Using whole-home surge protection to prevent lightning

from striking homes.

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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 3

Damages cause by lightning strikes ........................................................................................ 3

Main reasons for damage to equipment ........................................................................................... 4

Cost in home repairs after lighting strike .......................................................................................... 4

Estimated Number and Cost of Lightning Claims, 2017-2020 ............................................................. 4

Whole home surge protection ................................................................................................. 5

Type 1 Surge Protective Devices ....................................................................................................... 5

type 2 surge protective devices ........................................................................................................ 6

Limitations .............................................................................................................................. 7

Why is surge protective devices a good option to prevent lightning strikes on homes ............. 7

Works Cited ............................................................................................................................ 8

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ABSTRACT

Lightning is a dangerous and a very overlooked weather phenomenon and while it is uncommon
for individuals to randomly get struck and killed by lightning, the chances for your home to be
struck and damaged are much more common. More specifically, in the United States, about 1 in
200 houses get struck by lightning every year. A lightning strike generates shock waves that are
capable of destroying stone, brick, concrete, plaster walls and even more making it very
dangerous and sometimes catastrophic on a home. The use of a whole home surge protector
monitors the amount of voltage that flows along wiring, and it detect when there is a dangerous
spike in voltage (like a spike in voltage due to lightning) and immediately diverts the voltage
back into the earth preventing lightning from striking your home.

DAMAGES CAUSE BY LIGHTNING STRIKES

According to an article titled, “What Happens When Your House Gets Struck by Lighting?”, A
lightning strike is not only capable of destroying a large number of things within a home but is
also very easy for it to enter homes. Even if it isn’t a direct lightning hit but any nearby strike can
cause damage as it can still find its way into the home through wires and pipes. Once inside the
home, a lightning strike can cause a fire, damage to wires, damage to home automation
equipment, large appliances, air conditioners, electric vehicles, and sprinkler systems. Overall,
anything within a home that is electric or is set up through pipes can be affected. One way in
which a lot of people try to prevent lightning strikes is that they unplug anything electric when
there is a storm. However, even though this helps, there are still a lot of things in a home that
can’t simply be unplugged or that are set up through pluming and there isn’t anything you can do
about them. For example, your air conditioner, toilet, shower, and sinks. Additionally, lightning
is one of the biggest reasons for equipment damage in homes.

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MAIN REASONS FOR DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT

COST IN HOME REPAIRS AFTER LIGHTING STRIKE

According to the Insurance Information Institute, In 2020 alone, more than $2 billion lightning
caused U.S homeowners’ insurance calins were paid oud to 71,000 plus policy holders. Between
2019, and 2020, the average cost of lightning caused U.S homeowners insurance claim increased
141 percent and 168 percent from 2017 to 2020. Standard homes insurance policies cover
damage caused by lightning strikes that result in a fire. Certain plans offer coverage for power
surges that arise directly from a lightning strike, which can seriously harm electrical fixtures,
appliances, electronics, computers, phone systems, and a home's electrical foundation.

ESTIMATED NUMBER AND COST OF LIGHTNING CLAIMS, 2017-2020

Year Value of claims ($ Number of claims Average cost per claim

millions)
2020 2066.7 71551 28,885
2019 920.1 76860 11,971
2019-2020 124.6% -6.9% 141.3%
2018 908.9 77898 11668
2017 916.6 85020 10781
2017-2020 125.5% -15.8 167.9

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WHOLE HOME SURGE PROTECTION

A whole home surge protection device is installed in a homes electric panel by an electrician and
offers a downstream protection of all electronics in a home. When a surge protector detects an
increase in power, it immediately directs the extra voltage into the ground line. The flow of
power is restored when voltage levels reach their typical values. Furthermore, there are two
different types of these devices. The highest level of protection against internal power surges and
external sources is provided by Type 1 devices. These devices are situated at the "line side," or
the point where the utility company's supply meets the main breaker. On the other hand, Surge
protectors of type 2 are used more often. The circuits within a panel, as well as any subsidiary
panels located downstream of it, can all have these whole house surge protectors installed, or
they can be installed at a single circuit.

TYPE 1 SURGE PROTECTIVE DEVICES

Applications Include:

• Loadcenters/Electrical Panels.
• Residential Service Entrances.

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 • Sump & Irrigation Pumps.
• Control Cabinets.
• Individual Equipment Disconnects.
• Single & Three Phase Motors.
• Outdoor Lighting.
• Garages.
• Farm / Irrigation Control.
• Other Electrical Assemblies.

Features:

• Commercial grade AC power protection for sensitive electronics.

• Clear, visible LED indication displays protective status of device.
• Can be applied universally to any manufacturer’s equipment.
• Optional accessory kit enables wall or din-rail mounting.
• Suitable for indoor/outdoor applications.

