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How to Choose Surge Protection for Your Home
(Part 2)
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Shopping Tips
Here are some shopping tips to use when purchasing your surge protection system...
Service Entrance Surge Protection
Service entrance surge protection devices will either be a TVSS or a secondary surge arrester. It is not possible to compare the capabilities of a TVSS to a secondary surge arrester because they are tested differently. State Farm is not recommending one type over another. We will offer suggested specs for both.
- Tested Product: It is very
important that the device has been tested.
Look for a secondary surge arrester that is
tested according to the recommendations of
IEEE C62.11 or a TVSS that has been tested
in accordance with UL 1449, 2nd Edition.
- Fuse Protection: Look for a TVSS
device that has thermal fuse protection. If
the device is a secondary surge arrester,
make sure it is fused.
- Clamping Voltage (Rating): TVSS
service entrance surge protectors will
typically have a clamping voltage higher
than 330 volts.
We do not currently have a recommendation for a minimum clamping voltage for TVSS service entrance surge protectors. For information purposes only, it appears most of the established manufacturers of these devices have a clamping voltage no higher than 800 volts.
The lower the clamping voltage the better the protection.
Service entrance surge protection devices classified as secondary surge arresters will not have a clamping voltage because they are not tested to UL 1449. Purchase a device that is tested according to the recommendations of IEEE C62.11. Talk with the manufacturer about the device's capabilities. Since there is no standardized test method for secondary surge arresters, each manufacturer may test their product differently, making a performance comparison between products difficult or impossible. - Surge Protection on All Electrical
Wires: Verify the surge protection is on
all electrical wires. TVSS devices should
indicate protection for Line to Neutral
(L-N), Line to Ground (L-G), and Neutral to
Ground (N-G). Secondary surge arresters
mounted on the utility side of the
electrical panel will have only L-N
protection.
- Telephone and Cable TV Protection:
Install surge protection on the incoming
telephone and cable TV lines as well as the
electrical line. It is possible to
accomplish this with one surge protection
device or separate surge protection devices
at each utility line.
- Working Indicator Light: Most all
service entrance surge protection devices
have indicator lights that will signify if
there are any problems with the protection.
Be sure the device you buy has this feature.
Most of these devices, if the surge
protection capabilities are destroyed, will
still conduct electricity. The indicator
lights are a way to check to make sure the
device is still protecting.
- Good Warranty: Find an
established manufacturer with a good
reputation. Their warranty should cover any
damage to the equipment that is protected by
their product.
- Joule Rating: The joule rating
indicates how much energy a surge protection
device can handle. Because testing to
determine joule ratings has not yet been
standardized, the joule rating cannot
currently be used for comparing products.
Point-of-Use Surge Protectors
- Tested Product: These types of
surge protectors all fall under the
category of TVSS. Purchase only devices
that have been tested to UL 1449, 2nd
Edition.
- Thermal Fuse Protection: Look
for a device that has thermal fuse
protection.
- Clamping Voltage (Rating):
Purchase TVSSs with a listed clamping
voltage of 330-volts, the best rating
given under UL 1449. It will not be
difficult to find TVSSs that plug into
outlets and have a clamping voltage of
330-volts. However, we could not find
surge protection outlets with clamping
voltages less than 400-volts.
The clamping voltage can be found on the surge protector's rating plate (see below)
-
Surge Protection on All Electrical
Wires: Make sure the surge
protection is on all electrical wires.
The device should indicate protection
for Line to Neutral (L-N), Line to
Ground (L-G), and Neutral to Ground
(N-G). A clamping voltage of 330-volts
should be listed for all three wires.
-
Fax/Modem and Coax Protection:
When purchasing a point-of-use type
surge protector for a computer, VCR,
or TV, look for a device with
telephone and coax cable jacks for
protection of those lines if the item
being protected has those types of
hookups. Remember, power surges can
enter through the electrical,
telephone, or coax lines.
-
Loss of Power After Catastrophic
Failure Feature: Look for
point-of-use surge protection devices
that no longer conduct electricity
once the capacity to protect against
power surges has been lost.
