Installing Surge Protector in home electrical panel

8 years ago

Hello to all,

Bought 2 HEPD80's and two DP 20amp breakers to install, one
in each of my 200amp service panels in garage.

The install seems pretty
straightforward by inserting the black wires in each pole slot, the and the
green and neutral wires in each respective bus board of the panel.

Since
my panel is flush w the sheetrock wall, wanted to know the best way to install
the actual surge protector?

I was thinking of
getting a metal or gray conduit 90, installing in the punch out and having it
come out the wall, then install the SP Device to that. this way all wired are
protected and encased. Is this ok? If so, any way to minimize sheetrock
damage?

Placement of DP 20amp breaker:

My main breaker and power
is at the top. Is it better to place the 20amp DB breaker as close to the top as
possible, or does it matter? I have 70samp DP breaker going to my pool panel...no room in that panel at all, but this I really want to protect too.

Finally, should I shorten the 2 blacks, grn and white neutral
wires on the SP as much as possible from breaker to SP, or is it ok to leave a
little inside the panel incase I need to move it later?

Thank you,
tstex

Note: The pool panel has no more slots at all, otherwise I'd
install a SP as close to the pool pump as possible. The distance from the main
panel w pool breaker to pool subpanel is about 35ft. Thanks

Featured Answer

DavidR

8 years ago

Here you go. Also here. Cheaper here. Links for information only; no endorsement intended.

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Comments (11)

DavidR
8 years ago
The wires should be as short as you can make them, with no sharp bends. I'm not sure it makes a difference where the breaker is located, but when I've installed TVSSes, I've put the breaker as close to the main as possible.

For your situation, you'll need a flush mounting kit from the manufacturer of your TVSS.

Here are some sample TVSS instructions that describe using a flush mounting kit.
DavidR
8 years ago
Here is a different brand of flush mounting kit.
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tj starkey
Original Author
8 years ago
Great, thank you very much David, it's appreciated
tj starkey
Original Author
8 years ago
David, here's a pic of the surge protector
kalining45
8 years ago
Your wasting your money. Once the Movs. blow on a serious surge your surge

protector becomes a normal electrical path for your connected applications.

A whole house surge protector is a one time only protection.
DavidR
8 years ago
MOVs do weaken every time they shunt a transient to ground, but they're not "one time only" devices. That's why they have lights that tell you whether they're still working, so you know when it's time to replace them.

After I added a TVSS to my barn subpanel, I no longer had to change the GFIs in the barn every time we had a lightning storm nearby. That TVSS is still doing its job, 12 years after installation.
tj starkey
Original Author
8 years ago
David, can you pls tell me what make & model of Surge Protector you installed that is still operable after 12 yrs? That's pretty amazing. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated - thanks
DavidR
8 years ago
It's a Sentrex HA120T (spec sheet). I bought 3 of these guys at an electronics surplus store many years ago (probably late 1990s - early 2000s). Note the 1994 production date on the sticker inside. All 3 appeared to be new, but had minor manufacturing defects. I combined the 3 into 2 good ones, installed one in the barn, and gave the other away.

The one I gave away was still working as of 2014. They've since sold the house, so I don't know what its status is today.

The unit in the photos below is what's left of the one I cannibalized for parts.
DavidR
8 years ago
PS - I had a different panel-mount TVSS (Sorry, I don't recall the brand name now) that lasted only 2 years.
tj starkey
Original Author
8 years ago
Great ! Thank you very much David - tstex