minutes. There are no less than seven cases of this happening in TV. Every home was total loss.
The only way to virtually eliminate the risk is with a properly installed lightning rod system. Yes, they cost more than a thousand dollars, but they basically make the SECO system unnecessary.
Notice the town square buildings, rec centers, etc. They all have lightning rods.
If you want more information about this, google the Property Owners Association website ( www.poa4us.org), and read the series of stories about lightning protection which have appeared over the last several years

There are many ways for lightning to enter the electric wiring in TV.
A hit to the sprinkler rain sensor, a strike on the lamp post, through the bird cage, the attic light, roof vents, and we have a pool.
I think that the protector in the electric meter would only protect from lightning entering trough the meter. Since the utilities are underground that chance, it seems to me, is remote.
When we signed up for electric service I posed this question to TOTV and didn't get a sense of it being a ripoff so we had them turn it on.
Has anyone ever received any money from SECO? My pool pump was damaged last month around the same time someone reported a motor capacitor failure on their heat pump. That could easily have been a lightning problem.
I have always thought that lightning rods were not necessary but the developer has put them on almost all of his buildings. Every time I see them on small single story buildings owned by the developer I think about checking them out.
I haven't yet but it's on my list of things to do.

We got the SECO whole house system for a one time cost of $349. They clearly state that it will not protect you from a direct lightning strike but will protect all large appliances from voltage surges from nearby strikes or anything causing voltage fluctuations. It is recommended to put surge protection on garage door openers which are ultra sensitive to any electrical anamoly. This is but one line of protection but it is a big one.
Properly grounding gas lines is also a critical issue.

IMHO, there is a good demand for the service..... so happy customers would indicate to me the validity of installation.

We had the whole house unit installed at the meter, but pay the $5.95/mo. If you decide to purchase and have a surge and the unit is shot, then you have to replace it yourself for another $300. If you're renting it, Seco replaces it at their expense. $5.95/mo is pretty cheap. They also told me that if we needed more units for inside, to just call. Have not needed to do that yet.

I was told they would replace it free for ten years if you purchased it and it was shot.

The surge protectors do not protect u from a lightening strike. They protect u from surges in your wiring system.. A lightening strike will take out your house in a heartbeat. However, if ur house suffers from a spike in the line, the surge protector has a good chance of smoothing out the surge. It is a gud idea to install a surge protector, but be sure u understand what protection u r buying.

Can you put up a lightening rod in TV?

There are many businesses that sell lightening rod systems. Just make sure they are authorized. There are several posts that discuss the lightening rod installations.

I was told this just last week by a fellow, soon to be my new neighbor, that owned a large electrical company. He said if you are going to install lightning rods, install something that will conduct electricity like copper, don't be sold aluminum.

The persona I bought my home from was a retired electrical engineer. He knew and he respected the power of electricity. We have the SECO surge protector on the power meter AND we have lightning rods on top of the house. They are grounded with braided metal to posts deep in the ground.

Read the POA information on lightning rods before you buy. Makes me feel a lot safer!

Hope everything is going good with you and Loren in The Villages.

A minimally sized 'whole house' protector starts at 50,000 amps. because the typical lightning strike is 20,000 amps. Effective protectors are sized and installed so that even direct lightning strikes (and lesser surges) cause no damage. No damage even to the protector.

Protectors inside the house do not claim to provide that protection. Are often grossly undersized to fail on surges too tiny to harm appliances. If they fail, naive consumers will recommend them.

A properly sized 'whole house' protector should remain functional for decades.

Damage occurs when lightning connects a cloud destructively to earth. So that lightning does not conduct destructively through wooden structures, we connect that current to earth via a properly earthed lightning rod. So that lightning does not conduct destructively through household appliances, we connect that current to earth via a properly earthed 'whole house' protector.

Thanks for mentioning the articles in the POA Bulletins. The CSST gas lines in the attic are an unresolved national fire-safety issue that is being addressed at this time by the Fire Research Foundation. It should have been done 20 years ago when CSST came into this country from Japan. It is true that seven homes have been destroyed by lightning in the last seven lightning seasons and all had CSST gas pipe. However, in NO case was the official cause linked to the CSST. CSST does not melt but even an indirect lightning strike can cause an arc that puts a pin hole leak in this very thin wall pipe and ignite. In cases where this has hapended an alert homeowner either heard or smelled something and shut off the gas at the meter or called the fire department and the house was saved.

There are no "authorized" lightning protection system (or LPS, commonly called lightning rods) installers. In fact, LPS installers are not regulated by the county or state. Therefore, it is a buyer beware marketplace. However, if you do decide to install a LPS for peace of mind you should contract with a firm that is "listed" by Underwriters Laboratores (UL) and the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI). You can find the "listed" firms for Florida on the UL and LPI websites. Not all LPS installers found in the Yellow Pages are "listed" Some may even tell you they are but it is best to check. For more information on how to select a qualifed LPS installer see the POA Bulletin for July 2010, pages 9-10, that can be found on the Property Owners' Association website.

How can you tell if there are gas lines in the attic?
 

Fire is my worst fear!

If you have gas enter the attic through the hatch in the garage. You will see some pipes with a yellow plastic cover for the corrugated stainless steel tubing (CCST). It is most likey made by Ward Manufacturing and stamped "Wardflex".

Seco
 

We rent our whole house unit with seco. After the first few years here, we had a lightening hit. It messed up a computer, our directive receiver and and one other electronic item I can't remember offhand. Seco replaced all of them without a problem. We were frankly somewhat surprised, but obviously pleased. :coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

It sounds like you have PRIMARY surge protection on your meter to protect your hardwired appliances (furnace, A/C, dishwasher, garbage disposal, etc.) against surges that come in through the electric meter. Not all surges that enter your home come through the electric utility. They can come in via telephone and cable lines as well. Therefore, you need SECONDARY protection on any electronic equip. that you value. You need to be sure that the telephone lines for your computer and coaxial lines for cable/satillite also go through the surge protector. This is frequently overlooked. For more information on surge protection see the September issue of the POA Bulletin that can be found on the POA4US. org web site under Lightning Matters, page 18.

Just had SECO install surge protector
 

I just had the installation done on our home. The cost was $25.00 for the install and then it cost an extra $ 6.00 a month. They also give you a power surge protector for inside to be used on what ever area you choose too. My neighbor across the street from me told me about it. I only had this done for now to protect things while I still living North and for the renters protection. Once I move down for good I'll spend the money for the more sufficated protection.:gc:

When you get the whole house surge protector from SECO they give you a box of surge protectors to connect your electronic devices for added protection.

As you can see from my other posts on this subject, the term "whole house" surge protection is misleading. You need PRIMARY surge protection on your electric meter or your electric panel and SECONDARY surge protection on all sensitive electronics. And you need to be sure your TV's coax lines and telephone lines are routed through a surge protector.

I rent the SECO system. The whole house system with point of use devices is the only way to go. Had lightening rods also done, with another whole house protector at the panel. Yes, it's redundant, but at $5 a month, it's cheap insurance. Rods were done by a contractor who ONLY installs per UL standards. Also got rid of the CSST gas lines in the attic and eliminated that fire hazard. Wanted black pipe but only galvanized is used down here. Guess I've covered everything. Peace of mind.