Whole home surge protection recommendations

[Jamison_IO]

I found a couple mentions here amd there about this topic, but wanted to ask the whole group.

The primary reason I’m asking doesn’t have anything to do with home automation but I know this group is very good when it comes to this sort of stuff.I have smoke detectors that start to beep during lightning storms. 

I think it’s a result of stray voltage during the storms and I’m hoping the surge protector will be able to help that. 

So what type of surge protectors do you have in your homes?

 Ideally I would get one that protects not only the incoming electrical lines but also the broadband cable connection as well.

Thanks. 

 

[simplextech]

My utility company started offering a whole home surge + surge insurance program for something like $12 a month.  It covers $10K in damage and I've already had to replace a server due to surges from my bad power so I went for it.  They installed the surge protector and everything.  So check if your utility company offers any programs or deals.  Otherwise it can be costly upfront for the surge + install.  This is not the cheapest long term I know but I'm not going to cry about $12 a month.

[lilyoyo1]

This is what I use on installs now. I used to use leviton but switched over. I still use a leviton surge protector on my meter. 

https://www.amazon.com/CHSPT2ULTRA-Ultimate-Protection-Length-Height/dp/B01AQAKRSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551131394&sr=8-1&keywords=EATON+CHSPT2ULTRA

[Jamison_IO]

Thanks - does that one protect incoming cable and phone? I was looking at this one for that reason:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/cart/view.html/135-6047214-3703016?ie=UTF8&ref_=nav_crt_ewc_hd

[lilyoyo1]

There's an additional module that you can get for it that does. I personally don't ever use it though

[larryllix]

How old are your smoke detectors?
Smoke detectors classically detect ionised air which is what lightning does to the air. Maybe the sensors are on the verge of expiring. SDs have expiry dates on paper stickers inside the units, usually.

You could also have some wring closer to the SDs that arcs,ionising some air gap,  during voltage disturbance events and the SDs are detecting it.

[larryllix]

12 minutes ago, Jamison_IO said:

Thanks - does that one protect incoming cable and phone? I was looking at this one for that reason:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/cart/view.html/135-6047214-3703016?ie=UTF8&ref_=nav_crt_ewc_hd

We can't see inside your shopping cart, only our own items.

[Jamison_IO]

2 minutes ago, larryllix said:

How old are your smoke detectors?
Smoke detectors classically detect ionised air which is what lightning does to the air. Maybe the sensors are on the verge of expiring. SDs have expiry dates on paper stickers inside the units, usually.

You could also have some wring closer to the SDs that arcs,ionising some air gap,  during voltage disturbance events and the SDs are detecting it.

Yes - those are potential causes, I have replaced them all recently  -after ten years or so they start to beep incessantly because the need to be replaced. This is something it took me a long time and a lot of puzzled troubleshooting to finally discover!

[Jamison_IO]

1 minute ago, larryllix said:

We can't see inside your shopping cart, only our own items.

Oops, I thought I was linking to the product.

this should be better: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UICHLEI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

 

 

 

[larryllix]

Just now, Jamison_IO said:

Yes - those are potential causes, I have replaced them all recently  -after ten years or so they start to beep incessantly because the need to be replaced. This is something it took me a long time and a lot of puzzled troubleshooting to finally discover!

I just had my whole house go nuts at 4 am one night. All the technology and they cant wit until daylight?? LOL

[larryllix]

11 minutes ago, Jamison_IO said:

Oops, I thought I was linking to the product.

this should be better: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UICHLEI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

I don't see any approval anywhere on the product pictures. No symbol for CSA, USULC, or even an Asian ETL. For a device that connects directly into your main panel, an electrician may refuse to install it. This is not like SquareD but with things made over the pond these days???

Edited September 15, 2019 by larryllix

[Jamison_IO]

37 minutes ago, larryllix said:

I don't see any approval anywhere on the product pictures. No symbol for CSA, USULC, or even an Asian ETL. For a device that connects directly into your main panel, an electrician may refuse to install it. This is not like SquareD but with things made over the pond these days???

I was surprised it was as hard to find as it was - I eventually found it: https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_enDocType=Catalog&p_File_Name=0100CT1901_SEC-06.pdf&p_Doc_Ref=0100CT1901_SEC-06

 

[nadler]

I have this:

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-51120-1-Panel-Protector-240-Volt/dp/B00081K55Q/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=whole+house+surge+protection&qid=1568583448&sr=8-15

Had it installed by an electrician when I upgraded my panel years ago.  I've had no problems since and I'm glad I have it.

