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An external surge protector, like the Siemens First Surge, should be installed where the power lines, neutral, and ground enter the Sub-Panel/Load Center. | An external surge protector, like the Siemens First Surge, should be installed where the power lines, neutral, and ground enter the Sub-Panel/Load Center. | ||
| − | Installing an integrated CB/Surge Protector like the QSA2020SPD in a sub-panel will send the surge onto the neutral bus bar and all the neutral lines and basically into any 120V equipment and back into the house electrical system. | + | Installing an integrated CB/Surge Protector like the QSA2020SPD in a sub-panel is not recommended and will send the surge onto the neutral bus bar and all the neutral lines and basically into any 120V equipment and back into the house electrical system. |
Revision as of 21:00, 27 February 2020
How to Protect Pool Equipment from Electrical Surges
In the simple old days pool equipment had few electronics in them. Pumps were controlled by mechanical timers. Heaters used knobs and rheostats for temperature control. Pool control systems used relays to turn equipment on and off. The equipment could handle an electrical surge without much, if any, damage.
Now most pool equipment has complex electronic controls that are sensitive to electrical surges. Variable speed pumps have electronics in the control head, heaters have electronics touch panel controls, SWCGs have electronic control boards, automation panels have data communication electronics. Having an electrical surge hit your pool equipment can cause thousands of dollars of damage.
What Causes Electrical Surges
Electrical surges on your power lines can come from the incoming power service or from external electrical such as lightning.
A failure on the electrical power grid, such as a car knocking down a power line, can cause a sudden power surge into the nearby houses until the safety systems cutoff the power.
Lightning does not need to strike the power lines to cause a surge in your power line. The electromagnetic fields (EMF) caused by a lightning strike nearby can cause high voltage surges on your electrical wiring anywhere in or around your house. Such a lightning EMF does not need to enter through your main power entrance.
Types of Surge Protectors
A good surge protector should have indicator lights showing that it is operational. Surge protectors can handle a fixed amount of electrical power That it can shunt to ground before it is no longer effective. Depending on the power of the surges the protector needs to handle it may be able to take a few hits or it may be rendered inoperative after it does its job once.
You need to check your surge protectors operational status after any major surge or storm. When a surge protector indicated it is not operational it needs to be replaced. They cannot be repaired.
External Surge Protector
The Siemens First Surge[1] device can be used in any panel since it connects directly to both line wires, neutral, and ground. That allows the First Surge to dump a surge directly to the ground.
Integrated CB and Surge Protector
The Siemens QSA2020SPD[2] is an example of an integrated Circuit Breaker and Surge Protector. Those type of integrated CB and surge protectors are intended to be installed at the service entrance, where the ground and neutral are combined, not at a sub-panel.
Siemens describes the QSA2020SPD as a "incoming service entrance surge protector."
Where Can a Surge Protector be Placed?
It is good to have a surge protector at the service entrance of your main electrical panel. This protects all the electronics in your house from surges through your electrical utility power feed.
A surge protector at the main service entrance will protect your electronics from a lightning strike surge coming in from your main electrical feed. However lightning EMF voltage can enter through any wiring around the house, especially if it is outdoors like pool electrical panels and equipment are.
For that reason, even if you have a surge protector on your main service entrance you should also install a surge protector at the entrance of your pool sub-panel/load center
Main Service Entrance Panel
At the main service panel either an external surge protector or a surge protector that snaps into CB positions int he panel can be used.
The main service panel should be the only point where the neutral and ground is connected in house wiring. The surge needs to be dumped to a close ground. The "Siemens QSA2020SPD Whole House Surge Protection with Two 20-Amp Circuit Breakers for Use Only on Siemens Panels" makes use of that with a connection only to the neutral and expects there to be the ground connection for the surge to be dumped to.
Pool Sub-Panel or Automation Load Center
An external surge protector, like the Siemens First Surge, should be installed where the power lines, neutral, and ground enter the Sub-Panel/Load Center.
Installing an integrated CB/Surge Protector like the QSA2020SPD in a sub-panel is not recommended and will send the surge onto the neutral bus bar and all the neutral lines and basically into any 120V equipment and back into the house electrical system.