TYPE 2 SURGE PROTECTIVE DEVICES

Installed after the type 1 SPD, type 2 surge protection is the second step in the protection
concept. In order to safeguard the system from potential harm, such as that resulting from
switching operations, the type 2 surge protective device additionally restricts the residual surge
voltage. type 2 SPDs are utilized since there are no direct lightning currents in machine control
cabinets or sub distribution cabinets.

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LIMITATIONS

These devices do have a voltage limitation, meaning that being exposed to too much high voltage
an cause the surge protector to fail. These devices, though being helpful when protecting against
lightning strikes are also used for a lot of other things, and when exposed to too much can lead to
it not working. With this in mind, it is important to consider a number of things before installing
one. For instance, if you live in an area where you get a large amount of thunder storms, though
it is useful to have, it also rises the risk of it failing at some point. Additionally, cost is also a big
limitation. The exact cost depends on the type and brand of surge protector chosen however It
can range from $300-700 plus the cost of hiring an electrician which a lot of the times tends to be
the more expensive part of the installation.

WHY IS SURGE PROTECTIVE DEVICES A GOOD OPTION TO PREVENT LIGHTNING STRIKES

ON HOMES

Overall, surge protective devices won’t stop lightning from occurring or make it complete
impossible for lightning to strike a home, however, it can decrease the changes of it happening
and it can diminish the damage in the case that it does happen. Furthermore, lightning is the
single biggest cause of damage to and destruction of electrical and electronic equipment in
industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and homes. It is known that one way to prevent
lightning from damaged electrical equipment is by unplugging them, however, a surge protective
device provides protection so that in case of a bad storm, one can go through it without having to
unplug every single thing.

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WORKS CITED

A+ Heating & Cooling – Electrical. “How Does a Whole House Surge Protector Work?: A+
Heating & Cooling – Electrical.” Swift Services & A+ Heating & Cooling - Southern
HVAC, 16 Mar. 2022, www.followthesnowman.com/blog/2022/march/how-does-a-whole-
house-surge-protector-work-/.

“Corporate Armor.” Eaton Type 1 Surge Protective Device120 V AC, 230 V AC Input120 V AC,
230 V AC Output CHSPT1ULTRA, www.corporatearmor.com/product/eaton-type-1-surge-
protective-device120-v-ac-230-v-ac-input120-v-ac-230-v-ac-output-chspt1ultra/. Accessed
8 Nov. 2023.

“Cost of Lightning-Caused Claims Soared Due to 2020’s U.S. Wildfires.” III, www.iii.org/press-
release/cost-of-lightning-caused-claims-soared-due-to-2020s-us-wildfires-061721.
Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

Do Surge Protectors Protect against Lightning?, plumblineservices.com/help-guides/do-surge-

protectors-protect-against-
lightning#:~:text=Surge%20protectors%20work%20by%20monitoring,via%20a%20“grou
nd%20wire.” Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

Eaton Current-Limiting Reactor (2500A) Installation Manual,

www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/backup-power-ups-surge-it-power-
distribution/power-conditioners/eaton-pdi-current-limiting-reactor/eaton-current-limiting-
reactor-2500a-164001115.pdf. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

“Home.” Phoenix Contact, www.phoenixcontact.com/en-us/products/surge-protection/surge-

protection-for-power-supplies/type-2-surge-protection#ex-content-transclusion-snippet--
945. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

“Home.” The Robert Little Group, www.totalvegasrealestate.com/indoor-lightning-safety-

guide/#:~:text=Indoor%20Lightning%20Safety%3A%20What%20to,a%20surprising%201
%20in%20200. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

Jim. “When Your House Gets Struck by Lightning - Penny Electric: Las Vegas.” Penny Electric
- Las Vegas Electrician & Electrical Services, 6 Feb. 2019, pennyelectric.com/blog/what-
happens-when-your-house-gets-struck-by-
lighting/#:~:text=What%20Happens%20When%20Your%20House%20Gets%20Struck%2
0by%20Lighting%3F&text=About%201%20in%20200%20houses,%2C%20the%20local
%20climate%2C%20etc.

“Surge Protective Devices: Abb Us.” Surge Protective Devices | ABB US,
electrification.us.abb.com/products/surge-protective-devices. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

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“The Surge Protection Device (SPD).” The Surge Protection Device (SPD) - Electrical
Installation Guide, www.electrical-
installation.org/enwiki/The_Surge_Protection_Device_%28SPD%29#:~:text=The%20Typ
e%202%20SPD%20is,8%2F20%20µs%20current%20wave. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

“When Lightning Strikes the Home -- Tips for Homeowners.” Electrical Connection,
electricalconnection.org/news/when-lightning-strikes-the-home-tips-for-homeowners-393.
Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

Willey, Keith. “What Are the Pros and Cons of Whole House Surge Protectors?” Schneider
Electric Blog, 18 July 2023, blog.se.com/sustainability/2022/04/08/what-are-the-pros-and-
cons-of-whole-house-surge-
protectors/#:~:text=Whole%20house%20surge%20protector%3A%20This,resilient%2C%
20cost%2Deffective%20protection.