Surge Protectors or Automatic Voltage Regulators

For transtector prices, you've got to call or email, they'll put you in touch with a sales rep. Kinda a pain in the ass, but they are happy to deal with individuals, and it can actually be helpful.

The part you mention costs $100 - I got a quote for it recently. As i said, pricey.

Also, if they don't say what they are using, its almost a guarantee they are using MOVs - nothing really wrong with MOVs, they do work. Its more that when you open up most cheap surge suppressors, you find only a couple MOVs instead of a large array of them.

I don't really know if the transtector stuff is worth the premium. I do know that I am considering their "whole house" protection unit (goes inbetween your breaker box and main power in, so you have to have a certified electrician install it - parts costs about $750, install about $250).

 

I think other decent brands include:

• http://www.brickwall.com/
• http://www.zerosurge.com/residential.html
• Various Furman models

But they are pricey.

 

Also, MOVs and all surge suppressors have a finite lifetime - the transorbs/MOVs are damaged with each surge and slowly degrade...old surge suppressors don't work.

 

That is true of MOVs, but avalanche diodes do not degrade with each surge (unless the current flow is enough to cause a catastrophic failure, which can happen)

 

The worst part about these is that they normally fail silently.

The companies I listed above, don't use MOVs AFAIK.

 

Any conductive metal rod is fine, most use Alu now in the USA. 6ft/2meters, get a heavy hammer

 

what do you do, just sink it into the ground and conect your earth wire to it ?