Environmental Potentials whole house surge protection, can I get your opinions?

Hi OP,

Many of them are panel brand specific, so I would consult with your electrician as to whichever is best for your needs. They all work on the same parallel principle, with MOV’s AFAIK. Not perfect, but they work much better at the panel than at the outlet.

Furman is very popular in professional use and a better value in the home than many "audiophile" power conditioners. The Series Mode surge suppression is built under license. Other users of the technology include SurgeX (unnecessarily expensive) and PS Audio.

Note Furman makes like 3 dozen models. Look for SMP, and LiFT to help you decide.

Given a choice, I am completely confident in the Furman’s and that’s what I use on my gear but would also install panel protectors to save things like my microwave, Tesla charging station, etc. :)

Best,


Erik

A fuse provides "protection" and earth ground has nothing to do with its effectiveness. And your reference to " hundreds of thousands of joules" is an arbitrary figure.

Obvious is when one recites hearsay. For example, a fuse myth is promoted subjectively - without numbers. Those numbers: 1) Surges do damage in microseconds. Fuses take tens of milliseconds or longer to respond. Numbers make it obvious. A fuse does not do and does not claim to do such protection.

2) How does a millimeters gap in a fuse block what three miles of sky could not? It doesn’t. But again, the subjective and inaccurate speculation is exposed by numbers.

3) Fuses have a voltage number. For example 250 volt. If a surge voltage exceeds that number, then a blown fuse keeps conducting. One should learn these basic and well understood concepts BEFORE posting denials.

People who do this stuff use numbers such as hundreds of thousands of joules. If one knew otherwise, then an energy number is posted rather than make subjective denials. Subjective reasoning is how junk science gets promoted. One claims Furman does effective protection. But could not post even one Furman spec number that says so. Because Furman does not claim effective protection - except subjectively in sales brochures where lying is legal.

Facilities that cannot have damage properly earth all incoming wires. Some wires do not even have surge protectors. A hardwire connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to single point earth ground.

Protectors are simply connecting devices to what does protection. Every protection layer is only defined by one ’energy absorbing’ item - its earth ground. Ineffective and grossly overpriced ’magic boxes’ (ie Furman) have no earth ground. And will not discuss it.

’Whole house’ protector is a ’secondary’ protection layer. Informed consumers should also inspect their ’primary’ protection layer. Over 100 years of science and experience are why ’whole house’ protection is routinely installed in every facility that cannot have damage. And why an item that needs most attention is the single point earth ground.  Specification numbers say why including 50,000+ amps, microsecond transients, low impedance connection to a single point earth ground, and hundreds of thousands of joules. This superior solution also costs much less - about $1 per protected appliance. Even a Furman needs that protection. Made obvious when one attempts to post manufacturer specification numbers. None were posted because none exist.

That Eaton (Cutler Hammer) protector is an effective one.  Other manufacturer are also known for integrity including Intermatic, Square D, Ditek, Siemens, Polyphaser (an industry benchmark), Syscom, Leviton, ABB, Delta, Erico, and General Electric.   In every case, model numbers are irrelevant.  Critical is its current rating (at least 50,000 amps) and that all so important hardwire for a low impedance (ie has no sharp bends) connection to single point earth ground.  Electric companies also rent them.  So easily installed that the girl who reads a meter may install it.

Thank jea, but that model specifically states that it doesn't protect from lightning strikes-which less common in my area but definitely a concern.
And, I definitely will be using a licensed electrician to install.

I saw this Siemens unit, and wonder if this might be a good choice:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Siemens-FirstSurge-Plus-100kA-Whole-House-Surge-Protection-Device-FS100/2...

westom15 posts

One should learn these basic and well understood concepts BEFORE posting denials.

a fuse myth is promoted subjectively - without numbers

I’m not sure why you call fuses a "myth."

How does a millimeters gap in a fuse block what three miles of sky could not?