[larryllix]

4 hours ago, Jamison_IO said:

I was surprised it was as hard to find as it was - I eventually found it: https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_enDocType=Catalog&p_File_Name=0100CT1901_SEC-06.pdf&p_Doc_Ref=0100CT1901_SEC-06

 

<image snipped>

It may be on the back or embossed into the case plastic but it would have to be on the device somewhere. Quite expensive but I hope it does what you need. The smoke detector thing is a good indicator but strange.

Edited September 15, 2019 by larryllix

[lilyoyo1]

2 hours ago, nadler said:

I have this:

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-51120-1-Panel-Protector-240-Volt/dp/B00081K55Q/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=whole+house+surge+protection&qid=1568583448&sr=8-15

Had it installed by an electrician when I upgraded my panel years ago.  I've had no problems since and I'm glad I have it.

I used to have that one as well. It served me well over the years. After reading about the Eaton I swapped them out a couple months ago

[palayman]

52 minutes ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I used to have that one as well. It served me well over the years. After reading about the Eaton I swapped them out a couple months ago

I started using an Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA

https://www.amazon.com/CHSPT2ULTRA-Ultimate-Protection-Length-Height/dp/B01AQAKRSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551131394&sr=8-1&keywords=EATON+CHSPT2ULTRA

after reading

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

The Leviton, although good, does not protect against L-G and N-G faults among other things.

Paul

[paulbates]

I've had the 20 year old version of this. Still works, leds for both leg still lit. Very few problems in a lightening strike rich environment.

 

Paul

 

[larryllix]

23 minutes ago, paulbates said:

I've had the 20 year old version of this. Still works, leds for both leg still lit. Very few problems in a lightening strike rich environment.

 

Paul

 

Lead length is important for good spike absorption. Did you wire this into a breaker or directly to the bus?

[paulbates]

11 minutes ago, larryllix said:

Lead length is important for good spike absorption. Did you wire this into a breaker or directly to the bus?

Larry

Its mounted on a  punch out, connected to a double pole double throw breaker. 

Paul

[Bumbershoot]

10 hours ago, palayman said:

I started using an Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA

https://www.amazon.com/CHSPT2ULTRA-Ultimate-Protection-Length-Height/dp/B01AQAKRSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551131394&sr=8-1&keywords=EATON+CHSPT2ULTRA

after reading

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

The Leviton, although good, does not protect against L-G and N-G faults among other things.

Paul

+1 for the Eaton.  In my professional life, I worked with Eaton gear, and never found issue with it.  I read this same article when researching home surge protectors, and installed one of these in my home in 2016.  I consider it to be very cheap insurance.

[Jamison_IO]

Hi All -

Thanks to everyone with the great info and recommendations. I knew this was the right place to come for advice. I'll update once I get one installed.

Cheers!

[firstone]

18 hours ago, nadler said:

I have this:

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-51120-1-Panel-Protector-240-Volt/dp/B00081K55Q/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=whole+house+surge+protection&qid=1568583448&sr=8-15

Had it installed by an electrician when I upgraded my panel years ago.  I've had no problems since and I'm glad I have it.

I have same one and had insteon dimmers fail or required reset after power loss a few times. 

[Scottmichaelj]

I have same one and had insteon dimmers fail or required reset after power loss a few times. 

I suspect something else is happening. This item is what Smarthome tech support recommends and has tested for use with Insteon.

[larryllix]

1 hour ago, firstone said:

I have same one and had insteon dimmers fail or required reset after power loss a few times. 

According to the info link  @palayman posted above, the Leviton unit has no protection from neutral to ground. If installed right at the main panel, the ground and system neutral are connected together within inches of the spike suppressor and become redundant.
However, if the Leviton spike suppressor (no units can suppress surges) is connected away from the main panel, it may not be a good application.

Spike suppressors may actually increase the risk of damage depending on how things are grounded and where the lightning or other noise gets into you system. If a voltage spike comes into your video receiver antenna coax, a spike suppressor could provide a better path to ground through the receiver. Of course that may prevent further damage to other equipment.

It's definitely an artform. These units are beneficial in probably 99% of the cases though.

Edited September 16, 2019 by larryllix

[Geddy]

On 9/15/2019 at 12:19 PM, lilyoyo1 said:

This is what I use on installs now. I used to use leviton but switched over. I still use a leviton surge protector on my meter. 

https://www.amazon.com/CHSPT2ULTRA-Ultimate-Protection-Length-Height/dp/B01AQAKRSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551131394&sr=8-1&keywords=EATON+CHSPT2ULTRA

 

+1 for the EATON product. I had one installed last year. Also got the double pole 50 amp circuit breaker as part of it. Having lived in the house almost 20 years I never really thought about whole home protection, but feel better now that we have that with the extra equipment we have in the house. We still protect for spot of connection for the expensive stuff (entertainment system and computers).