Motherboard (UOC) protection

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J

James L.

Active member
Feb 20, 2025
31
Baton Rouge, La.
My living in the southeast U.S. puts me in the motherboard "blown zone", and mine just got killed.
There are RS485 surge suppressors for the RS485 chips.
But, regarding the motherboard (UOC, or universal outdoor controller), the TFP article "Electrical Surge Protection - Further Reading" mentions "Pool Sub-Panel or Automation Load Center", specifically, "an external surge protector, like the Siemens FirstSurge or Square D HEDP50/80, should be installed where the power lines, neutral, and ground enter the sub-panel/load center."
Is this currently (no pun intended) recommended, and is it about all I can do to protect my Easytouch outdoor panel?
 
James L. said:
Is this currently (no pun intended) recommended, and is it about all I can do to protect my Easytouch outdoor panel?
Click to expand...
Yup.

Consumer products are not designed to withstand lightning induced EMP. They are designed for low cost and not be repairable. Better designs would have more protective circuitry, shielding, and socketed chips that can be replaced.
 
IMO, protecting against what you can is still worth it even though it's not all encompassesing.

For example, you can't protect against a drunk driver swerving into your lane (EMP) but that shouldn't stop you from wearing your seat belt (surge protection)

Do what you can and minimalist your risk. :)
 
Also check with your homeowners insurance. We added electronics coverage when we moved in 2020 which at time was computers / cellphones / TVs and just found out they added a new tier to encompass the rise of IOT like smart fridges and everything else. I haven't gotten a quote for the new coverage yet but the older plan was something ridiculous like $9.72 a year.
 
In same TFP article, "Electrical Surge Protection-Further Reading", it states "Surge Protectors are available that snap onto the bus bar of a circuit breaker panel. They require two adjacent CB slots to connect to both hot legs in a CB panel. This type of surge protector has a white wire that connects to the neutral bus to drain any surges. Use the Siemens Boltshield in the pool subpanel as it is installed inside the panel and is a surge protector/breaker in one unit."
However, it also states, "Installing an integrated CB/Surge Protector like the QSA2020SPD or Square D HOM2175SB in a sub-panel is not recommended... ." and "Since it does not have a ground connection and dump any surge directly to ground it is not recommended to use in an outside pool sub-panel/load center.
So, can the Boltshield be used in the pool subpanel?
And can it be installed in the breaker slots in the pool subpanel, and be connected to the neutral bus bar?
 
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