[Altavia]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

Surge protectors are for suckers. I have never used a surge protector or UPS and have never had an electrical device damaged or have it's life expectancy shortened by fluctuations of power in the past 60 years.

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who can learn, and those who won't.

[Altavia]

The 2023 update to the the National Electrical Code now requires Surge Protection Devices.

Understanding the 2023 NEC Rules for Surge Protection.

Understanding NEC 2023 Requirements for Surge Protection

In NEC 2023, the code language of Section 230.67(A) was updated to further define “dwelling units”, now reading:

230.67(A) Surge-Protective Device. All services supplying the following occupancies shall be provided with a surge-protective device (SPD):

(1) Dwelling units

(2) Dormitory units

(3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels

(4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms

. . .

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

$71 bucks on Amazon

So the cost of the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection 3rd Edition surge protector is around $137 with the faceplate at $30 on amazon which you will need so why do these electricial companies charge $500?

You also need a double $50 amp breaker about $20 installed in your circuit breaker panel that attaches the surge protector to the panel.

At the end of the day even when you add the cost of installation, about an hour tops, there is still a lot of profit to be made.

As to the question about installing one yourself, yes you can but remember here in the Villages the main breaker cut off is at the bottom of the circuit breaker panel so eventhough you turn off the main breaker you will be working around the main. That said, this would only be a self install for a person with electrical experience and even then it's probably not worth the risk of trying to install it yourself. Sometimes Pikes and Lenhardt run a sale where you can get this installed cheaper. I had mine installed by Pikes 2 years ago when I moved to the Villages for $400 but since then the prices have gone up. Either way think if it as an investment for your home to significantly lessen the risk of damage from power surges.

As for those naysayers, there is plenty of documented evidence that surge protectors work when installed and used properly. Do your research, it's a matter of electronics and physics. But also remember if you home is hit by lightning or right outside your home the power surge may be so large that there is no device that will protect you. The best you can hope for in that case is the surge protection plan you put in place will limit the damage you otherwise would have had if you had no surge protection at all.

Also, for point of use surge protection for computers, TVs, etc, I highly recommend the Tripplite products such as their ISOBAR6Ultra. This comes in 4, 6 and 8 outlet strips or the Tripp Lite TLP128TTUSBB 12 Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 2 USB Charging Ports, Tel/Modem/Coax Protection. These are all UL certified, tested and very well made. All available on Amazon.

[pikeselectric]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

$71 bucks on Amazon

Hi Rob and Laura - Would love to see the link you found on Amazon! I am curious if it is just the unit, or the entire package to install the unit, which requires a flush mount kit, a 2 pole 50 breaker applicable to your home's panel, which varies depending on the manufacturer, washers, etc.
Our price includes all materials needed, along with the labor for our technician to install it.
We also offer 5% off for TOTV members if you mention it

[pikeselectric]

Hi Jrref - We are happy you used us in the past for this install. We did see some increase in product costs within the last year for the product itself and especially breaker pricing and availability, our service labor rate also increased in early 2023, BUT we are proud to offer the lowest service call rate for the 1 hour minimum in our area. (We do our research ).
We offer a 5% off for Talk of The Villages members if you mention it when you call our office. We are also currently working on price REDUCTIONS on materials and changes moving in to 2024. We are constantly working to make sure we produce the best quality products at a price that is reasonable. We appreciate your business and your feedback on this post.

[pikeselectric]

Originally Posted by Altavia

The 2023 update to the the National Electrical Code now requires Surge Protection Devices.

Understanding the 2023 NEC Rules for Surge Protection.

Understanding NEC 2023 Requirements for Surge Protection

In NEC 2023, the code language of Section 230.67(A) was updated to further define “dwelling units”, now reading:

230.67(A) Surge-Protective Device. All services supplying the following occupancies shall be provided with a surge-protective device (SPD):

(1) Dwelling units

(2) Dormitory units

(3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels

(4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms

. . .

Good morning Altavia, The NEC 2023 code (although 2023) is not being adopted into Building code/Counties of residence in Florida at this time. However, NEC 2020 code begins 1/1/24 for Sumter, Lake, Marion counties. The 2023 code also requires any new construction dwellings to have surge protection that are going through construction/permitting. 2023 NEC is coming, but not yet. Counties adopt the codes when they are ready.

[Robnlaura]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Not required for warranty for any HVAC system I have ever owned.

I have two mini splits both have Intermatic AG3000 120/240 VAC Universal HVAC Surge Protective Device easy to install on the power supply.. basically they protect the logic board of the unit. For 65 bucks it’s worth it.. and it’s installable on a 220v ac system.. literally 3 wires a 10 minute job.. $500 odd as they say it costs is a joke.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by jrref

So the cost of the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection 3rd Edition surge protector is around $137 with the faceplate at $30 on amazon which you will need so why do these electricial companies charge $500?

You also need a double $50 amp breaker about $20 installed in your circuit breaker panel that attaches the surge protector to the panel.

At the end of the day even when you add the cost of installation, about an hour tops, there is still a lot of profit to be made.

...

.

Good info.

If there is room in the panel, the Eaton BRNSURGE Type BR Whole-Panel Circuit Breaker Surge Protective Device is a much easier install and doesn't need the additional 50a breaker.