Don’t be silly. A fuse is not designed to do that.

One should learn these basic and well understood concepts BEFORE posting denials.

Agreed! Please take some time to learn that fuses are not a myth.

Subjective reasoning is how junk science gets promoted. One claims Furman does effective protection. But could not post even one Furman spec number that says so. Because Furman does not claim effective protection - except subjectively in sales brochures where lying is legal.

That’s absurd. The Furman units - and other similar devices - are in wide use and their effectiveness is demonstrable. It’s not clear why this troubles you so.

Facilities that cannot have damage properly earth all incoming wires. Some wires do not even have surge protectors. A hardwire connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to single point earth ground.

Whoa ... careful there! You might want to read the NEC and your local codes. There’s really no such thing as a "single point earth ground" in an NEC-compliant installation. NEC requires all grounds to be bonded together at the service panel. And in many installations, code requires more than one ground rod. Clearly, you simply do not know what you are talking about.

Protectors are simply connecting devices to what does protection.

Silly semantics.

Ineffective and grossly overpriced ’magic boxes’ (ie Furman) have no earth ground. And will not discuss it.

And why an item that needs most attention is the single point earth ground.

Again ... " single point earth ground" is not code complaint and is potentially dangerous. You simply do not know what you are talking about. This is why EEs and electricians are licensed.

gdnrbob,

You won’t find any SPD that will protect your home from a direct lightning strike.
If you find a manufacture that claims it will you best read the fine print.

Like westom said in his post the earth connection is the most important part for protecting your home from a nearby lightning strike.

Again, read this PDF. Lightning is lightning and the earth is the earth whether it is at a commercial office building, industrial facility, or you home. Same principals apply.
http://www.p3-inc.com/images/grounding_for_pq_wp2016_p3.pdf

As for the Siemens SPD I do not have any opinion one way or the other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dj33YVppDk
If it says it will protect from a direct lightning strike thought, it will not... It may not even protect your electronics in your home from a nearby lightning strike. The only 100% sure way to protect your audio and video equipment during a lightning storm is to unplug it from the wall receptacle. Same goes for any coax cable connection from a cable TV provider or a satellite dish. Same goes for an Ethernet cable connection from a router that is connected to the outside world by cable or a phone line.

I found this Website while doing a search. The guy does a pretty good job and shows some spec comparisons of different manufactures SPDs.
https://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2014/10/whats-the-best-whole-house-surge-protection/

Here is a great video to watch. I attended a power quality surge protection seminar a couple of years ago and seen the demonstration first hand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wb79cXmSlc

The thing that I visually remember most is the SPD should be installed as close as possible to the load side of the electrical service panel main breaker. The first two breaker spots on ether side of the panel is where the 2 pole breaker for the SPD Line 1 & 2 to connect. (IF there are breakers in the two spots, needed for the SPD’s
2 pole breaker, have the electrician move them elsewhere in the panel. It will take him 5 to 10 minutes tops!) Mount the SPD as close as possible to the outside of the panel enclosure where the 2 pole breaker is installed. The wire leads from the SPD should be kept short.

IF The SPD is installed inside the electrical panel, hidden from view, how will you be able to see the indicating lights on the unit telling you the device is still good and working properly? SPDs that use MOVs do not last for ever. That’s why the good SPD devices have multiple MOVs for each surge function of the device. You should always check the SPD after any lightning storm in your area.

Any sub panel after the main electrical service main panel also needs an SPD installed. Again the SPD should be installed as close as possible to the feeder conductors, wires, feeding the sub panel. The first two breaker spots for the SPD’s
2 pole breaker installation.

MAKE SURE you have the electrician check the main grounding system (Grounding Electrode System) for your home’s electrical service. Clean, if needed, and tighten all connections.
No such thing as over kill here.
And as westom said, a single point earth connection is a must. All earth connections should connect to a single point to the electrical service entrance neutral conductor.
.