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Whole-House Protection Strategy

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No single SPD (Surge Protection Strategy) can protect all

the equipment in a residence from all causes of electrical
surges. Instead, a whole-house protection strategy,
consisting of point-of-entry and point-of-use SPDs, is
necessary to help guard against disturbances from inside
and outside the home.
A point-of-entry SPD is necessary to limit damage from
electrical surges entering the home via service entrance
conductors. As previously discussed, these electrical
surges can come from a lightning strike on or near highvoltage transmission lines, switching of primary circuits by
the local utility, or equipment operation in nearby
commercial or industrial facilities.

SIEMENS Whole-House Protection Strategy

Point-of Entry Protection

Surges from Within the Home

Point-of-entry SPDs, however, cannot provide protection from surges developed within the home. For example, an
air conditioner can cause a small electrical surge every time it cycles on or off. Surges caused by equipment within
the home are usually weaker than surges caused by lightning; however, they occur more frequently. These surges
are distributed throughout the homes electrical system, possibly causing problems with other connected
equipment.

Surges from Within The Home

Exterior Wiring
Additionally, many homes have some form of exterior electrical wiring. Security gates, outdoor lighting, electronic dog
fences, and swimming pool filtration equipment are just a few examples of outdoor electrical devices in use today.

Exterior wiring

A cloud-to-earth lightning strike in close proximity to underground wiring can cause a voltage surge which has a direct
path to the home distribution system.

Surges from Other Services

Most damage occurs from electrical surges that enter the home from outside services. We have already learned how
lightning strikes can enter the home through the electrical utility. It is equally important to note that telephone lines
and TV cables can also conduct electrical surges into the home causing damage to electronic equipment connected
to these lines.
The National Electrical Code requires services to be grounded and bonded together. The purpose is to reduce fire
and shock hazard in the event electric utility power conductors come in contact with communication conductors.
However, this will not protect sensitive electrical and electronic equipment located within the house.

Surges from Other Services

Type 3 SPDs
Type 3 SPDs, also called point-of-use SPDs, are essential to any surge protection strategy to provide household
equipment with a degree of protection from surges created in the home. In addition, point-of-entry SPDs typically
have a relatively high clamping voltage and this allows some let-through energy that can be absorbed by point-of use
SPDs.

Type 3 SPDs

SOURCE: SIEMENS Basics Of Surge Protection

About Author //
Edvard Csanyi
Edvard - Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for
design of LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, buildings and
industry fascilities. Designing of LV/MV switchgears. Professional in AutoCAD
programming and web-design. Present on

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5 Comments
1.
ESD - Electro Static Discharge | EEP
Jul 01, 2013
[...] Discharge Printed Circuit Board (PCB)An increasing problem today with the use of more and more
electronic equipment in our systems is the Electro Static Discharge (ESD). The main source of the problem is
the wrong [...]
(reply)

2.
The real truth behind household power savers | EEP
Mar 07, 2012
[...] to power appliances than before.Basically it is claimed that Power savers work on the principle of surge
protection technology. Power savers work on straightening this unstable electric current to provide a smooth
[...]
(reply)
3.
Substation Fire Protection | EEP
Jan 27, 2012
[...] of power to customers and the utility companys revenue and assets. These fires can also create a fire
hazard to utility personnel, emergency personnel, and the general public. The recognition of the fire [...]
(reply)
4.
Complete overview of lightning arresters (part 1) | EEP
Jan 15, 2012
[...] even if it means short circuiting all of your electronic equipment.The method of providing maximum
protection for equipment is quite simple. Create a pathway for the voltage surge (electricity) to get to and [...]
(reply)
5.
Imtiaz Alam
Aug 17, 2011
This is a very informative article pertinent to Pakistan where there are outages & surges of
unknown dimensions. How to protect oneself. Is there anything as a protector gadget available in the market. .
.
(reply)
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