Surge protector on Electric Meter Surge protector on Electric Meter - Page 2 - Talk of The Villages Florida

Surge protector on Electric Meter

View Poll Results: For those living in the Villages, did you have damage from a power surge?
Only had the electric meter surge arrester device and still had damage from a power surge? 2 12.50%
Only had a whole house surge protector installed at the circuit breaker panel and still had damage? 1 6.25%
Had both electric meter AND whole house surge protectors and still had damage? 1 6.25%
Had both electric meter AND whole house surge protectors and Did Not have damage? 12 75.00%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
Thread Tools
  #16  
Old 09-01-2025, 04:41 PM
jrref jrref is online now
Platinum member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,607
Thanks: 524
Thanked 957 Times in 519 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thelegges View Post
Not sure if repetition is lack of memory posting same previous posts.

Or repetition because someone thinks posters have memory loss.

I keep hope something New will be posted about a newer product, but nada.


The poll doesn’t have a box for me to check 7 houses (2004-Now) only seco, In 21 years.

NO Loss of any inside appliances, TV, wifi. Yes 3 power surge…(according to neighbors) .No damage.

Pretty good record for 7 houses in 7 very different areas of TV in 21 years.

Kind of makes you wonder why spend the money.
When it comes to lightning protection, there isn't anything new except for CMCE devices which there are no studies except for lab results, that they actually work in all storms for residential installations. You can google the topic for all the information on that technology and it's very high cost. There is one installation that we know of here in Osceola Hills.

Surge protection on the other hand has some new developments because most homes have a lot more sensitive electronic devices than ever before. We spoke about the Eaton Ultra which is a surge protector with MOV technology used by many all over the country for many years but the PSP Vortex series-R uses a hybrid system consisting of temperature protected MOVs with a gas discharge tube for greater capacity and longevity. Several Villager's including myself have the PSP Vortex Series-R installed so it will be interesting to see over time, how these two surge protector technologies actually work and if one technology is better than the other or are they equivalent in a multi-layered surge protection system.

But again the focus of this thread as stated in the first post is to see what experience Villagers have had with Type-1 meter and Type-2 whole house surge protectors in an effort to see how effective either or both were in actual real life events since the question comes up a lot about do we need both here in lightnig prone central Florida.
  #17  
Old 09-01-2025, 04:52 PM
jrref jrref is online now
Platinum member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,607
Thanks: 524
Thanked 957 Times in 519 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
I was thinking about getting some of these for my appliances? Anybody know it they are any good?

Amazon.com
Yes, I know someone who has these and they work well because as you are aware, when we have a severe storm, although we don't loose power, we do sometimes get those quick losses of power for a second which are not good for refrigerators for example. These devices will not only provide point-of-use type-3 surge protection but also turn off the power for a minute or two on an over or undervoltage event giving very good protection. In fact, my new Carrier Variable Speed Inverter HVAC system has an commercial version of this protective device installed to protect my system.
Attached Thumbnails
The Villages Florida: Click image for larger version

Name:	HVAC.jpg
Views:	234
Size:	65.1 KB
ID:	109779  
  #18  
Old 09-01-2025, 06:33 PM
sounding sounding is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Calumet Grove
Posts: 1,318
Thanks: 765
Thanked 1,039 Times in 651 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JMintzer View Post
One would think so...

The Villages Florida
Except for those who wonder why lightning caused so much damage to their home - not to mention all the flames coming out of their attic.
Attached Thumbnails
The Villages Florida: Click image for larger version

Name:	Lightning_1.jpg
Views:	207
Size:	92.5 KB
ID:	109780  
  #19  
Old 09-01-2025, 06:41 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 15,347
Thanks: 1,263
Thanked 16,310 Times in 6,402 Posts
Default

We came back from a vacation and our frig would not cool below 54 degrees.

No idea if it was damaged by electrical storm but did lead us to purchase a surge protector installed in our electrical panel.
  #20  
Old 09-01-2025, 06:45 PM
Bill14564 Bill14564 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Village of Hillsborough
Posts: 7,591
Thanks: 2,391
Thanked 7,944 Times in 3,133 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sounding View Post
Except for those who wonder why lightning caused so much damage to their home - not to mention all the flames coming out of their attic.
With six lightning threads last month, who do you think will be reached with yet another started today? Either:
- Users have seen the threads and are well aware of the scary pictures
- Users are skipping the lightning threads and will skip this one too
- The questions at the talks are coming from the numerous Villagers who do not read these forums.
Who do you expect to reach with this and the likely six more threads in Sept?

