[roadrnnr]

We just bought a new house and Seco inquired whether I wanted a Surge Protector they attach to the meter.

Anybody have one of these, are they a good idea?

I come from a state we never really worried about lightning strikes to much

Thanks

[retiredguy123]

I don't have one. In my opinion, it is a waste of money. Also, in most cases, it won't protect your house from lightning. It is an electrical surge protector, not a lightning protector.

[villagetinker]

We have one, the house next-door had a close in lightning strike, it did $7000 in damage, ours had no damage. Think the lightning hit a sign pole at the back of their yard, this was about 150 feet from our house. I will mention the comcast cable failed about 18 months later and in discussion with the tech, he stated that failure may have been due to the strike.
IMHO, these are effective for the close in strikes, they will do nothing for a direct strike. Also, these will not protect EXTERNAL wiring, landscape lights, pool controls, and other wiring that goes outside the house.

[retiredguy123]

Here is what the SECO warranty says about lightning:

"Under no circumstances will MTI guarantee performance due to a lightning strike not carried down the utility power lines and through the utility transformer and then the SPD to the residence."

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Here is what the SECO warranty says about lightning:

"Under no circumstances will MTI guarantee performance due to a lightning strike not carried down the utility power lines and through the utility transformer and then the SPD to the residence."

Sure. If the strike does not travel through the protector then it cannot provide protection.

You will never know if the device works, only if it doesn’t. VT’s experience makes me glad I have one.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Sure. If the strike does not travel through the protector then it cannot provide protection.

You will never know if the device works, only if it doesn’t. VT’s experience makes me glad I have one.

Apparently, the lightning must also travel through the nearest transformer, which probably already has a surge protector.

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by roadrnnr

We just bought a new house and Seco inquired whether I wanted a Surge Protector they attach to the meter.

Anybody have one of these, are they a good idea?

I come from a state we never really worried about lightning strikes to much

Thanks

Here is a detailed discussion from last year when a house in DeLuna was struck. Lightning Strikes Home in DeLuna

If I may be allowed to paraphrase JRef, then lightning protection is a phased approach. Use all of them. The best is to get lightning rods. He recommends (strongly) using a certified installer & he supplies contact names.
Next up is a whole house surge protector as in the Eaton, installed by electricians at the breaker box. Next is point of use surge protectors at your electronics, computers, TVs, unfortunately most appliances nowadays have a electronic panel, ie: fridge, washer, dryer, microwave, garage door opener, etc. so all of them. Finally the SECO surge mitigator. If you have the financial resources to do all at once, then that is the answer. Otherwise, proceed as you can. Keeping the ultimate goal in mind.
The reasons are: the lightning rods protect your house & your life. The cost is the highest, several thousand dollars. But the likelihood of getting hit is relatively low. The risk is unimaginably high.
The whole house surge protector protects your major appliances. Cost moderate, & likelihood of surges greater. Risk: pretty high if you lose AC, fridge, etc.
The point of use surge protectors may help. No use in a big surge. But many tiny surges may be why your TVs, etc. just stop working someday. Worthwhile.
Seco surge mitigator helps with surges from SECOs power, but the likelihood of getting hit is in the 20% range.
JRef, please correct, amend, add on. Thank you as always.

[Altavia]

The electrical code now requires surge protection in new homes that is intended to protect surges induced into the house wiring by a nearby lightening strike or generated inside the home. The Villages is installing this via a "Class 2" device that looks like a circuit breaker in your panel. So you may one of these all ready but the warranty is very limited.

There is an Eaton "Class 2" protector that has much higher protection capacity than the circuit breaker like device. On paper, the warranty looks much better. It that can be installed by companies like Pikes electric for about the same price as the SECO protector

[Final Week! Whole Home Surge Protection Special Pricing

The SECO device is 'Class 1" designed to protect from surges on the power line, the warranty excludes most everything in the home.

For maximum protection, it's recommended to use local protectors for expensive devices like garage door openers, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, stove, HVAC, SPA, TV, WIFI, etc.

If you're a belt and suspenders person, you can use any combination or all for more protection.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Apparently, the lightning must also travel through the nearest transformer, which probably already has a surge protector.

Incorrect guess...

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I don't have one. In my opinion, it is a waste of money. Also, in most cases, it won't protect your house from lightning. It is an electrical surge protector, not a lightning protector.

They do reduce risk from surges induced by lightening into the wiring in your house. Which are the most frequent cause of lightening induced damage and why protection is now required by the electrical code.

[bmcgowan13]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Here is what the SECO warranty says about lightning:

"Under no circumstances will MTI guarantee performance due to a lightning strike not carried down the utility power lines and through the utility transformer and then the SPD to the residence."

We purchased a whole-house protector for our home in Orlando. The company installed it in the main electrical panel in the garage told me the "fuse" (could it be made of epoxy?) was only good for one strike. Most likely the equipment on that circuit would get "zapped" but the rest of the house was protected.

The way he explained it the DUKE energy protector was installed outside of the home (where the meter is) and ONLY protected from lighting coming into the house from the electrical feed from DUKE (like hitting a transformer or coming in on the overhead electrical lines). Those types of strikes are not very common as their equipment is pretty well protected.

He explained that the overwhelming majority of lighting strikes in Florida are related to ground strikes or direct home strikes. The lighting hits a pole, your eave or tree in the backyard, travels down to the ground and radiates out and then "jumps" into your house via an exterior wall outlet, metal pipe, light fixture or switch. Then it goes into your house through that circuit and into the main electrical panel and the surge will then fry all the other lines.

The protector that he installed was the same type Verizon uses on their cell phone towers. He had already installed several.

Not being an electrician or engineer it sounded good to me but I was told by several other companies that the protector from DUKE (with a monthly fee) was basically protecting *their* equipment and really only addressed a small fraction of the usual strikes.

This one is good for one shot---if we take a lightning strike that epoxy block needs to be replaced.

So far so good...

[bopat]

I think ours is outside with the meter? I know SECO is replacing the meters at some point, will we need another when they do that?

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by bopat

I think ours is outside with the meter? I know SECO is replacing the meters at some point, will we need another when they do that?

The SECO protector stays.

[Rwirish]

Nope, not one house in The Villages has one.

Can you say Lightening Capital?

[rsmurano]

Good insurance getting the surge protection device at the meter. It costs $6 a month and if anything happens to it you call the utility. You have it done by an electrician then you call them for a large fee to come out and replace it. In the past I’ve had friends lose heating units and kitchen ranges with the new digital front ends to surges.

Also you need to protect your rg6 cable coming into your house if you have spectrum or xfinity.