Surge protector plugs -do they actually work?

[Chrisl]

My sister lives on an island in the Carrebean and most of their power is generated by big diesels. They have constant power drops and lost a lot of their electrical appliances because of that. After fitting every plug with a surge protector they have not had one item fail.

 

[the_BOBNOB]

My aircon burnt out and the as always the damage reports states, power fluctuations.

Had to pay R1500 extra co-payment for not having a Surge protector.

It's wired directly to my db box, so how do I connect a surge protector?

You get a surge protector that can be wired into your DB

So main trips -> surge protector -> rest of the DB

 

[AntVan]

@AntVan Please can you provide more info on this fridge saver, make and where purchased?

I bought a Ellies, available from Takealot and also from Leroy Jenkins, I mean Merlin.

 

[AntVan]

You get a surge protector that can be wired into your DB

So main trips -> surge protector -> rest of the DB

Job for a qualified sparky, into the DB. It is supposed to protect all the circuits although I believe in theory you can connect it to just certain circuits. I am not a qualified sparky. I know you also get versions with Voltage and Current protection if that is your issue (such as people being fed by 3-phase)

 

[RobC]

That is true. But after being hit by lightning the second time (at two different properties) I don’t exclude it as impossible at my new house at all. But you are right, the most likely failure is an ESKOM induced failure due to brownout or spike

I can tell you a few lightning stories... it does impressive stuff to a controller motherboard...

 

[Cracker]

Job for a qualified sparky, into the DB. It is supposed to protect all the circuits although I believe in theory you can connect it to just certain circuits. I am not a qualified sparky. I know you also get versions with Voltage and Current protection if that is your issue (such as people being fed by 3-phase)

The DB one is a class 2, it protects against bigger voltage fluctuations than your plug in device, which is a class 3. Fit both.

Neither will help in a direct strike but can help in loadshedding fluctuations. They are made for spikes, not low voltage, a clue is in the name ...........

Not sure what's inside a plug in one, maybe there's a cap or 2 that could help with low voltage. Bobnob?

Do what your insurance says, it's all about money anyway.

 

[AntVan]

The DB one is a class 2, it protects against bigger voltage fluctuations than your plug in device, which is a class 3. Fit both.

Neither will help in a direct strike but can help in loadshedding fluctuations. They are made for spikes, not low voltage, a clue is in the name ...........

Not sure what's inside a plug in one, maybe there's a cap or 2 that could help with low voltage. Bobnob?

Do what your insurance says, it's all about money anyway.

The plug version that protects against low voltage has a measurement circuit and a relay. It simply dopes not switch on until Voltage is correct

 

[DeadMeat]

Ive been running 3 ELLIES surge protectors for almost 10 years
So far all good
Nothing has blown

Touch wood

 

[DeadMeat]

My aircon burnt out and the as always the damage reports states, power fluctuations.

Had to pay R1500 extra co-payment for not having a Surge protector.

It's wired directly to my db box, so how do I connect a surge protector?

You get surge arrestors for DB boards

 

[jogi_c]

I had Louwrens (do not know if he is still on the forum) do a COC for me. At the same time he came out we had lots of issues with the municipal feed. Turns out my neightbor had some electrical work done illegally (worked on the municipal feed and messed up positive and earth). I had 120 volts running through my house with the BD, trip switch and municipal switch turned of). He moered a really big copper rod into the ground and earthed it properly.

That seems to have protected me. Houses around me have lost appliances with lightning strikes and load shedding related issues. Many years later I have not lost anything to either lightning strikes or power surges. Maybe I am just lucky, but my little knowledge about lectric tells me if you have a proper earth that can absorb the fluctioantions it will be a good start

 

[Jacobsroodt]

We had surge protectors installed on our DB to protect the house from the source. Lightning protection was included. Not that we had issues before, but hopefully we are protected now.