One scary picture from 14 months ago and 11 house fires started by lightning in the last 12 months. That make roughly 84,900 homes NOT burned by lightning… when will you start posting pictures of each of those?
__________________
Why do people insist on making claims without looking them up first, do they really think no one will check? Proof by emphatic assertion rarely works.
Confirmation bias is real; I can find any number of articles that say so.


Victor, NY - Randallstown, MD - Yakima, WA - Stevensville, MD - Village of Hillsborough
  #21  
Old 09-01-2025, 07:11 PM
sounding sounding is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Calumet Grove
Posts: 1,318
Thanks: 765
Thanked 1,039 Times in 651 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JMintzer View Post
You don't think they learned anything from the other half dozen threads about lightning?
Only a small fraction of TV folks follow TOTV discussions -- which is why the Villages Lightning Study Group has soooo many requests for presentations. They sometimes give 2 talks on the same day. They are looking for volunteers to help. Would that be you?
  #22  
Old 09-01-2025, 07:22 PM
Kenswing's Avatar
Kenswing Kenswing is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: We're Here!
Posts: 7,906
Thanks: 1,538
Thanked 6,066 Times in 2,448 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sounding View Post
Only a small fraction of TV folks follow TOTV discussions -- which is why the Villages Lightning Study Group has soooo many requests for presentations. They sometimes give 2 talks on the same day. They are looking for volunteers to help. Would that be you?
If only a small fraction of The Villages follow TOTV discussions why continue carpet bombing the forums with the same information?
__________________
Birthdays Are Good For You. Statistics Show the More That You Have The Longer You Will Live..

We've Got Plenty Of Youth.. What We Need Is a Fountain Of SMART!
  #23  
Old 09-01-2025, 07:29 PM
jrref jrref is online now
Platinum member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,607
Thanks: 524
Thanked 957 Times in 519 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill14564 View Post
With six lightning threads last month, who do you think will be reached with yet another started today? Either:
- Users have seen the threads and are well aware of the scary pictures
- Users are skipping the lightning threads and will skip this one too
- The questions at the talks are coming from the numerous Villagers who do not read these forums.
Who do you expect to reach with this and the likely six more threads in Sept?

One scary picture from 14 months ago and 11 house fires started by lightning in the last 12 months. That make roughly 84,900 homes NOT burned by lightning… when will you start posting pictures of each of those?
Apparently only a few are reading the first post because this thread is not another lightning and surge protection awareness thread, it’s a thread about finding Villager’s experiences good or bad with the type-1 meter and type-2 whole house circuit breaker panel protectors. It’s interesting that some are endlessly criticizing this discovery. If you had enough reading about lightning and surge protection, no one is compelling you to read this or any other thread on the subject. From some of the posts there are people reading TOTV that are interested in this subject matter.
  #24  
Old 09-01-2025, 07:34 PM
sounding sounding is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Calumet Grove
Posts: 1,318
Thanks: 765
Thanked 1,039 Times in 651 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenswing View Post
If only a small fraction of The Villages follow TOTV discussions why continue carpet bombing the forums with the same information?
Because the more often you reply here -- the more likely others will see the higher view rates -- and be more likely to read this. Thank you for your cooperation. Do you have any lightning pictures you'd like to contribute?
Attached Thumbnails
The Villages Florida: Click image for larger version

Name:	Lightning_3.jpg
Views:	170
Size:	57.6 KB
ID:	109782  
  #25  
Old 09-02-2025, 07:57 AM
elevatorman elevatorman is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The Village Duval
Posts: 1,057
Thanks: 44
Thanked 211 Times in 111 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
I was thinking about getting some of these for my appliances? Anybody know it they are any good?

Amazon.com
I purchased these Amazon.com for my refrigerator, garage door openers, and Irrigation timer. Most of the rest of my electronics are in high joule rated power strips. I looked for something to protect our Dryer electronics but everything I read said the Eaton Ultra was adequate.
  #26  
Old 09-02-2025, 08:20 AM
capecoralbill capecoralbill is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 370
Thanks: 14
Thanked 36 Times in 29 Posts
Default

Hasn't surge protection, and lightning protection been built into the newer "smart meters" ?
If not, why not!
  #27  
Old 09-02-2025, 08:38 AM
Bill14564 Bill14564 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Village of Hillsborough
Posts: 7,591
Thanks: 2,391
Thanked 7,944 Times in 3,133 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by capecoralbill View Post
Hasn't surge protection, and lightning protection been built into the newer "smart meters" ?
If not, why not!
Lightning protection is installed on a roof, not within the electric wiring.

Cost, complexity, customer concerns, and claims are reasons for building surge suppression into meters.

Cost: Everything is getting more expensive, including meters. The better the protection, the higher the cost. The electric company wants to be able to change your meter with the least amount of cost. An integrated surge protection system would make changing meters very expensive.

