[MrLonzo]

My understanding is that SECO's "Surge MitiGator" protects your home's large appliances, but you still need individual surge protection for smaller electronics. I do understand the damage an electrical surge can cause to a personal computer, for example. But in general, I don't understand surge protection. For example, why is surge protection important for appliances that are not being used and are not WiFi enabled (washer, dryer, dishwasher, coffee maker...)? I don't think I'd be running any of these appliances during a thunderstorm. What about refrigerator? What appliances DO need surge protection? Is the Surge MitiGator worth the investment? Thank you!

[dewilson58]

Like lightening protection................"the world may never know".

We had one installed during construction, so the cost was so minor compared to the rest of the house...............we jus said, sure.

[retiredguy123]

In my opinion, it is a waste of money.

Read the warranty. Even if it is a large appliance, if it has a microchip, it is probably not covered. Almost every appliance has a microchip. Also, it does not even cover electrical wiring and outlets. SECO's whole house surge protector is just a way for SECO to increase their profits. They don't provide any data to prove that it will prevent any damage, and their warranty has so many exclusions that it is practically worthless. Also, if surge protectors were really needed, power companies would incorporate into their multi-million dollar power distribution system as part of the design instead of asking customers to pay extra for them.

[Bogie Shooter]

Heavily discussed on this thread.
Lightning Strikes in The Villages

[Babubhat]

You have homeowners insurance for this. Put protection on outlets

[Altavia]

It's a risk reduction.

After dealing with insurance for months after a lightening strike up north, I have one.

[Stu from NYC]

We have one thru Seco and electronics and expensive appliances have their own.

Others have suggested putting another one on inside your electrical panel, good friend who is an electrical engineer says the Seco one is enough.

In other words who knows just think of it as insurance and would rather not give our insurance company a reason to either raise rates even more or cancel policy.

[Ellwoodrick]

Here is an independent article on the subject.



Does Your Home Need a Whole-house Surge Protector? | HowStuffWorks

[banjobob]

The small fee is a good investment with lightning we have in this area, yes I have surge protectors on electronics also.

[mikeycereal]

I have a few surge protecters for my computer and TV. I know they are not 100% but I use them rather than not.

My favorite time to see/hear a lightning storm is when I'm not at home.

[Berwin]

I recall back in the 90s when whole house surge protectors were coming out hearing that they actually paid for themselves over some period of time. Not by protecting anything (although they did that) but by reducing your electric bill slightly every month. The power coming in from the street fluctuates slightly and by limiting the over voltages you are not paying for that which your appliances happily consume even though they don't need it. We're talking small change here but over time it adds up.

[birdawg]

I think it cost 5-6 dollars.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Berwin

I recall back in the 90s when whole house surge protectors were coming out hearing that they actually paid for themselves over some period of time. Not by protecting anything (although they did that) but by reducing your electric bill slightly every month. The power coming in from the street fluctuates slightly and by limiting the over voltages you are not paying for that which your appliances happily consume even though they don't need it. We're talking small change here but over time it adds up.

I would like to see the actual data to support that claim. Otherwise, I am very skeptical.

[airstreamingypsy]

I rent the whole house surge guard from SECO, and my electronics are also plugged into APC UPSes. I lost a brand new TV a month after I moved here, to lightning, no problems since I got the APCs.

[Elixir34]

For example, why is surge protection important for appliances that are not being used and are not WiFi enabled (washer, dryer, dishwasher, coffee maker...)? I don't think I'd be running any of these appliances during a thunderstorm. What about refrigerator? What appliances DO need surge protection? Is the Surge MitiGator worth the investment? Thank you![/QUOTE]

Appliances don’t need to be operating to be affected by surge. And surges can enter your home’s AC distribution from other than the SECO power meter. A lightning strike took out our electric stove without activating the SECO meter surge protector. (Both surge protector LEDs were still lit.) It likely entered the house through the irrigation system, because it fried the irrigation controller, the irr. controller individual AC outlet surge protector, and the GFCI outlet into which it was plugged.