Surge Protection Redux
 

With all the recent storms we have had in the past month here in the Villages, many have realized the need for surge protection. When we have storms with cloud to ground lightning, when a lightning bolt hits a home, a tree or the ground for example, an electromagnetic pulse is generated which travels through the air and can couple to your electrical system at the HVAC, or pool and spa equipment, cable lines and any other electrical circuit in your home. When these events occur, since there is usually no spectacular fire, it often is never reported and the homeowner is left to work with the insurance company, pay the deductible and possible future policy increases to replace any damaged or destroyed appliances, HVAC and pool equipment, TVs, computers etc. What makes it worse is some surges do not destroy but can damage appliances which then fail months after the event and the insurance claim closed.

While lighting is a something we have to live with here in Central Florida, there are things us as homeowners can to "manage" this risk. First, you can install a whole house surge protector which is installed at your circuit breaker panel. The Eaton Ultra or PSP Vortexx surge protectors do an excellent job as this Type-2 surge protection device. Since it's located at the circuit breaker panel, any rise in voltage from the power utility or any branch circuits in your home will be blocked or reduced so the rest of the Type-3 or what we call point-of-use protectors such as power strips, cubes, etc., can handle whatever surge remains. This is why surge protection is a "layered" system. Focusing on surge protection for several years here in the Villages, it's my opinion that every homeowner should make it a priority to install this Type-2 whole house surge protection device because it's not if, but when this type of event can happen. The recent electrical code has changed so all the new home builds now have this type of surge protector installed. I know there will be people reading this that lived here for 10 years or more that never had this happen to them but with all the climate change occurring over the years, severe storms have increased this risk. If you still have cable TV, it's very common this induced surge can couple to your cable line as an entry to your home. If a lightning strike is close enough to your HVAC and or pool and spa equipment, the surge can couple directly to those entry points. Fortunately, you can install a surge protection device on your cable line entry point in your garage and at your HVAC and pool and spa disconnect boxes.

The installation of a whole house surge protector at the circuit breaker panel should be installed by an electrician since it's not a DIY project. You can use your own electrician or any of the electrical companies here in the Villages to have it installed but I want to point out that Lenhart and Pikes Electric have been actively involved in the Villages Hurricane and other similar expo's and events and understand this need for surge protection. They have done significant research, in my opinion, to provide the best surge protection devices at an affordable cost. I understand they can install all the surge protection devices discussed and can package them depending on your needs to keep the cost low. So, for the homeowner who wants their cable and or HVAC and pool and spa equipment protected in addition to the whole house protector, they can do that for you. As with several of the major electrical companies serving the Villages if you mention Talk of the Villages, they may give you a discount.

Concerning the surge protection device installed by Seco at your electrical meter, this device is specifically designed to block or reduce power surges coming from the power utility. It is not designed to protect sensitive electronic devices as the Eaton Ultra or the PSP Vortexx is designed to do and it specifically states this in their warranty documentation. According to a Leviton study, power surges from the power utility occur approximately 20% of the time whereas power surges from everywhere else occur 80% of the time. So, I would recommend getting this device to cover all possible power surge events but I would install this after installing the Type-2 protection at the circuit breaker panel and updating all of your Type-3, point-of-use protectors such as power strips, etc..

The focus of this post is to present facts concerning surge protection and solutions so us as homeowners can make an informed decision about this risk. If you decide to manage this risk for your home reach out to your favorite electrician or call Lenhart or Pikes Electric to provide a solution.

Thanks for your timely post. Think I'll reach out to Lenhart and have them install an Eaton Ultra!

Does the newer builds already have surge protection because of different building codes.

The new builds have a type-2 Eaton installed to satisfy code requirements, but it's not the Eaton Ultra, and in my opinion, is not nearly good enough. I had mine replaced with an Eaton Ultra.

That's correct. The builder installs basic type-2 surge protection which is better than nothing to meet the code but many replace it with the Eaton Ultra or the PSP Vortex which will give you better protection.

What's the useful life of a type-2 surge protector?

Thank you for referring us! Just so everyone is aware:
Pike's Electric: $525.00 Promo Price for Eaton Ultra installed :)
Give us a call (352)748-6251

The useful life will depend on how many large hits it took but generally speaking, it should last until the lights on the unit go out.

Personally, I also recommend a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) for the Internet router / TV and all PCs. A UPS is a battery backup unit, so the equipment keeps running during power outages, that also includes surge protection, brown out protection, and more. All the ones I use are made by APC (American Power Conversion). This is the brand manager businesses use.

A layered approach is needed, the UPS replaces the end power strip at the equipment end of the line.

I'll have Len reach out to you on this for the schedule.
Tnx,
John

Whole house level 1&2 surge protection has been code for the last several years. All new construction has it installed on the electric service panel on the outside of the house, Open your panel door below the elen meter and look for yourself. No need for the power company ring on the electric meter, or another electrician installed level 2 device on the inside service panel.
FYI - I had talked to one of the local electricians and was told with this already installed by code protection device on the outside panel, any other level 1 or 2 device would be a waste of money.
The only other surge devices recommended would be those at point of use/level 3, and at the A/C unit. And your power strips to plug into, at the wall outlet/point of use.
Level 1 & 2 only work for surges coming in on the electrical service line, which is what is fed from the power company.
Lightening strikes at or near the house? All bets are off, no surge suppressor will likely be any good for that. No matter level 1, 2 or 3. Everything has limitations.
Myself? Sticking with the by code installed device on my whole house outside service panel & I have another device installed on the A/C electric service panel at the outside A/C unit, and additional stage 3 plugs where needed for point of use items inside the house.

agree and works EXCEPT when the power outage is at the power supplier to the internet equipment. Charter was out this week for 10 hours due to a power outage at a server/routing center. . . somewhere, and there was no information showing on the SECO outage map. . .

So the UPS works until it doesn't. . and have had electrical outages and had enough time to finish and save all work and shut down safely due to UPS on the modem/router equipment. . but it's also not unlimited in battery time

good luck to everyone, we need it!