Whole house surge protector

I just lost my garage refrigerator possibly due to a surge after a recent event where the POCO's transformer blew up during a thunderstorm.

Regardless of the cause of death for the refrigerator. I am thinking about having a whole house surge protector installed. The type I am considering is the type that plugs into the meter socket. Does anyone have any input on the pros and cons of doing this?

A couple of questions...

1 - is installation accomplished by simply removing the existing meter and inserting the surge protector into the socket, and then reinstalling the meter? Or, is there other wiring? My service drop was recently damaged, and I am going to have it replaced so I am thinking I could have both completed at the same time.

2 - if I do receive a future surge, do I lose power until I have the surge protector replaced again?

Thanks in advance for any insight and/or advice.

I'm not an electrician, but I just bought a whole house surge protector (but have not installed it yet since I'm getting a certified electrician over to do it). I believe anything involving the meter box would require someone from the power company coming out. I have a lever outside that can be pulled to switch power from the power company to a backup generator if the power is out. With the generator off, it just turns off the power to the entire house.
I got the Eaton Ultra surge protector. It attaches at the circuit box inside the house. There are reviews & detailed instructions on how to set it up on Amazon. I can post the link if you are interested.

Hopefully one of the electrical people here will chime in with something useful.

I want to ask too

jeffmattero76 said:

I just lost my garage refrigerator possibly due to a surge after a recent event where the POCO's transformer blew up during a thunderstorm.

Regardless of the cause of death for the refrigerator. I am thinking about having a whole house surge protector installed. The type I am considering is the type that plugs into the meter socket. Does anyone have any input on the pros and cons of doing this?

A couple of questions...

1 - is installation accomplished by simply removing the existing meter and inserting the surge protector into the socket, and then reinstalling the meter? Or, is there other wiring? My service drop was recently damaged, and I am going to have it replaced so I am thinking I could have both completed at the same time.

2 - if I do receive a future surge, do I lose power until I have the surge protector replaced again?

Thanks in advance for any insight and/or advice.

Click to expand...

The ones that go on the meter mount generally do not require any other wiring but could conceivably need the meter mount changed to 5 Jaw to provide the connection for the neutral conductor to the surge protector. Alternatively there may be a jumper from the Surge protector which connects it to the neutral conductor without the need for a fifth jaw. Power utilities often charge a monthly fee for such devices so check how much it costs initially and per month. It may be cheaper to pay for one that an electrician installs in your Service Disconnecting Means enclosure.

In general surge protectors fail open so the power is not interrupted. However that does leave the home without surge protection. Some surge protectors, which are meant for installation at the Service Equipment, can be mounted either inside or outside the enclosure. Insist on an internal mounting or have it mounted in a vented electrical box that is connected to the side or end wall of the service equipment enclosure. The surge protectors connection nipple can then be inserted into the two knock outs that have been lined up with each other for just that purpose. You may have to go to a real electrical supply house to get a vented electrical box. The challenge is that when a surge protector is overwhelmed there may be sparks discharged from the blow out plug which opens to relieve the internal pressure. When the blow out plug burst open it can discharge large sparks and burning bits of plastic or molten metal. Mounting it in the enclosure or it's own vented box prevents the discharge from kindling a fire. The discharge of hot material is a rather rare occurrence but I'm just not willing to take even that small risk of fire.

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Tom Horne