[jkomoros]

Since central Florida gets so many lightning strikes, we were thinking of buying this system, but wondered if it's really necessary. We do, of course, have our TVs and computers on surge protection, but this is for the whole house. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Talk Host]

When we built our house in The Villages, we signed up for the SECO whole house surge protection. We never heard anything more for a while. Then one day, there was a box on the front porch.

In the box was a bunch of those little surge suppressors that you plug in the wall then plug your appliance into. The same kind that you buy at Radio Shack.

There were no instructions, nothing. No mention of having put any kind of central suppression system on the house.

Since I already had surge suppressors on our computers and TV, the box has been sitting on the self in the closet for six years.

I hope they now have a better system.

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

When we built our house in The Villages, we signed up for the SECO whole house surge protection. We never heard anything more for a while. Then one day, there was a box on the front porch.

In the box was a bunch of those little surge suppressors that you plug in the wall then plug your appliance into. The same kind that you buy at Radio Shack.

There were no instructions, nothing. No mention of having put any kind of central suppression system on the house.

Since I already had surge suppressors on our computers and TV, the box has been sitting on the self in the closet for six years.

I hope they now have a better system.

You sure got different service that we did. We have had SECO install the surge protection on three houses in TV. Each time we were told the installer would be putting the whole house surge protector on the outside meter and also supplying us with individual surge protectors. The individual protectors were to be used on things that we wanted covered by their insurance in case of electrical failure, such as the microwave, garage door opener, television, etc. (There were protectors that you could use with your phone and cable as well.)

Has it worked? I don't know if we have ever been hit with a power surge that was stopped by the protector but I doubt it. I think I would have heard from a neighbor that did not have the protection if there was a power surge. But it gives me some piece of mind that I have one more level of protection for my home and electrical "stuff".

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by jkomoros

Since central Florida gets so many lightning strikes, we were thinking of buying this system, but wondered if it's really necessary. We do, of course, have our TVs and computers on surge protection, but this is for the whole house. Anyone have any experience with this?

The previous owner of our home had a whole house surge protector put in the circuit box in the garage. It seems to work well. As an aside, we recently had our house interior painted and the painters found three receptacle covers that showed signs of a mild electrical trauma. Because of the location of those covers and the likelihood that they didn't have anything plugged into them, I'm assuming it was caused by a surge prior to the surge protector installation. I think I'd put one in.

[F16 1UB]

At our previous home in KY we had the electric company install surge suppressors. We had 2 electric meters and the units were installed at the base of the meter. Having a total electric home I felt as though it was advisable. The way we found out they worked was I walked by the meter and heard a high pitched sound. It was an audible alarm that suggested there had been a spike in the system. I contacted customer service and they came out and replaced the surge unit for no cost. I'm sure SECO could explain the operation of the unit.

At our home here in TV I had 2 breakers installed in the fuse panel. "Supposedly" does the same thing for a nominal fee of $150. Hope I never have to prove that it works.

[tpop1]

After being in Sarasota for 9 years without whole house protection we didn't think we needed it, until we were here in August.

A clap of thunder that seemed to be right outside our sliders then, combined with the several house fires in T.V changed my mind.

SECO's protector was in place when we returned in Nov.(it sits between the house and the glass head on the electric meter. It's labled and has a "ready" light on it).

I feel invincible now! ???

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by tpop1

SECO's protector was in place when we returned in Nov.(it sits between the house and the glass head on the electric meter. It's labled and has a "ready" light on it).

We didn't have such a device on our house, just the box of wall plug in protectors

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

When we built our house in The Villages, we signed up for the SECO whole house surge protection. We never heard anything more for a while. Then one day, there was a box on the front porch.

In the box was a bunch of those little surge suppressors that you plug in the wall then plug your appliance into. The same kind that you buy at Radio Shack.

There were no instructions, nothing. No mention of having put any kind of central suppression system on the house.

Since I already had surge suppressors on our computers and TV, the box has been sitting on the self in the closet for six years.

I hope they now have a better system.

What did it cost six years ago?

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

What did it cost six years ago?

I really don't remember, but I will try to check.

[tpop1]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

We didn't have such a device on our house, just the box of wall plug in protectors

Separate inside plug-in protectors were also included.

[billethkid]

Any differently than those who do not have it and are in the super majority that do not get struck??

btk

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Any differently than those who do not have it and are in the super majority that do not get struck??

btk

It's kinda like those bogus "deer whistles" that people put on their cars. If you don't hit a deer, you think they are working. If you do hit a deer, the company that made they says, "you didn't clean them out once a week, they weren't working right."

[Dynasty]

We rent the surge protection from SECO. The math does not work for me to purchase. I'm happy with my rental and would do it again.

[DENNIS G]

They installed a whole house protecor behind the meter with a new ground system and gave me the small protectors to use also for added protection. Have never had any problems and has been over 3 years.

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by billethkid

How does one know it is working well? Any differently than those who do not have it and are in the super majority that do not get struck??

btk

Lights come on every time I hit the switch. Does the surge protector work? I'll get back to you on that. Does electricity pass through it without pause? I can definitively say yes.

Sort of like: How does the pacemaker work for you? Works well (I hope).

Slow day in Political?