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Power Surge: Protect All Your Electronics

Updated: Jun. 25, 2022

Protect your sensitive electronics from voltage spikes

Family Handyman

Install a whole business firm surge protector to prevent your plug-in electronics from voltage surges caused past lightning strikes. Follow our step-past-pace directions and cautions for a safe installation.

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The benefits of whole business firm surge protection

You might have plug-in surge protectors on some of your electronics, but you probably don't have them for appliances with electronic excursion boards. Those electronics are sitting ducks for power surges generated by lightning strikes (even if the strike is miles from your home). Most newer appliances, cable boxes, practice machines and that new Bose Wave are all at take a chance. And it's not just lightning. Damaging ability surges on the grid are common fifty-fifty when there isn't lightning effectually. It doesn't take much of a power surge to wipe out delicate electronics. It often costs as much to supercede a circuit lath equally it does to buy a new device.

That'due south why everyone should have a whole-firm surge protector. Those who live in rural areas are particularly vulnerable, especially if you live near the finish of the power line. In that location'due south nowhere else for the surge to go only into your firm.

A full-featured whole-firm surge protection device (SPD) can protect all your electronics, appliances, telephone, Internet and cable TV equipment (the Square D No. SDSB1175C is one blazon; about $300 at spectrumsuperstore.com). Electricians charge nigh $175 to install information technology. But if you're comfy working within the primary panel, you can do the job yourself and save the installation fee. The job takes most an hour. we'll show you how to exercise it.

Storm Tip

Installing a whole-firm surge suppression device is the best way to continually protect your high-priced electronics. But if you know a tempest is coming, you lot can protect against fried circuit boards by flipping off the breakers to your stove, dishwasher, furnace, A/C and fridge. Just brand sure you plow them back on later the storm passes.

Buying a whole house surge protector

There's a lot of manufacturer hype surrounding surge protectors. Ignore all the mumbo colossal and head right for the specifications. SPDs are rated in kiloamps (1kA equals ane,000 amps). The really inexpensive SPDs start at about 10kA. They tin handle 1 really large surge and then they're toast—and then they're a bad long-term investment.

Instead, expect for an SPD with a minimum rating of 50kA. It'll last longer than a 10kA device.

If you've got telephone, DSL, cable or satellite service, go an SPD that protects those lines likewise. Finally, brand sure the device y'all choose complies with the most contempo UL No. 1449 rating. Non all the equipment on the marketplace meets the newer standard. Once yous decide on an SPD, you'll also need a double-pole fifteen-amp breaker, one 1/2-in. rigid start nipple and two 1/2-in. locknuts.

Alarm: Electrocution Risk!

Fifty-fifty with the service disconnect turned off, there are still live wires within the main panel. If you don't know which ones remain live, don't endeavour this project. Call a licensed electrician.

Can you install a whole business firm surge protector yourself?

You'll need two blank spaces, one on height of the other, in your main panel to hook up the SPD. Or, you tin connect it to an existing ii-pole 240V breaker—but only if that breaker is rated for ii wires. To discover out, telephone call the billow manufacturer'due south tech back up line. If you don't have 2 blank spots in your primary panel or the existing breakers aren't rated for two wires, you'll have to rent an electrician to install a subpanel. Or consider ownership an SPD that installs right in the meter box (see "Is a Meter Socket SPD the Reply?" beneath).

Get-go, the warnings. Fifty-fifty with the main breaker (service disconnect) off, at that place are withal live wires inside the console. If you touch them, yous could die. So before you lot loosen a single spiral on the main console embrace, read how to connect a new circuit. Read the entire article and pay particular attention to the diagram showing the dangerous areas. If you have any reservations nigh working inside the main panel, call a licensed electrician.

How to install the whole firm surge protector

Photograph 1: Secure the start nipple to the main panel

Remove a knockout on the main panel and insert the offset nipple. Spin on the dimpled locknut with the locking "ears" facing the wall of the panel. Then tighten information technology with a flat-blade screwdriver and hammer.

Photo ii: Connect the neutral and basis to the bus

Strip off three/iv in. of insulation from the neutral (white) and footing (green) wires and secure them to dissever screws on the neutral bus.

Photo 3: Cut the black wires to length and install

Marking the two blackness wires from the SPD (a silver permanent marking works well). Then cut them to length and strip the insulation. Insert the bare wire into the breaker screws and tighten.

Photo 4: Connect the telephone wires to the SPD

Run the phone wires from the demarcation device to the "in" connectors on the phone SPD. Connect the house phone lines to the "out" terminals. Follow the same procedure for the cable Telly lines.

Remove all rings and jewelry before unscrewing the main panel cover. Then flip the service disconnect to "off." Cutting a paper-thin protector and place it within the panel to prevent contact with live wires. Remove the two circuit breakers directly below the service disconnect and relocate them and the wires running into them elsewhere in the console. Position the SPD next to the main panel so the wires enter it every bit close as possible to the two vacant spots. Connect the offset nipple to the SPD and then to the main panel (photograph 1). Secure the SPD to the wall with screws.

Side by side, thread the wires from the SPD into the main panel. Route the neutral (white) and ground (green) wires to the nearest spiral terminals on the neutral motorbus (photo 2). Make the bends as gradual as possible. Continue all the wires (white, green, and blackness) every bit brusk equally possible. And so snap in the new billow and connect the two black wires from the SPD (photo 3).

To install phone and cable surge protections, find the service "demarcation boxes" on the exterior of your house. Run lengths of telephone and coaxial cable to the new SPD and connect them (photo 4).

As with all electrical projects, local electric regulations always trump our communication. Always pull a allow and have your work inspected.

Is a Meter Socket SPD the Answer?

If your electrical panel is total or yous're not up to doing your ain installation, a meter socket SPD may be the perfect alternative. It snaps into the meter socket. Start by checking with your local power utility to see if it will allow a meter socket SPD. If and then, observe out how much it charges for installation—you can't install information technology yourself. Shown is the Leviton No. 50240-MSA, which is well-nigh $210. It is available through our amalgamation with amazon.com.

Required Tools for this whole house surge protector project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you commencement—you'll salve time and frustration.

Required Materials for this whole house surge protector projection

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials fix ahead of time. Here'southward a list.

Originally Published: August 01, 2022

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