I have spent a lot of time researching surge suppression as it is a real problem I have run into lately.
You didn't say what you're using now but one of the most effective solutions for whole-home protection is to get a "TVSS" module that is designed for your panel(s) and fits in the space of a dual-pole breaker (for example, here's one for a Square D Homeline panel: http://tinyurl.com/ydq736z ). These must be positioned only in the top-left or top-right slots to be maximally effective, so you will probably need to move all the other breakers down two spaces - usually that is not a big deal. These devices have LEDs on them which you should check every few months to make sure they're alive - if you are getting surges and they're doing their job, they will eventually expire. The only thing better than that is an large external TVSS **BUT** this will only be an improvement if you actually route the main feed THROUGH this device - and for that to work it must be rated for passthrough current equal to the main disconnect feeding it. If you are on 200A service then it's probably not practical. The reason wiring distances come into play is that a lightning strike is an RF signal because of the rapid rise of the voltage. Every foot of cable between your breaker panel and the TVSS results in about 150V of reduced clamping voltage. You you can still get some benefit from a "dangling" TVSS, but not as much as putting them right in the path of the surge. If you have already put TVSS devices on your main/sub panels then you're probably already at the point of diminishing returns there as far as >500V suge events are concerned. This still leaves brownouts and lower, longer duration overvoltages. These may not be a problem for you but they can be prevented by putting your most expensive equipment on good quality UPSes. Finally, your phone lines (and cable TV, if it's an aerial feed) are a very likely vectors for surges to enter the house but usually these only threaten the modems or data interfaces in the particular devices to which they're connected. APC makes a MOV-based device, but there is a new product from ELK which more sophisticated and supposedly better (http://www.smarthome.com/1298/Elk-ELK-952-In-Line-Telephone-Surge-Protector/p.aspx). That product is made for alarm panels - I don't know if it is OK for modem/fax/DSL. It is very important with these devices that they have a good ground connection - but also that the ground connection is close to the device being protected. You can put one in your phone box but it would be best to put them individually at your alarm panel, DVR, etc. -- seanadams ------------------------------------------------------------------------ seanadams's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=73008 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
