Kijanki,
For the best possible protection the SPD (Surge Protection Device) should be installed in 2 spaces nearest the main breaker or in the case of a main lug only panel the SPD unit should be installed in 2 spaces nearest the panel feed wires that connect to the electrical panel.
It is very important that your main electrical service grounding electrode system is installed and wired correctly. All connections should be mechanically tight and connections are not corroded. Going from memory, IEEE/ANSI recommends a 5 ohm or less soil resistance for a proper/good earth grounding electrode system. Your SPD is only as good as the grounding electrode system resistivity/conductivity connection to mother earth.
Make 100% sure any/all CATV, TV antenna, satellite dish, and phone incoming cables/lines that enter your home from outside are properly grounded, connected, to the main grounding electrode system of the main electrical service of your home. This is a must when dealing with a near by lightning strike.
Jim |
Thanks Jim. I installed them in the first two positions but I have to measure resistance of the ground. |
What does a whole house surge protector cost? |
I have a similar surge protector in my breaker box from when house was built. |
going for own power supply is the best something like 100...150kW generator.
it saves GOBS on electric bill and independed of electric company outages. |
I had my entire service panel replaced about two years ago. Per his company's standard practice, the electrician put in two ground rods, located about five or six feet apart. He also installed a Sycom SYC-120/240TC whole house surge protector, which appears to be generally similar to this model except that its label indicates that it is rated for a surge current of 150,000 amps. It is mounted on the side of the breaker panel. For the audio system itself, like a number of other members here I use this Brick Wall "series mode" non-sacrificial surge suppressor/line filter. Its eight outlets are not quite sufficient for my purposes, so I use a Hammond power strip to multiply one of its outlets, plugging the less critical components into that. In addition to surge protection the Brick Wall also provides some degree of noise filtering (specs shown at the link), both on the incoming AC and between its four duplex outlet pairs. Best regards, -- Al |
Mine was $85 from Home Depot
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Siemens-20-Amp-6-5-in-Whole-House-Surge-Protected-Circuit-Breaker-QSA2020SPDP/202562776
I considered this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-by-Schneider-Electric-Home-Electronics-Protective-Device-HEPD-HEPD80/203540660
but all positions in panel are used and circuit breakers are designed for one wire only - would have to pigtail it. |
I had one installed next to my 200 amp box for about $400. This will stop big hits BUT, I do say BUT, some charge will still get through before it trips. It almost never trips even if surge protectors around the house do go (they are more sensitive). However, on a big lightning strike a few years back, the whole house surge tripped and then my PS Audio Quintet fried. That's ok. I lost a $500 PS Audio to save my entire system.
I recommend both whole house and individual units if your home is like mine and gets hit with surges too often. |
Elevick, Siemens recommends secondary protection for expensive electronics. My Furman Elite 20PFi has strong protection but today practically everything has built in electronics (refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer, stove, garage door opener, LED bulbs, dimmers etc.) |
How about one of these:
http://store.acousticfrontiers.com/Environmental-Potentials-EP-2050-Whole-House-Surge-Protector.html
Seems to be an audio related surge protector.
Audioquest4life |
Washer is $450, electronic control block is $350 blown by surge. Resurrected my old vintage 21 year old US made Wirlpool from garage with knobz, cleaned pumps, lubricated motor, replaced agitator and trashed the 2yr new one with blown electronic control block to the scrape metal yard. Same thing is happening soon with dryer. KNOBZ only no buttons darn! Don't wanna use Furman for my laundry closet LOL! |
Audioquest4life, looks OK but is a bit expensive
Czarivey, Computer => Abacus :) |
I have had the EP-2050 for 3-4 months now.
It's installed also on 2x30a breakers.
we do have nasty power here(Alberta Canada).
So far all is good.
The 2050 is a smaller version of EP's industrial models.
I also have two Torus(20a+60a)240v for my amps and components.
Also for my computers and TV's I use the digiplugs(JUST IN CASE)as I have had one computer get fried and one TV from the power up here.
2050 at the top of the panel closest to the incoming power ect.
Also installed the bigger ground filter from EP.
I believe I will eventually do a 2050 right at each Torus breaker.
Extreme perhaps,but more protection the better.
Creating a bubble within bubble type of protection.
A few years back I blew two F-113's that were plugged into the wall and the other two F-113's were plugged into the Torus.
The two that were connected to the Torus were fine same as my projector and other digital components.
Expensive lesson even though I bought the 13's used. |
Over the last 4 years I've been buying a lot of Alan Maher Designs gear (thousands of $s of it) that is intended to reduce electronic noise, both in the system and in the home. Lots of different pieces to be installed all over the house, near components, etc. This really helps with the sound and is why I've kept adding it. But, it also does 2 other things: purportedly health benefits from reduced airborne EMI/RFI and also some measure of lightning/surge protection. The way he describes it, the lightning usually hits a tree near your house, runs down into the ground and finds the ground rod and gets into the home that way. We don't have to worry about strikes getting in from the service entrance, since the 1950's, b/c your local power co. has used a system of chokes and regulators every so often to prevent that. According to Alan, his stuff ends up working as a system of chokes and regulators inside the home. Probably the key piece I have, in that regard, is his Tricell Chemical Ground that is said to lower resistance on the ground leg in the whole home and buffers spikes and surges. But, in a near-enough strike it is itself sacrificial. But, if it's ever damaged by a strike, all I have to do is send it back to Alan and he will send me a new one free of charge. I use no other power conditioning or surge/spike protection in my house. I've never lost anything of value either before or since the AMD gear, but I do now have the peace of mind to not unplug everything during a storm...despite the fact that I live on "Lightning Drive" in a subdivision named "Stormy Ridge", no kidding! |
Drummermitchel has it right EP 2050 is the way to go! |
EP-2050 has great reviews but it is a little on expensive side. |
All excellent information, good to know.
Thanks, |
