Secondary Surge Arrester

[Bruce Thompson]

I've never seen these devices before and have no idea if this is a proper installation. Any help would, as usual, be deeply appreciated.

This surge arrestor is wired directly into the double-pole breaker for the dryer (looks like a double-tap in the photo)

Sorry for the blurred pic.

Bruce

[tdietrich1]

I have one on my panel. Surgebreaker, it plugs right into both buses(one wire to the neutral bar). Now the one you show appears to be one you install "ON" the panel, usually through a knock out. Then wire back to the buses via a breaker. I do not believe they are to be installed inside the panel, since the status light wouldn't be visible.

Just a guess. Do you have a make/model?

tom

[Bruce Thompson]

Originally Posted by tdietrich1

I have one on my panel. Surgebreaker, it plugs right into both buses(one wire to the neutral bar). Now the one you show appears to be one you install "ON" the panel, usually through a knock out. Then wire back to the buses via a breaker. I do not believe they are to be installed inside the panel, since the status light wouldn't be visible.

Just a guess. Do you have a make/model?

tom

Make is Square D. Model SDSA1175

Found a recall of the SDT1175.

I'm wondering why it's on the dryer circuit and is it supposed to be wired into the lugs of the breaker.

[tdietrich1]

Originally Posted by bthompson1

I'm wondering why it's on the dryer circuit and is it supposed to be wired into the lugs of the breaker.

I'm guessing those are both questions.

1. [A guess] Because it was a big breaker.
2. Since their are small conductors involved, the need ocp & scp. [another guess].

tom

[David P. Valley]

Bruce,

That appears to be a lightning surge suppressor. There are two basic types of residential or light commercial surge suppressors. One type connects to your electric panel where your circuit breakers or fuses are located. These devices are designed to stop harmful lightning surges before they can travel towards the electronic equipment in your home.

I've personally never seen a surge suppressor wired into the dryer breaker, but I have seen several suppressors double tapped into the main SE breaker, which is absolutely fine. So in your case the lighting suppressor is only protecting the dryer circuit. And the suppressor itself should be mounted on the outside of the panel.

[Bruce Thompson]

Called an electrical supply house and the man I spoke to said that his own house was struck by lightning once and it went straight to the dryer and fried it. He was pro-dryer protection.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by bthompson1

Called an electrical supply house and the man I spoke to said that his own house was struck by lightning once and it went straight to the dryer and fried it. He was pro-dryer protection.

So I was right on. Make sure it gets moved to the exterior of the panel.

[Marc Benz]

Bruce.,,

I don't know if you did catch this or not did you see doubled netual in the neutral bussbar ?? there are few empty slot it can be used [ SOP is never doubled up netural at all but fine with grounding wire { green or bare as long they are same size }]

But kinda hard to see the photo but is that a BR series Breaker ?? if so i think in that size they are allowed double lugged { i will check my catalog book to verify it }


Merci, Marc

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by bthompson1

Called an electrical supply house and the man I spoke to said that his own house was struck by lightning once and it went straight to the dryer and fried it. He was pro-dryer protection.

Just protecting the dryer is "false security".

Example: About 12 years ago, lighting struck a tall tree in the back yard of a residential property about 500 feet down the road from my house. Here's the results: (1) The owner's deep well pump got fried, (2) the phone across the street (that, by chance, her daughter was talking on as she babysat) got fried.....she got a minor shock, (3) another neighbour's stereo system got fried, (4) a small colour TV in our master bedroom got fried. I don't know if other neighbours had problems we never heard of.

[Jim Port]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I've personally never seen a surge suppressor wired into the dryer breaker, but I have seen several suppressors double tapped into the main SE breaker, which is absolutely fine. So in your case the lighting suppressor is only protecting the dryer circuit. And the suppressor itself should be mounted on the outside of the panel.

Since the lugs for the service entrance cables are only for use with ONE conductor this installation would not be compliant.

Also the dryer circuit would not be the only item protected.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

Since the lugs for the service entrance cables are only for use with ONE conductor this installation would not be compliant.

Also the dryer circuit would not be the only item protected.

Lightning supressors are absolutely fine tapped into the main. They are not current carrying conductors.

[Jim Port]

The problem is that the lug is only rated for one conductor, not the lack of overcurrent protection.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

The problem is that the lug is only rated for one conductor, not the lack of overcurrent protection.

I never stated that it was "lack of overcurrent protection".

I simply stated "Lightning supressors are absolutely fine tapped into the main".

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I never stated that it was "lack of overcurrent protection".

I simply stated "Lightning supressors are absolutely fine tapped into the main".

just checked my old Square D protector:

It says to install across the SEC's (plus connect to neutral bus) even suggesting to do it as far back as the drip loop. (with AHJ approval). The instructions don't say to tap in the SEC lugs but that was suggested by the vendor when I bought it. The leads appear to be tinned #12 copper cable so that would not be a big "imposition" at the service lugs. Other newer devices are "plug-in to bus bars & connect neutral" types. Could not find it today but believe I read a few months ago to install these at the top position for branch circuit breakers in the panel (if that's where the SEC lugs are). It seems that you want to stop the surge before it gets to other circuits farther down the panel.

From a previous post where the protection was installed on the dryer breaker terminals, would it protect all circuits or just the dryer? My feeling is just the dryer. Comments/explanation?

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

just checked my old Square D protector:

It says to install across the SEC's (plus connect to neutral bus) even suggesting to do it as far back as the drip loop. (with AHJ approval). The instructions don't say to tap in the SEC lugs but that was suggested by the vendor when I bought it. The leads appear to be tinned #12 copper cable so that would not be a big "imposition" at the service lugs. Other newer devices are "plug-in to bus bars & connect neutral" types. Could not find it today but believe I read a few months ago to install these at the top position for branch circuit breakers in the panel (if that's where the SEC lugs are). It seems that you want to stop the surge before it gets to other circuits farther down the panel.

From a previous post where the protection was installed on the dryer breaker terminals, would it protect all circuits or just the dryer? My feeling is just the dryer. Comments/explanation?

I'm not an Electrician by no means, but every lightning suppressor I've ever encountered was tapped directly into the SE lug. I can recall asking about this particular lugging years ago and I can recall Electricians (not sure who) stating that tapping of the suppressor at the SE was fine. Since then, I've always seen them tapped in at the SE lug and have never called them out.

If there are other options to this suppressor connection, I'd like to know about them.