I am concerned about major electrical surges coming in on my power line. I know that too big a surge will blow up appliances and possibly start a fire. I read information somewhere about a surge protector you could buy to install on the electrical line coming into your home. I called my electric company and was informed that my company does not install them anymore, I will have to hire an electrician to do it. Fine, but where do I purchase one of these surge protectors and is it necessary?

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), July 13, 1999

Answers

Carol,

See this recent thread in the other TB2000 forum (in the Alternative Energy archive):

I have a Question about Surge Protectors******Looking for Advice at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0014FP

, especially Ray Strackbein's and Robert Cook's contributions.

Another thread, in the Uncategorized archive of the other TB2000 forum is:

Should I Buy CP&L's whole-house surge protection plan? at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000YUD

A short older thread, in the Utilities archive:

How do you get best surge protection? at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0008y7

-- No Spam Please (nos_pam_please@hotmail.com), July 14, 1999.

It's a good idea to install one of these whole house surge protectors. I had one installed about a dozen years ago after almost every home in our town experienced some sort of damage from a surge.

Call an electrician. He/she will provide the equipment to install and make the necessary arrangements with your electric company to turn off the power to your home.

I think this is a small price to pay to protect your home from damage. If your area experiences lightning strikes, you should have this surge protector installed.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), July 14, 1999.