Home appliance voltage surge protectors

[FlashG]

Anybody use these on appliances with microprocessors? I?m thinking about using something like this for our home. I?m looking at replacing the range with an Electrolux that is all electronic and want to protect it. I?m not sure which way to go. The local power company offers protection equipment that you pay a monthly charge for. Should I go with this or have an electrician install one for me?

 

[Eli]

hmm

Get homeowners/rental insurance and say bring on the lightening? lol

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: Eli
hmm

Get homeowners/rental insurance and say bring on the lightening? lol

I didn't know they offered this in Florida. If you are using insurance how much are they charging?

 

[Engineer]

Damn, I never really thought about this on newer appliances, but you're right. I know that you can install (or have someone else install) a whole house surge protector (including lightening arrestor) in your breaker box. I might need to look up one of these.

 

[BigJ]

As Engineer mentioned, there are whole home surge protectors. They're relatively inexpensive (can be found for as cheap as $50) and very, very easy to install if you are at all mechanically inclined.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: BigJ
As Engineer mentioned, there are whole home surge protectors. They're relatively inexpensive (can be found for as cheap as $50) and very, very easy to install if you are at all mechanically inclined.

Really... 50 bucks? How can that be?

I mean a regular surge protector can easily run that....

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: BigJ
As Engineer mentioned, there are whole home surge protectors. They're relatively inexpensive (can be found for as cheap as $50) and very, very easy to install if you are at all mechanically inclined.

Really... 50 bucks? How can that be?

I mean a regular surge protector can easily run that....

If you're paying that for a regular surge protector, you're getting ripped off, IMO.

A whole house surge protector isn't that much different than a plug in surge protector other than the connections. It is rated for the higher 240V and the two single phase 110 lines that split from the 240 by adding the neutral. Looking quickly on the web showed prices from $1,000 down to around $100.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: BigJ
As Engineer mentioned, there are whole home surge protectors. They're relatively inexpensive (can be found for as cheap as $50) and very, very easy to install if you are at all mechanically inclined.

Really... 50 bucks? How can that be?

I mean a regular surge protector can easily run that....

Go to homedepot.com and type in 196900. That's the product we sell locally. I'd recommend going with something like 100396483 (put that into the website).

Specs:

Don't let power surges or nearby lightning strikes turn expensive electronic appliances into junk! Protect your home automation, computer networking and home theater equipment with a surge suppressor that shields your home from debilitating power surges ? even hardwired equipment. By installing this Whole-House Surge Suppressor at the point-of-entry service panel, you'll not only protect against nearby lightning strikes, transformer overloads and problems from downed utility poles, you'll also expand the longevity of your electronics.

* Reduce the likelihood of damage to your electronics due to surges
* Absorbs 2,700 Joules and 60,000 amps
* Won't interfere with X10 signals within your home
* Designed for residential use
* MFG Model # : 4839
* MFG Part # : 4839

For that one, I'd advise getting an electrician to install it.

 

[Eli]

Cool.

In light of that, buying surge protectors for individual circuits seems like a complete waste. And I realize 50$ would be an expensive surge protector, I just thought it would be more due the amperage..

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Eli
Cool.

In light of that, buying surge protectors for individual circuits seems like a complete waste. And I realize 50$ would be an expensive surge protector, I just thought it would be more due the amperage..

You can buy MOV's from places like Newark Electronics that cost as low as $0.25 each and have an incredible amount of surge capability. We use them on all of our equipment shipping to Mexico as well as hydraulic and other high powered coils to eliminate the big ole surge (back EMF) from the switching of the solonoids. We call them "cherries" at work (because they look like a cherry from a tree, not the other "porn" type! ).

Also, thanks to BigJ. I have a 10% coupon for HomeDepot and also a $60 store credit. Perfect time to buy something like this!