Surge protection devices are designed to sacrifice themselves for the equipment they are used to protect. Once they have had too many surges, they no longer protect. However, if they still conduct electricity, a homeowner may never be aware the device has lost its ability to protect. With this feature, once the protection has been destroyed by a power surge, the surge protector outlets will no longer be powered.
-
Ground Wire Indicator Light: A
convenient feature to have is a
plug-in type surge protector that has
a light that will indicate whether or
not the outlet it is being plugged
into is properly grounded. Grounding
is required for the surge protection
device to work most effectively.
-
Good Warranty: Find an
established manufacturer with a good
reputation. Their warranty should
cover any damage to the equipment that
is connected through their surge
protection device.
- Joule Rating: The joule rating indicates how much energy a surge protection device can handle. Because testing to determine joule ratings has not yet been standardized, the joule rating cannot currently be used for comparing products.
Surge Protectors must be properly grounded
Without proper grounding a surge protection device's ability to protect is greatly diminished or impeded. Do not connect a plug-in type point-of-use surge protection device to an electrical outlet by using a two-prong extension cord. The surge protection device's ability to protect against power surges will be diminished. And many surge protection device warranties will not cover any damage if this is done.
Planning of Electrical Circuits
If you are building a new home or remodeling, properly organizing the electrical circuits can reduce exposure of power surges to sensitive equipment. Don't place wall outlets that are going to be used for computers, TVs, microwaves, and stereos on the same circuits powering large appliances with motors, such as refrigerators or freezers.
Costs of surge protection
Service entrance surge protection at the main electrical panel or electric meter requires installation by a qualified electrician. Installing it at the electric meter also requires the approval of the utility company. Service entrance surge protection (for the electrical system only) can also be accomplished with plug-on devices that snap into the electrical panel just like a circuit breaker.
Costs for service entrance surge protection can start at $80 (material and labor) for the plug-on type devices inside the electrical panel. For those mounted on the outside of the main electrical panel or installed at the electrical meter, the range is $150 to $500 (material and labor).
Costs can range from $20 to over $100 for better quality point-of-use type surge protection devices that plug into electrical outlets.
Surge protection outlets, which require the services of a qualified electrician, cost around $40 (material only) as compared with a typical electrical outlet that costs around $2 to $4 (material only).
Conclusion
Why hasn't damage from power surges been a problem
before now? Power surges have always existed.
Appliances and products going into our homes,
however, have changed.
Sensitive electronic circuitry is appearing in
more and more appliances in the typical American
home. Also, the amount of electronic equipment in
the home is increasing -- DVD players, satellite
TV, video games, stereo systems, and personal
computers are becoming commonplace.
The electronic circuitry is getting more dense and
compact, making the circuitry more vulnerable to
damage from power surges. Equipment and appliances
are becoming more interconnected with one another
and more connections will be made with phone lines
and coax cable lines. Electric utility companies
are deregulating at a time when there will be more
demand for electrical power. All this increases
the chances of damage from power surges.
The cost and number of electronics and smart
appliances in the home will continue to increase.
Combining this with the potential increase in
power surges means damage from power surges will
cost us more in the future.
The cost is not borne solely by insurance
companies. The consumer loses also. Most power
surges do not originate from lightning strikes.
Damage from power surges created by the utility
company or generated within the home is either not
covered or has coverage limitations in most
insurance policies.
Even for damage caused by lightning, coverage is
often limited (depending on type of insurance
coverage) because of the depreciation on the piece
of equipment and the deductible. Because of the
potential financial loss to the homeowner, a good
surge protection plan should be considered, no
matter where you live in the country.
Understanding the problem and knowing what options
are available to you puts you ahead in the
protection of your property.
State Farm® believes the information contained in this article is reliable and accurate. We cannot, however, guarantee the performance of all items demonstrated or described in all situations. Always consult an experienced contractor or other expert to determine the best application of these ideas or products in your home.
Thanks to our friends at State Farm Insurance from allowing us to reprint this article.