[TowerTalk] Whole house surge protectors

[Joe Giacobello]

I had a Cuttler-Hammer unit installed when this house was being built 
about five years ago.  Once when I was away, we had a storm that fried 
several pieces of electronics including the surge protector.  
Cuttler-Hammer replaced the protector at no charge, but did not offer to 
reimburse me for my losses.

I had a direct hit to my quad about two months ago and despite the 
protector and a whole range of other protective measures, almost 
everything in the shack was fried to one degree or another.  The 
consensus assessment was that the jolt came in via the grounds.  This 
time the C-H protector was intact and most probably protected the home 
theater gear and other electronics on the far side of the house away 
from the strike.  It seemed that any susceptible thing that was both in 
line-of sight of the strike and grounded got nailed, including the hot 
tub GFI and controller.  Both of our cars were in the garage directly 
under the strike point, but there was no damage whatsoever to their 
electronics including XM receivers.  Of course, the cars weren't grounded.

73, Joe

Pete Smith wrote:

>I have had one here for 5 years.  No problems, and no power-line-induced damage from lightning.  The type I use is installed by the power company in a cylindrical housing between the meter and the house.  Quick and easy, though in the 5 years I suppose I've paid for it several times over in the small monbthly rental.
>
>73, Pete N4ZR
>
>At 08:21 PM 9/28/2005, ae1t at netzero.com wrote:
>  
>
>>Does anyone have experience with whole-house surge protectors?  These are installed at the electrical service entrance by the power company (or an electrician).  Do they work?  Has anyone had problems with them in an RF-rich environment?  Do they create any noise of their own?
>>
>>73...
>>Peter, AE1T
>>
>>
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>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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>