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The Umbrella of
Electrical
Protection
In many areas of the
country, storm
season is again upon
us, an annual
reminder of things
that can be included
in your new home or
remodeling plan to
help reduce
potential electrical
damage. Think about
the expense and
hassle you’d have to
go through to
replace all of your
appliances, phones,
and those fancy
electronics if your
home was the victim
of a lightning
strike or other
electrical
catastrophe.
According to the
National Fire
Protection
Association, a
nonprofit code- and
standards-setting
group, lightning
strikes in the U.S.
cause an average of
6,100 residential
fires and $144
million in direct
property damage each
year.
That is a scary
thought, but
protecting your
electric lines from
the static energy
generated by
lightning is just
part of an effective
electrical
safeguarding
package. Additional
options to consider
include:
-
Arrestors that
prevent
lightning from
damaging cable
or phone lines.
-
A buffer from
surges that are
generated by the
power company.
(Many people are
aware that power
surges can occur
when the power
comes back on
after an outage,
but did you know
that surges are
created each
time the power
company switches
capacitors, and
that this
happens on a
daily basis?).
-
Protection from
“internally
generated”
surges caused
when large
appliances such
as air
conditioners and
refrigerators
turn on and off.
Small, repetitive
power surges, also
called “electronic
rust,” cause damage
that often goes
unnoticed until
something
mysteriously stops
working. Reducing or
eliminating these
surges can lengthen
the life of your
appliances, HVAC
equipment,
computers, and
electronic
components.
Here are the
specifics of what
you need to consider
for an umbrella of
protection:
 Whole-House
Surge Protection:
A whole-house surge
protection unit is
usually installed
at the main
electrical hook-up
(where the meter is
located). A direct
lightning strike
will not be stopped
by these systems,
but they are
designed to prevent
indirect lightning
strikes, as well as
power surges, from
passing through you
home’s electrical
wiring. A
whole-house surge
protection package
is sometimes
available through
your local power
company, though it
is often accompanied
by a never-ending
monthly fee. You can
also purchase a
system
independently, which
gives you the
opportunity to
choose the best
product for your
home. These devices
cost between $150 to
$500 and must be
installed by a
professional
electrician. Also,
ask about the
warranty: The best
warranty is usually
available for homes
that include phone
and cable surge
suppression as well
(see below). For a
selection of
products, visit
SurgeAssure.com
Breaker-Panel Surge
Protection:
Various types of
surge protection
systems can be
attached to or
included within the
breaker panel. One
product looks just
like a breaker but,
in fact, contains
the surge protector
– normally one
protector per panel.
Another type is
housed in a separate
box installed near
the panel. If you
would like this
safety feature
installed in your
home, be certain to
discuss the options
with your builder
and electrician.
Breaker-panel
protection, like the
whole-house systems
mentioned above, is
designed to prevent
excess energy
generated by power
surges and indirect
lightning strikes
from passing through
your home’s
electrical wiring.
For added
protection, some
homeowners install
both whole-house and
breaker-panel
systems. Both
systems may also be
included in the
package offered by
your local power
company.
 Phone
and Cable Surge
Protection: Significant
damage can occur
from lightning’s
static energy
entering your home
through the phone
and cable lines. In
today’s homes, it is
common to have phone
system, cable, and
computer system
wiring culminate in
a structured wiring
panel. If this will
be the case in your
new home, make sure
coax and phone surge
suppression products
are part of the
supplier’s package.
(Note that these
products will not
stop a direct
lightning strike.)
The component
circled in the photo
to the right is the
telephone lightning
suppression unit
located inside the
structured wiring
panel.
Do-It-Yourself
Suppressors:
Surge suppressors
that you plug into
electrical outlets
help prevent those
“internally
generated” surges
discussed above, but
don’t confuse these
devices with
ordinary power
strips that offer no
surge protection.
“Real” suppressors
cost from $12 to $30
or more. To be
certain you’re
getting adequate
protection, look for
labels with UL
standard 1449 and an
SVR (suppressor
voltage rating) of
330 volts. The lower
the SVR, the better
the device will be
at protecting your
appliances and
electronics.
Also be aware that
suppressors
deteriorate with age
or after a surge.
Choose those that
have audible signals
or flashing lights
to indicate when
they need to be
replaced.
Lightning-Protection
System: Would
you like a single
system to
 do
it all – protect
your electrical,
phone, and cable
lines from indirect
and direct
lightning strikes
and take care of
power surges?
According to many
sources, including
Central Lightning
Protection of
Orlando, Florida,
who installed the
system pictured to
the right, the
answer is a good
lightning-protection
system. These
thorough systems
safeguard all ports
of entry.
Lightning protection
systems control
electrical
discharges by
directing them
through a
low-resistance path
to the ground,
avoiding passage
through the
structure and
reducing risk of
fire or other
damage. Air
terminals (rods -
pictured above)
fastened to the
building intercept
electric discharges,
directing them
through conductors
to a grounding
system and into the
ground.
When you consider
that the cost of
this product can be
less than your
high-definition TV
alone, a
well-designed
lightning protection
system, properly
installed by a UL-
and LPI-(Lightning
Protection
Institute) certified
company, can be well
worth the money. For
more information or
to find a contractor
in your area, visit
the Lightning
Protection Institute
at
Lightning.org
Is there a subject
you’d like me to
cover? Let me know
by sending an email
to
tracy@tracystips.net.
All past issues of this ezine are in the Ezine Archives on our web site. Click here for Ezine Archives !
Copyright © 2007 Tracy DeCarlo - All Right Reserved
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