It has the same 20 kA nominal discharge current/108 kA surge capacity per phase as the CHSPT2ULTRA.

And has a bit of a technical advantage since the connections are closer to the power distribution bus.

If there is an unused 220v electric dryer or oven breaker, those can be removed and the suppressor installed in that slot.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by pikeselectric

Good morning Altavia, The NEC 2023 code (although 2023) is not being adopted into Building code/Counties of residence in Florida at this time. However, NEC 2020 code begins 1/1/24 for Sumter, Lake, Marion counties. The 2023 code also requires any new construction dwellings to have surge protection that are going through construction/permitting. 2023 NEC is coming, but not yet. Counties adopt the codes when they are ready.

Thanks and understood that the local codes usually lag behind to give business time to catch up.

[FredMitchell]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

Surge protectors are for suckers. I have never used a surge protector or UPS and have never had an electrical device damaged or have it's life expectancy shortened by fluctuations of power in the past 60 years.

This is an example of normalcy bias. That something has never happened before to you, do not mean that it won't happen in the future, to you or anyone else.

I never had an auto accident, before my first one.

[FredMitchell]

Originally Posted by jrref

I'm one of the engineers in the Villages Lightning Study Group headed by Len Hathaway. We give presentations on Lightning protection and surge protection to many groups frequently in the Villages. If you have the time it's well worth it to go to one of the presentations so you can make your own informed decision.

I was struck by the fact that LPS was not even an option in a designer home here. My two previous houses in Princeton did have them. They were on a ridge between 250 and 400 feet MSL (above sea level). In the first, we had lightning strike a tree about 150 feet from the front of one house. There were chunks of wood from the explosion of the trunk on our front porch. Four foot sections about 50 feet from the trunk. The surge also triggered the window alarms (or the thunder did, not clear which).

I think I have only seen about 3 or 4 houses here with LPS, all in the same neighborhood. When and where are the presentations? How do we find this valuable information?

[Robnlaura]

Originally Posted by pikeselectric

Hi Rob and Laura - Would love to see the link you found on Amazon! I am curious if it is just the unit, or the entire package to install the unit, which requires a flush mount kit, a 2 pole 50 breaker applicable to your home's panel, which varies depending on the manufacturer, washers, etc.
Our price includes all materials needed, along with the labor for our technician to install it.
We also offer 5% off for TOTV members if you mention it

BRNSURGE Type BR Whole-Panel Circuit Breaker Surge Protective Device $61 bucks read the comments about how easy it is to install.. but worth paying an electrician if you don’t want the hassle! Eaton BRNSURGE Type BR Whole-Panel Circuit Breaker Surge Protective Device https://a.co/d/eJBt0OL

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by Altavia

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who can learn, and those who won't.

Things are quite different in the Villages. MANY MANY have had electronics and appliances blown due to lightning strikes. You do not have to be hit directly. One strike can cause electronic problems on the entire street

[MrLonzo]

My HVAC fan would not shut off. The HVAC technician diagnosed it as a faulty fan motor control module and replaced it -- a very expensive repair. He said it's a VERY common problem at the Villages due to voltage surges which is detrimental to the low voltage mechanism in the module. I told him I had the SECO surge mitigator, but he said that would not help, but he did offer a special surge protector for the HVAC unit (~$200). I don't know how much of that is upselling and how much is true, but that's my experience.

[Robnlaura]

Originally Posted by jrref

So the cost of the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection 3rd Edition surge protector is around $137 with the faceplate at $30 on amazon which you will need so why do these electricial companies charge $500?

You also need a double $50 amp breaker about $20 installed in your circuit breaker panel that attaches the surge protector to the panel.

At the end of the day even when you add the cost of installation, about an hour tops, there is still a lot of profit to be made.

As to the question about installing one yourself, yes you can but remember here in the Villages the main breaker cut off is at the bottom of the circuit breaker panel so eventhough you turn off the main breaker you will be working around the main. That said, this would only be a self install for a person with electrical experience and even then it's probably not worth the risk of trying to install it yourself. Sometimes Pikes and Lenhardt run a sale where you can get this installed cheaper. I had mine installed by Pikes 2 years ago when I moved to the Villages for $400 but since then the prices have gone up. Either way think if it as an investment for your home to significantly lessen the risk of damage from power surges.

As for those naysayers, there is plenty of documented evidence that surge protectors work when installed and used properly. Do your research, it's a matter of electronics and physics. But also remember if you home is hit by lightning or right outside your home the power surge may be so large that there is no device that will protect you. The best you can hope for in that case is the surge protection plan you put in place will limit the damage you otherwise would have had if you had no surge protection at all.

Also, for point of use surge protection for computers, TVs, etc, I highly recommend the Tripplite products such as their ISOBAR6Ultra. This comes in 4, 6 and 8 outlet strips or the Tripp Lite TLP128TTUSBB 12 Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 2 USB Charging Ports, Tel/Modem/Coax Protection. These are all UL certified, tested and very well made. All available on Amazon.

Good info to have I use the Intermatic on each mini split probably overkill but very easy to install.. on a outside ac unit just as easy to install..
Intermatic AG3000 120/240 VAC Universal HVAC Surge Protective Device - Comprehensive Surge Protection, TPMOV Technology, Watertight Enclosure - UL Listed and Reliable https://a.co/d/5KecR0x