Is it a "sacrificial" unit (meaning does it permanently die after protecting the house from a surge, and have to be replaced)?
1157351
Yes and No. If the surge is large enough, it will need to be replaced. Smaller surges will leave it operating. There is an LED that lets you know it is OK (and to replace it if it's not lit). Mine has lasted through the Fall and Spring thunderstorm seasons and is still working.
1157352
In general the following is true: Under normal operation, SPD devices should operate indefinitely providing surge protection from power spikes, etc and the similar day to day surging a panel may encounter.Panel mount surge protectors cannot be "reset." Once the SPD has reached its MTBF, (Mean Time Between Failure) , the green or red "ON" indicator light will go out and the product will give up the ghost, at which time a new one will be needed as replacement. Hope this helps. I have used them and they are valuable in operation. Saves a lot of headaches.
1157353
Not Necessarily, the unit has green lights one for each phase. When the green lights go out or red then it is compromised and needs replaced.
1693629
It's listed as "lifetime limited". Not sure what the limit is, unless it's limited to the unit, itself and nothing that may get damaged as a result of.
1611140
honestly I don't know only that I have purchased two and have one on each floor of my home. What I do remember is that the documentation said the device should be replaced in five years. Hope this is some help.
267019
It does not give any kind of rating for protection, it just states: built-in fuse; over-load / short circuit / surge protection
1320794
My electrician told me that this unit will only withstand one big surge, then it will have to be replaced.
174048
This unit was not designed or manufactured to be used for such long periods of time, when no one will be around (because you'll be asleep) to keep an eye on it. Considering the potentially tragic consequences of misusing electrical heating appliances in a home where people are sleeping, I would strongly urge you to buy one specifically designed, tested, and UL (or CSA, etc.) certified to be used unattended and for longer periods of time.
119301
Yes, eventually. Surge protectors work by shunting voltage spikes to ground through an MOV. Eventually the metal oxide varistor fails, usually by burning open or shorting. At that point the device needs to be replaced.
2015640
It is like most plug in surge protectors in the fact that it will only survive one major surge. When you "reset" a plug in surge protector after it has undergone a large surge it no longer offers protection. This device will survive several smaller surges.
1209617
When you switch the unit off the only voltage present in the unit is at the power cord side of the switch. There is no voltage beyond the switch. No voltage, no surge or sag. A direct lightning strike is another matter, though, it can go anywhere it chooses to go.I have worked with these devices for over nineteen years in a large industrial setting; I've never heard of one failing. That's why I buy them for myself.
398166
Hard to say. I have two of these units. One is about three years in service. The second unit has only been in operation (in a different home) for a few moths. Neither have had any issues so the warranty hasn't been called into play. I'm an Electrical Engineer and I looked into the performance of these whole house surge devices somewhat in depth. You pretty much get what you pay for and this one isn't cheap.
1602283
I'm not sure what you mean by fails. It does have a lifetime warranty. They will repair or replace. If it registers a problem with the electrical connection, it will keep you and your unit safe. If it is something like a power surge, etc it may register and stop working and you have to return it. I, personally, wouldn't be without this safeguard. It is much less expensive than insuring the replacement of the many things in your RV that would need to be replaced.
1672946
You could tie it into a 240VAC circuit breaker that is already n use. Anything on the line should be protected but may get more surge than one of the other lines. I have mine on a separate breaker and the breaker blew when the surge hit so there might be some backlash from the surge protector. Idea;y i would put in another circuit breaker, but piggy-backing on an existing line would definitely be better than not having the surge protector at all.
1679712
I had to purchase a new one when that happened to me. Power surge fried it.
1651986
Device is sacrificial. In the event of a surge it becomes the path of least resistance and accepts the over voltage. It will try to dump the surge to ground and most likely will permanently trip as a result. After an event you will still have power but the device should be checked. If the lights are not solid green than it did its just and must be replace before the next event.
832507
Funny you should ask! I went down to my basement the other day and the light was OUT! The unit is supposed to be under warranty for 5 years. It's been two years since I had it installed. I have already spoken with the folks at Intermatic and will be sending the unit to them for their tech guy to take a look at it to see what went wrong. No matter how this goes, I won't regret having the unit -- if it took a hit that would have taken out my well pump or septic pump, it's still worth the cost of replacing it. But there's still some hope that Intermatic will find that it was a defect in the unit and perhaps it will be repaired or I will be compensated somehow? Hey, if they repair it, I'll keep it just in case there's a problem going forward two more years from now! So - you're right - there is no reset switch and the units are NOT serviceable by the consumer - However, the company is really good and if you send them the unit, they will investigate what happened! Jury's still out on whether I'm just out the cost - we shall see!
385751
@ "I have them all over my house to protect big ticket items; Computers, Washer's, Dyers, Ref., Stoves, etc."Good grief John, you're protecting "big ticket" items with a low-end surge protector which is only spec'd to absorb a 1000 Joule surge? You better read up on just how little protection this unit actually provides...fine for relatively inexpensive items but not for costly things like computers, big-screen TVs and the like. Also, I'm curious about how you're using this 15A device with dryers, stoves, etc. which don't run on 110V and certainly pull more amperage than 15. @ "I have them all over my house to protect big ticket items; Computers, Washer's, Dyers, Ref., Stoves, etc."Good grief John, you're protecting "big ticket" items with a low-end surge protector which is only spec'd to absorb a 1000 Joule surge? You better read up on just how little protection this unit actually provides...fine for relatively inexpensive items but not for costly things like computers, big-screen TVs and the like. Also, I'm curious about how you're using this 15A device with dryers, stoves, etc. which don't run on 110V and certainly pull more... » Read More @ "I have them all over my house to protect big ticket items; Computers, Washer's, Dyers, Ref., Stoves, etc."Good grief John, you're protecting "big ticket" items with a low-end surge protector which is only spec'd to absorb a 1000 Joule surge? You better read up on just how little protection this unit actually provides...fine for relatively inexpensive items but not for costly things like computers, big-screen TVs and the like. Also, I'm curious about how you're using this 15A device with dryers, stoves, etc. which don't run on 110V and certainly pull more amperage than 15. « Show Less
195625
I used a surge protected with mine. It was fine. However I bought mine in feb now it doesnt work. Just stopped working. I think I will stick to the brand "comfort zone" from walmart. Under $20 and still working