Whole-house surge protection

General Tech
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I am getting some re-wiring done at my house. Wondering if it is a good time to install a whole-house surge protection device. Are they worth it? Any recommended models?

I am sure the collective brain trust here in the forum can offer some good opinion and guidance.

Thanks!

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I discovered this company some years ago, and I have the surge arrestor / suppresor and capacitor installed in my panel (see my post on “see your installs”, and you can see the canisters in my panel).
I can’t say they work, or don’t work…but I haven’t had any equipment failures do to lightning or surges…Just my $0.02.
http://www.deltala.com/

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Thanks. Interesting - I wonder what is in those canisters? Presumably the shape is important, but I don’t see any other products that look like that.

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I don’t know what’s inside them…it could be sand for all I know :joy:

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I’m watching the responses here … hot!

In home fulgurite production?

To add to the original question: Is an electrician’s philosophy to go with the ubiquitous devices in the industry and install, say, the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA so you can sue somebody if something goes wrong?

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EATON CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection 3rd Edition, 2.38" Length, 5.25" Width 7.5" Height

I installed this model in my main breaker panel along with another secondary Siemens “plug-in” model (which was a lesser quality) in my home sub-panel. I also helped my brother install this same model in his main breaker panel.

Start by checking out this website.

https://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2014/10/whats-the-best-whole-house-surge-protection/

  1. In my main panel, you can see my Eaton surge protector box mounted to the top inside metal cabinet.

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  2. In my sub-panel, I purchased and installed a unit specifically for the Siemens breaker panel. It just snaps in. Positions 44 and 45.

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  3. A friend installed a Zeus surge protector in his house. Main panel. It wires to a standard 240v breaker.

    13%20Suge%20Suppesor%20Install%2CMain%20Break%20Box%2C%206-13-17
    13%20Suge%20Suppesor%20Install%2CMain%20Break%20Box%2C%206-13-17600×800 73.4 KB

  4. On Habitat houses a surge protector is mounted in the upper-right. It has a large label marked “QO”. This unit just snaps in. Square D is the brand.

H108-breaker-panel-wiring
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@Dcdyer this is very detailed information - thanks! I hadn’t thought of installing on the sub panel as well, but a lower cost surge protector inside seems like an easy win (as well as a beefier one on the main panel).

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I installed a square d protector. Not the cheap homeline one. It mounts outside the box and has worked perfect.

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Thanks. I ended up going for a beefy Siemens FirstSurge, also mounts outside the box. Hoping to get it installed later this week.

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This is helpful, but I still have a few questions.

  1. When are they indicated?
  2. What conditions warrant the installation of a whole-house surge protector?
  3. Under what conditions (if any) should they be avoided?
  4. What improvements can I expect to notice?
  5. Will installing such a device improve the power quality within my house?
  6. Will installing such a device improve the Sense device detection?
  7. I notice the EATON CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection device is well rated. Does anyone have experience with this? Do you recommend this device, or do you prefer some other one?
  8. Can this share the 220 V breaker I use to power the Sense unit, or does it strictly require a separate breaker?
  9. What else is worth mentioning?
    Thanks!
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I replied with answers in bold.

  1. When are they indicated? Most come with small indicator lights to let you know if the unit has failed.
  2. What conditions warrant the installation of a whole-house surge protector? Every home should have at least one installed in the breaker panel. You should also have individual surge protectors installed at your PC, TV’s, etc.
  3. Under what conditions (if any) should they be avoided? ??
  4. What improvements can I expect to notice? Hopefully, you will never need it. No improvements will be apparent. It’s only when a power surge occurs from a lightning strike, power company restoring power, etc. that the device becomes active. The device is working to save your microwave, stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, A/C units which do not normally come with surge protection installed. Or you can take a chance and hope that a power surge will never damage these units.
  5. Will installing such a device improve the power quality within my house? No
  6. Will installing such a device improve the Sense device detection? No
  7. I notice the EATON CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection device is well rated. Does anyone have experience with this? I have one installed. Do you recommend this device, or do you prefer some other one? More money spent on a surge device generally equals more protection. You should install the unit that is easiest for you and in your price range.
  8. Can this share the 220 V breaker I use to power the Sense unit, or does it strictly require a separate breaker? Yes, I am doing it with no problems.
  9. What else is worth mentioning? Google “Surge Protectors”. You can find numerous articles that will educate you and help you decide which model fits your needs.
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12

I use the Schneider Electric SurgeArrest with my SquareD panel. The device could be installed outside your panel with wires getting inside the panel like any circuit breaker wire. You connect the device to your first breaker closest to your main breaker.

The device sends to ground any surge. My model is good to send a surge to ground up to 80 000 A (model HEPD80C). It comes with a 75 000$ insurance for 5 years after purchase.

Note that those surge protection devices are one time use. Once it has “neutralised” a single surge, it will be out of order. Thus the importance to look a the functional light to make sure it is still in good order. By having my device located outside the panel, I can easily see the functioning light.

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13

Good to know, does it have to be reset or replaced after it triggers?

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You will have to replace it. This is what you are hoping for: That a lightning strike ‘fries’ your $100+ device and not your expensive home appliances. All surge protectors use a “Metallic Oxide Varistor” (MOV).

Read the article for more info.

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15

You will have to replace it after a single use.

My device will not alert me after being used. The only clue will be a LED light being off. If I never go by my panel, than I would never know it had been used and that I am no more protected for a second surge.

My advice is to have it located so it can be monitored easily.

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16

Thanks for all the helpful information provided here. It would be good if Sense wrote a tutorial on this topic and provided it in the learn library.

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As the OP, I thought it might be a good idea to share a couple of pics…I went for a Siemens…self-installed (and the Sense wifi antenna is bottom-left of the panel):

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18

There are already numerous articles written by companies that manufacture Whole house Surge Protectors discussing “Surge Protection for residential homes”. SENSE does not need to write another document on this subject. Their focus needs to remain on measuring the wattage a home uses. This forum thread is just a side-bar topic for SENSE users who are updating their breaker panels to meet the new 2020 NEC code.

See this article, page 28-29 if you want additional info.
https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/residential/electrical-safety/electrical-safety-national-electrical-code-2020-br1610048en.pdf

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