Complexity: The better the suppression the more complex the unit needs to be. "Dumb" electric meters were not very complex, smart meters are more complex, and adding good protection into the meter would make it even more complex. The more complex it is the more likely it is to have a failure which would require it to be replaced. The electric companies don't want to do something that would result in replacing more meters.

Customer concerns: Every time the electric company changes the meter there are customers who say the new meter is charging them more money. The more the meter does, the more doubt the customers have with it. Adding more electronics to the meter would give customers even more to worry about which would result in more calls, more complaints, and more work.

Claims: Nothing is perfect and even with surge suppression there is a chance that a device gets fried. The customer is going to go back to the protection provider to make a claim for the device that failed. The electric company does not want to be in the business of paying out claims.
__________________
Why do people insist on making claims without looking them up first, do they really think no one will check? Proof by emphatic assertion rarely works.
Confirmation bias is real; I can find any number of articles that say so.


Victor, NY - Randallstown, MD - Yakima, WA - Stevensville, MD - Village of Hillsborough
  #28  
Old 09-02-2025, 09:05 AM
jrref jrref is online now
Platinum member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,607
Thanks: 524
Thanked 957 Times in 519 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill14564 View Post
Lightning protection is installed on a roof, not within the electric wiring.

Cost, complexity, customer concerns, and claims are reasons for building surge suppression into meters.

Cost: Everything is getting more expensive, including meters. The better the protection, the higher the cost. The electric company wants to be able to change your meter with the least amount of cost. An integrated surge protection system would make changing meters very expensive.

Complexity: The better the suppression the more complex the unit needs to be. "Dumb" electric meters were not very complex, smart meters are more complex, and adding good protection into the meter would make it even more complex. The more complex it is the more likely it is to have a failure which would require it to be replaced. The electric companies don't want to do something that would result in replacing more meters.

Customer concerns: Every time the electric company changes the meter there are customers who say the new meter is charging them more money. The more the meter does, the more doubt the customers have with it. Adding more electronics to the meter would give customers even more to worry about which would result in more calls, more complaints, and more work.

Claims: Nothing is perfect and even with surge suppression there is a chance that a device gets fried. The customer is going to go back to the protection provider to make a claim for the device that failed. The electric company does not want to be in the business of paying out claims.
I agree. It's kind of ironic that we need to pay extra to the power company for a surge protector to protect us from surges coming from that company right?

This is why I'm trying to get some data, which is the focus of this thread wether we really need the Type-1 meter surge protector or is the Eaton Ultra or PSP Vortex enough. As I mentioned, the Type-1 meter surge protector is not available everywhere so the Type-2 like the Eaton Ultra is all that protects the home in these cases.
  #29  
Old 09-02-2025, 09:08 AM
sounding sounding is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Calumet Grove
Posts: 1,318
Thanks: 765
Thanked 1,039 Times in 651 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by capecoralbill View Post
Hasn't surge protection, and lightning protection been built into the newer "smart meters" ?
If not, why not!
I rent mine (the red lit unit behind the meter) from SECO (left part of photo), who installed it -- and the right side of photo shows the surge protector I paid an electrician to install which connects to the fuse box in the garage. Those who don't know about these, and why they are used, should attend a "Lightning" presentation by the Villages Lightning Study Group. Remember - Florida is the lightning capital of the US.
Attached Thumbnails
The Villages Florida: Click image for larger version

Name:	Lightning_02.jpg
Views:	80
Size:	90.5 KB
ID:	109796  
  #30  
Old 09-02-2025, 09:11 AM
Bill14564 Bill14564 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Village of Hillsborough
Posts: 7,591
Thanks: 2,391
Thanked 7,944 Times in 3,133 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jrref View Post
I agree. It's kind of ironic that we need to pay extra to the power company for a surge protector to protect us from surges coming from that company right?

This is why I'm trying to get some data, which is the focus of this thread wether we really need the Type-1 meter surge protector or is the Eaton Ultra or PSP Vortex enough. As I mentioned, the Type-1 meter surge protector is not available everywhere so the Type-2 like the Eaton Ultra is all that protects the home in these cases.
I didn't see that mentioned. Where are the Type-1 protectors not available?

Didn't we see in one of the other threads that the Type-1 devices are now required by Florida code? (I'll try to find it but there are a lot of duplicate threads to go through)
__________________
Why do people insist on making claims without looking them up first, do they really think no one will check? Proof by emphatic assertion rarely works.
Confirmation bias is real; I can find any number of articles that say so.


Victor, NY - Randallstown, MD - Yakima, WA - Stevensville, MD - Village of Hillsborough
Reply

Tags
surge, power, meter, electric, protector


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:19 PM.