Whole house surge suppressor - good idea?

[R McNeil]

I'm doing a major remodel/addition which will include quite a bit of additional
electrical, so now is the time to consider adding a whole house surge
suppressor. The model that keeps floating to the top is the Leviton 51120-1,
but I've seen so much negative info on their couplers/repeaters that I wonder
if their surge suppressor is going to be a huge signal sucker on my X-10
system? It would likely be attached to the same panel as an ACT234.

Opinions/experiences?

Thanks,
Ross

[SQLit]

"R McNeil" <rmcneil@prairienet.org> wrote in message
news:cv0147$iv2$2@news.ks.uiuc.edu...
> I'm doing a major remodel/addition which will include quite a bit of
additional
> electrical, so now is the time to consider adding a whole house surge
> suppressor. The model that keeps floating to the top is the Leviton
51120-1,
> but I've seen so much negative info on their couplers/repeaters that I
wonder
> if their surge suppressor is going to be a huge signal sucker on my X-10
> system? It would likely be attached to the same panel as an ACT234.
>
> Opinions/experiences?
>
> Thanks,
> Ross
>

I have a Square D panel on my home and I installed the plug in SQD surge
arrestor.
About $55.00

The real trick to surge arresting is to keep the wires as short as possible.
Hence most manufactures place their surge arrestors on the bus. Hard to get
shorter than that!
The longer the wires the less good the arrestor is going to do. No using 750
MCM ( over 1 inch in diameter cable) does not help much. I used to work for
an electrical OEM and the studies are out there. Short conductors is good no
conductors is better

No matter what you buy plan on replacing it regularly. ALL surge arrestors
passed by U.L. are tested for ONE hit. No guarantees for the second hit. I
replace mine after every monsoon season, our lightning season.

Make sure your grounding is up to snuff before you install one. The better
the ground the better it will HELP protect. No matter what you still need
more surge arrestors at the equipment (of lower values). Surge arresting is
done in 3 zones, utility, service, and point of use. Since the utility is
out of our domain and I for one would not want to pay for on the medium
voltage lines.
Check the surge arrestors you have, (plug strips) Ideally the whole house
one in your case will limit the voltages to 500 v. The plug strip should
reduce the voltage to below 330V.
Most electronics can handle that for a short period of time. (Nanoseconds)
Check the CBEMA curve for more reading.

http://www.dorrough.com/What_s_New/PLM-120/PowerMonTM/CBEMA_Curve/cbema_curve.html

Most all surge arrestors use MOV, metal oxide varistors. Basically they
short to ground at a preset level. Good for one hit, one hit only.
Getting one with a operation light is handy.

I had a Cutler-Hammer one on the last home
http://www.eatonelectrical.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=C-H/Common/AssetTemplateLink&c=Apubarticles&cid=1016116397685&Sec=products

The CHHSP version. Be fore warned I used to work for them and they gave it
to me.
I liked it cause it had a cable TV jack on it. I came home after a severe
thunderstorm and my neighbors both had blown TVs. Mine was fine.

If your serious about this then plan on putting surge arresting on the phone
line or cable line. I have. Do not get mired down by claims that the company
will pay $25k for damaged equipment. That is almost impossible to prove for
you.

Good luck making your decision.

[BruceR]

The 51120-1 is specifically designed for X-10 & Lonworks compatibility
as listed on their spec sheet.
See: http://www.leviton.com/pdfs/spd/51120ptc.pdf
I have an older Leviton Suppressor with an ACT repeater on the same
panel with no problems.

From:R McNeil
rmcneil@prairienet.org

> I'm doing a major remodel/addition which will include quite a bit of
> additional electrical, so now is the time to consider adding a whole
> house surge suppressor. The model that keeps floating to the top is
> the Leviton 51120-1, but I've seen so much negative info on their
> couplers/repeaters that I wonder if their surge suppressor is going
> to be a huge signal sucker on my X-10 system? It would likely be
> attached to the same panel as an ACT234.
>
> Opinions/experiences?
>
> Thanks,
> Ross