Post from Wendy Scholl from Crystal River Ranch…
Electrical Surge Residential Protection
Please Provide Your Surge Damage Details – Click Here
For years, many of us have had to replace expensive appliances, furnace thermostats, heat pump motherboards, various electronics, numerous outlet rated surge protectors, and more. Since 2009 my residence has been hit with three damaging surge events. A whole house surge protection device (SPD) rated light commercial combined with multiple plug-in outlet surge protection devices for anything that is persistently on was recommended to me 2009 and this has worked. Kindly forward and share this with anyone you know who has experienced one or more damaging residential surge events and/or is concerned about residence protection in Crystal River Ranch (CRR), Crystal Village (CV) or other Greenwater location.
This communication is from me, Wendy Scholl, an individual CRR property owner. I’m not communicating representing the CRR board nor am I an electrician. I believe the following information is timely and will be helpful to many of you faced with damage from the 12/9/2015 surge event. In our locale, an electrical surge sourced house fire is a real risk. One CRR Riverview Way property owner’s bathroom heater thermostat exploded off the wall leaving scorch marks around and inside the wall 2/7/2008. Fortunately they were home, heard it explode and were able to quickly deal with it.
A light commercial rated whole house surge protection device (SPD) plus using outlet plug-in SPDs for every appliance, internet modem, computer, etc. have twice saved all my appliances and electronics in the recent damaging surge hits to my home 12/9/2015 and 1/17/2012. Each event, a whole house SPD light commercial level rating took the blow and that is my only replacement cost.
There are a variety of residential surge protection choices. In the 2009 damaging surge event when I lost multiple appliances, both a knowledgeable electrician and a retired PSE engineering employee recommended I install a light commercial rated SPD. Here is an informative read about protecting your home from a surge event: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,387874-3,00.html
I believe most of you are aware that PSE has no committed electrical grid remedy ahead to prevent damaging surges nor will they recommend or pay for an SPD. Over the years, owners like me have submitted claims. No surge damage cost claim to PSE I know of has been reimbursed. Here is a whole house SPD that is highly rated with a maximum surge capacity of 108kA or 108,000 Amps. This one recommended to me by multiple sources.
Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA 108kV or 108,000 Amps maximum surge out (Light Commercial Grade) Rated indoor / outdoor install, requires a 50 amp 2 pole breaker in the electrical panel. $110 at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C5NQTA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
As an example, this SPD low rated Home Depot $60.97 Square D Q02175SB in panel 22,500 Amps only provided partial protection to a vacant CRR property owner 12/9/2015.
Another informative site:
http://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2014/10/whats-the-best-whole-house-surge-protection/
To convert kA to Amps: http://www.convertunits.com/from/kA/to/ampere
CRR community residential damaging surge event dates I have in my records are:
December 9, 2015
January 17, 2012
December 23, 2008 – January 5, 2009 During 4 weeks multiple damaging surges in CRR.
February 8, 2008
May an evil doer force not hit your home and to all a safe peaceful 2016.
Wendy Scholl, WebAdmin@CrystalRiverRanch.org