One note however: While this will protect your home from incoming surges at the breaker box, it will not, however, take care of surges quick enough if they enter your home from another point. Example: I have a yard light on a metal pole. If lightening hits that unit, it will travel through the outlet and hit every appliance on the circuit before it reaches the breaker box. Keep that in mind as I had this happen to me a few years ago. However, since the surge killed many items not on the same branch, this would have "probably" took care of it.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Eli
hmm

Get homeowners/rental insurance and say bring on the lightening? lol

And, after the lightning, discover the meaning of "deductable."

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Eli
hmm

Get homeowners/rental insurance and say bring on the lightening? lol

And, after the lightning, discover the meaning of "deductable."

and raised premiums (as I discovered).

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Eli
hmm

Get homeowners/rental insurance and say bring on the lightening? lol

And, after the lightning, discover the meaning of "deductable."

I know, I was being silly.

It sounds like surge protection is fairly cheap, I thought it was more expensive for some reason.

 

[imported_weadjust]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Eli
hmm

Get homeowners/rental insurance and say bring on the lightening? lol

And, after the lightning, discover the meaning of "deductable."

and depreciation

 

[FlashG]

I deal with commercial protection but not residential. For example a lightening Ground Potential Rise device can cost upwards of $15,000 installed at a power substation. I just havent seen anything as robust on the residential side. Of course you usually dont have GPR concerns in your house. If you did the result would not be good (touch and step potential) ftl.

 

[manly]

Are these any good?

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=323

Specifically in comparision to this: http://www.apc.com/resource/in...ex.cfm?base_sku=P11VT3

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Damn, I never really thought about this on newer appliances, but you're right. I know that you can install (or have someone else install) a whole house surge protector (including lightening arrestor) in your breaker box. I might need to look up one of these.

I've had one for years. It's a good thing. You can easily install it yourself if you are comfortable working in a breaker panel.

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: manly
Are these any good?

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=323

Specifically in comparision to this: http://www.apc.com/resource/in...ex.cfm?base_sku=P11VT3

They are both good 2nd stage protectors. In that they only provide protection to the equipment they are hooked up to. The 1st one is a surgearrestor and the 2nd one has battery backup. Battery backup usually provides extra filtering and smothing which is superior but more expensive. The batteries also need to be periodically replaced. In my experience its usually better to replace the unit instead of just the batteries.

Anything with a 300v clamp on rating is OK. Regulatory Approvals of CSA, UL 1363, UL 1449 and FCC are probably the most important concerns on these devices. Thats what makes APC a good choice.

Neither one provides for whole house surge surpression.

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: Engineer
Damn, I never really thought about this on newer appliances, but you're right. I know that you can install (or have someone else install) a whole house surge protector (including lightening arrestor) in your breaker box. I might need to look up one of these.

I've had one for years. It's a good thing. You can easily install it yourself if you are comfortable working in a breaker panel.

I would suggest paying a licensed electrician $100 to install it like I did. Not using one usually voids the warranty.

So far my suppressor has more than paid for itself. When Gustav came through I could tell the power hits were less severe on everything in the house. We still lost power from time-to-time but the spikes didn?t have that abrupt cutoff like I was use to.

 

[Colt45]

Properly designed equipment should have integrated surge protection anyways.

 

[Elstupido]

I have to say that your best option is with a whole house surge protection which is a unit that basically plugs into your meter incoming into the house. I highly recommend than you go with whatever your local utility recommends, and installs for you.

On more complex 3 phase applications, there are numerous surge protection solutions which your local utility company can supply and advise as to how to install.

Cliff notes.....


Contact your local utility power supplier.

 

[Kaido]

http://www.panamax.com/

 

[Elstupido]

Panamax is really a good product, but as far as I am concerned, way overkill for just appliance protection

I stand by my original post 110%

If you want and need additional protection, go with an UPS by APC. Most surge protection (alone) is a total waste of money.

 

[Leros]

Do these things protect against low voltage too?

We had a voltage drop (light bulbs were barely visibily lit) and it killed the electronics in my oven.

 

[Elstupido]

No, only a UPS will protect low voltage,...as a general rule.

Some expensive units will regulate that