[Shop-talk] Whole-house surge protection

[Tim]

" 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 at 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
>>
>> 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.