Electric Panel Surge protection


So, initially, I was thinking of getting a Puritan PSM156 which handles surge protection. 

However, ever since, I had an issue with some surges at home (garage panel died as an example), I had spoken to my electrican (friend of the family) and he suggested to surge protect my whole panel/home. 

I was suggested to get this model from my audio store, might be overkill? TPD TK-TTLP-1S240-FL , comes with a lifetime warranty. 

My question first is, how many of you surge protect your whole panel and does this really then make it worry free for my audio equipment? and only need to get a power conditioner after that doesn't have surge protection?

Once I can get some feedback on this, then I can move onto looking at models to get after. 

skads_187

This comes up so often I’ve written about it.  Bottom line is you need both, due to different clamping/let through voltages and the difference in voltage during a surge of an outlet that’s 30’ away vs. at the panel.  

In terms of brand, ideally the best are the one’s that fit in your panel like a breaker.  The leads used by surge protectors which are wired into the panel increase resistance and inductance which increases the let through voltage. 

Here is why you need both. 

Here is what I recommend for surge protectors at the outlet.

@facten  what kind of power conditioners do you use for your system?

@bigtwin Yes, its something im going to do tomorrow or next week and also find out if it adding it lowers the premium.

@erik_squires Wow, ok , so yes, I do need one in general, but , you are saying, I should still protect my audio gear with surge protection as well. 

Which then leads me to my next question, what do people do when they purchase those non current sacrificing conditioners , which mostly clean the line, example the SR Powercell 8 SX. I dont think it surge protects. Or in addition, ive seen many comments online to plug in the amp directly to the wall, which offers 0 protection. 

 

I guess Ill have to start looking at the Puritan again as an option, I think in terms of current, filtering, price and surge protection , it might be the best option? I will create another post for that not to get too off topic.

There are power surges from the electric utility coming through your panel.

And then there are lightning strikes which can enter from various points. My neighbor had lightning hit a tree then up from the ground through a gutter then to support rods in his elevated house. Fried his frig and two tvs. 

I am not an expert, but I bought a Siemens model for a LOT less than that. That model might be overkill for a house.