Surge protector in DB board

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twr

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So my mom got a quote to have someone install a surge protector in the main distribution board for R1900. I know nothing about this topic so hopefully someone can assist to know if this is worth it or just a money making scheme.
Will it help to protect anything from the power surgery after load shedding or when there is a Main power outage in the area that can potentially blow you appliances.
I'm hearing insurance agents are not covering power surges etc .
They are with Discovery
 
Had these installed after we had 400V blowing things up after they stole the neutral cable:
GetAttachmentThumbnail
 
twr said:
So my mom got a quote to have someone install a surge protector in the main distribution board for R1900. I know nothing about this topic so hopefully someone can assist to know if this is worth it or just a money making scheme.
Will it help to protect anything from the power surgery after load shedding or when there is a Main power outage in the area that can potentially blow you appliances.
I'm hearing insurance agents are not covering power surges etc .
They are with Discovery
Click to expand...
depends on the surge arrester ,you get what you pay for ,,we only fit surgetek , for a decent unit price is good .some insurance co only want certain units ,any class 2 should be good .
 
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I am familiar with the plug type ones that have an indicator light that goes out when the MOV has lost its protection abilities. How does the db-board types work in terms of maintenance/replacement parts ?
 
BuckRogers said:
I am familiar with the plug type ones that have an indicator light that goes out when the MOV has lost its protection abilities. How does the db-board types work of maintenance/replacement parts ?
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some you can pull the module out and replace it ,no tools needed ,some have a lever inside that when the mov blows it releases the lever and the window colour changes ,some a light which gets enough power from the mov bleed so if it pops no more power on that lead.
 
soulie said:
depends on the surge arrester ,you get what you pay for ,,we only fit surgetek , for a decent unit price is good .some insurance co only want certain units ,any class 2 should be good .
Click to expand...
How much was your when you fitted it with surgetek?
 
twr said:
How much was your when you fitted it with surgetek?
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im a contractor (electrician ) COPA also (Surgetek), surge arresters are very good , all the mainline units ,not chinese, are adequate
 
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soulie said:
im a contractor (electrician ) COPA also (Surgetek), surge arresters are very good , all the mainline units ,not chinese, are adequate
Click to expand...
the single pole AC/DC 275V are okay? Because I had 2 of them installed on mine (1 for live and 1 for neutral)
 
twr said:
So my mom got a quote to have someone install a surge protector in the main distribution board for R1900. I know nothing about this topic so hopefully someone can assist to know if this is worth it or just a money making scheme.
Will it help to protect anything from the power surgery after load shedding or when there is a Main power outage in the area that can potentially blow you appliances.
I'm hearing insurance agents are not covering power surges etc .
They are with Discovery
Click to expand...
insurers now require a surge protector in the db board - without it, no cover.
be certain to get a compliance certificate from the electrician - without it the insurer will not cover.

the big problem comes in after the 4.5hr slots of loadshedding.
after 4.5hrs many fridges, freezers, geysers etc are out of their thermostat settings - this results in a huge drain in current when power is restored as all these heat exchange appliances start up, in turn substations trip, power surges happen and appliances can get fried.

get the job done properly, the cost will be significantly cheaper than replacing uninsured appliances
 
Grant said:
insurers now require a surge protector in the db board - without it, no cover.
be certain to get a compliance certificate from the electrician - without it the insurer will not cover.

the big problem comes in after the 4.5hr slots of loadshedding.
after 4.5hrs many fridges, freezers, geysers etc are out of their thermostat settings - this results in a huge drain in current when power is restored as all these heat exchange appliances start up, in turn substations trip, power surges happen and appliances can get fried.

get the job done properly, the cost will be significantly cheaper than replacing uninsured appliances
Click to expand...
So the electrician says it will cost an extra R600 for compliance letter? Is that normal.
Also where area it say from.insurnace companies that they won't cover without the letter?
 
twr said:
So the electrician says it will cost an extra R600 for compliance letter? Is that normal.
Also where area it say from.insurnace companies that they won't cover without the letter?
Click to expand...
i honestly have no idea of cost, but i suggest you contact a 2nd electrician.
R600 seems excessive for a letter confirming the electrician did his job correctly.

check your insurers regards the compliance certificate.
 
Grant said:
i honestly have no idea of cost, but i suggest you contact a 2nd electrician.
R600 seems excessive for a letter confirming the electrician did his job correctly.

check your insurers regards the compliance certificate.
Click to expand...
Do you understand how much extra work a compliance is . Technically if follow sans need a original coc and the surge arrestor is a extra to that original coc . If you don’t have a valid coc we’ll then need to get one for the whole house and that is expensive . I work for a electrical company and in 20 years we never had so much demand for numerous reasons from solar and loadshedding causing many more nuisance e faults than before . We almost need to switch off our phones .
 
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