Residential Surge Protection provides a safe environment so that you don’t have to worry about voltage surges destroying TV, computer, and other electrical appliances. Any surge protective device won’t do much because power can travel through wires, destroying sensitive electrical equipment. According to a survey, 20% surges come from outside, while 80% are from inside. If you install protectors on right areas, you can prevent damage to your residential property.
How Residential Surges occur?
• 20% of the surges come from outside the house, lightning strike and Power Company can be the source of surge.
• Utility operations can be the reason
• There could be any reason, a tree could fall on wires, wind damage, car hitting nearby pole, utility repair, and more. Electrical wires have magnetic field, when power is interrupt, this field collapses which increase voltage in electrical wires. A mere 12 volt coil can produce thousands of voltage, or in worse situation whole home can catch fire.
• 80% surges are because of internal wiring, usually when an equipment’s cycle is on and off. Internal surges are sometime related to current magnitude being interrupted, and the length of wire from load.
Protection against Residential Surges
Surge protectors can be classified into three types, you can use these three on different locations to get rid of surges.
• A type of protector that is suitable for external power. External surges are caused by power company capacitors or lightning strikes. These protectors Install on main service, which is between power meter and the utility pole. It is first defense against surges because from this point power comes to your house, the only drawback of this device is that your power company has to monitor installation process. Your service panel will be shut off during the process
• The second type of protective device is for your branch panel, it is known as branch because from this point power is distributed to your house, same as tree branches. The device is wired to dual pole breaker in your branch panel, and can protect all the circuits that it cover. There are many devices that can protect, some brands allow high voltages to pass while others restrict a lot of power during surges.
• The third type of protective device is surge strip, or battery backup along with the protection. In this protector you plug circuits that you want to protect. You have to plug in power outlet, most people use this for protection against surges, but they are designed to be an alternative.
These were three type of protectors that you can use in your residential property to protect against surges. Protectors are important, but the most important thing is hiring a professional electrician who know what type of protectors to use. Hiring the right person can reduce a lot of stress, and your residential surge protection won’t break easily.
