Any need for more than one surge protector if one is installed on the main panel?

[The_Eric]

Hey folks, my buddy had a lightening strike or some other form of surge in his area the other day which ruined a tiny little surge protector and tripped a breaker. Another person near him had damage to her stove.. This got me thinking maybe I should take a few steps to protect myself before something bad happens.. Currently I have one of unknown capacity on the VFD for my well pump - but I've already had 2 failures there.

I'm thinking that I would like to install a 100kA unit right at my main disconnect panel outside, but it doesn't have any bus bars for breakers, just cable lugs... Would this work or would I need to install it at the panel for the house, and then an additional one for my well pump?

THIS is the SPD that I was considering

 

[Pablo]

I put whole house, heat pump, HVAC and also localized protectors in. TBD if worth the money.

I know nothing of that unit. You need the shortest wires/location possible.

 

[LostInTransit]

a surge protector may not be enough, Not long ago, we had several spikes and a short outage. Having a UPS system installed with a battery backup will save you time and give you ample time to shut the system down if need be. we have 6 back ups in the house and one dedicated line which can still take a spike.

 

[berniedd]

Would be a good idea to me to use other surge protectors for other individual devices. The metal oxide varistor common in surge protectors can take only so many spikes and then fail to protect further on.

 

[LostInTransit]

Just make sure you have the correct UPS/surge box that can handle the entire system. Worse case one would have to have UPS integrated into the system plus add a generator as a backup which would cut on if a system error has been detected. If the generator runs more than the UPS, then you have an electrical problem in the home or down the line somewhere which would need to be addressed. Things like this may convince owners to go off grid.

 

[oil pan 4]

Yes for the same reason there are multiple layers of surge protection I. The power grid.

 

[JohnnyG]

I had that exact same item installed on my main panel, it connects via a 50 amp 220 breaker. I've never had it trip, or the indicator lights change from solid green.
However, I have had minor damage to some of my appliances, such as the fridge digital display losing a few segments. Nothing I can't live with. But that proved to me that small spikes were still getting through, so I installed point of use protectors on EVERYTHING.
I also installed circuit protectors on my fridge AND WiFi router that have a built in delay before restart. They work ok too, but did NOT protect my fridge and my router from additional damage. Fridge lost a cople more segments and the router lost its power brick (router itself was fine).
Therefore those items got additional surge protectors on them!
The last major nearby lightning strike got through my copper phone lines that were used for my fax machine. Took it out completely!
So, yeah. Put as much protection as you can on each individual appliance and keep your fingers crossed.

This comes to you from the Lightning capitol of the world!

 

[nomas]

Learn the lingo before you shop for a surge protector . Clamping voltage and Let through is important .
https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/prod...on/surge-protection/surge-protection-faq.html

 

[E150GT]

I use the Siemens FS140P on the main outside panel. I Have an Eaton plug in on the inside panel. The garage panel has a Siemens QSPD2A065P. The AC disconnect I am gonna change to a small panel and add another QSPD2A065P there.

 

[JMJNet]

I have used that type of SPD in the OP's post on the main breaker in my house. It seems to work great.
I figure, nothing to loose. So far, I have had a few surges but it has not taken anything big like AC or Fridge.
Something is better than nothing.

 

[tcp71]

I had a control board in a new furnace die within 8 months of installation. It was replaced under warranty, but the tech suggested a surge protector on the main panel. I installed this one. knock wood, no failures since.

 

[Lubener]

If you place the protector at the disconnect, make sure it's atleast six feet away from the device you intend to protect. The surge protector loses some effectiveness when it's place too close to the device.