Maybe it depends how it is installed. Ours was on the main line coming
from the street (essentially like the main on/off breaker). My thought was
that if lightning hits my attic fan, goes down those wires to the panel, it
will electrify every circuit on that bank. I think you would need to have
it somehow filtering every circuit to truly protect from lightning going
from one circuit to the other--ours did not do this. By design, I think
the SS only protected against lighting spikes coming in from the street
(e.g., transformer or neighbor, etc.) or entering through the meter on the
side of the house.
Caveat: I'm not an electrician either.
On Thu, May 23, 2013 at 10:19 AM, Tim <tputland@charter.net> wrote:
> " As I recall, it only protects from spikes coming off of the street and
> not if your house is hit. "
>
> I was under the impression (from what I've seen on TV and also read) that
> the whole-house protectors that are wired into your breaker box are meant
> to protect your electical wiring from lightning strikes.
>
> Is this not true?
>
> electrically challenged
> tim
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 23, 2013 at 9:01 AM, Ian McFetridge wrote:
>
> I had one on a house (builder installed) and I don't believe it ever did
>> anything in the five years we lived there. I don't think I would get one
>> in your situation. As I recall, it only protects from spikes coming off
>> of
>> the street and not if your house is hit. The house we live in now has
>> above ground lines on the street and to the house. I probably would get
>> one if we weren't planning to move soon.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, May 23, 2013 at 9:49 AM, Jeff Scarbrough <fishplate@gmail.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>> A cow-orker with a new house asked me about whole-house surge
>>> protection. Where I live, the local member-owned electric utility
>>> sells protection for large appliances and motors as a device in the
>>> meter base. They charge $6.50 a month for this service. As I
>>> understand it, you're basically buying insurance, as they repair any
>>> damage due to surges with this service.
>>>
>>> I see you can purchase a similar device at the local big box for
>>> around $200. The claim is that it offers surge protection similar to
>>> a plug-in device, but also covers connected equipment.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.homedepot.com/p/**Square-D-by-Schneider-**
>>> Electric-SurgeBreaker-Plus-**Whole-House-Secondary-Surge-**
>>> Protective-Device-SDSB1175C/**100127248#.UZ4bKsqOBhc<http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-by-Schneider-Electric-SurgeBreaker-Plus-Whole-House-Secondary-Surge-Protective-Device-SDSB1175C/100127248#.UZ4bKsqOBhc>
>>>
>>> In my neighborhood, all the utilities are underground. In 17 years,
>>> I've not experienced anything that would require use of a whole-house
>>> device, despite some really exciting electrical storms. All of my
>>> electronics are plugged into normal surge suppressors, but no problems
>>> with them or the larger things so far.
>>>
>>> Any of you guys have any experience or advice concerning this sort of
>>> thing?
>>>
>>> Jeff Scarbrough
>>> Corrosion Acres, Ga.
>>>
>> ______________________________**_________________
>
> Shop-talk@autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.**html<http://www.team.net/donate.html>
> Suggested annual donation $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/**
> options/shop-talk/shop-talk2@**mcfetridge.org<http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org>
_______________________________________________
Shop-talk@autox.team.net
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
|