Is a surge protected CU worth it when living in the sticks.

[Gone West]

We haven't lived here a year yet but so far we've had several short power cuts of five to twenty seconds. Is fitting a retrofit SPD in the CU or even a new SP CU worth the effort. We currently have the computer equipment running off a SP extension board.

 

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HGVM02SPD.html

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by Gone West

[TonyT]

Power cut isn’t a surge, so your call, if fitting a new consumer unit I would install it definitely, that unit only fits a Hager board so you have to watch if you have space in the existing that it’s not type tested for other manufacturers equipment 

[Gone West]

  On 06/04/2022 at 16:18, TonyT said:

Power cut isn’t a surge, so your call, if fitting a new consumer unit I would install it definitely, that unit only fits a Hager board so you have to watch if you have space in the existing that it’s not type tested for other manufacturers equipment 

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A power cut isn't a surge but power surges can occur after an outage and we seem to being a lot of those. So if replacing the CU, fit one with surge protection. That sounds like a good idea then, thanks.

[SteamyTea]

Do you get your supply by overhead cabling?

 

Lightening strikes are pretty rare my end of the county, but a bit higher your side.

 

[Onoff]

You might think of AFDD ( Arc fault detection devices ) too along with surge protection as that's now in the second amendment and required I think next year? 

Edited April 8, 2022 by MikeSharp01
Edit to unpack acronym. (I know it messes slightly with some posts below but get it out up front.)

[redtop]

Just had our elec sign off last week. I ran all cables, etc electrician checked and fitted consumer unit, he fitted an anti surge and said they would be compulsary in the next round of regulations. We also fitted rcbo's on every circuit.

[Gone West]

  On 07/04/2022 at 09:56, Onoff said:

You might think of AFDD too along with surge protection as that's now in the second amendment and required I think next year? 

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I had to look that up. That's interesting as arcing I would have thought would be a major cause of fires in CU. I shall have AFDD as well as SP then, thanks for that.

[Gone West]

  On 07/04/2022 at 09:51, SteamyTea said:

Do you get your supply by overhead cabling?

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Yup, but I don't know if that is contributing to the number of short power cuts we get.

[jamieled]

It is something I would definitely consider, especially after this... (though I don't know for sure surge protection would have worked). Knackd a few electrical items but luckily anything expensive wasn't plugged in.

[ProDave]

Just what was it that went bang rather spectacularly?  Any "before" photo?  Was it something plugged into that now rather sorry looking socket?

[Onoff]

  On 07/04/2022 at 16:56, Gone West said:

I had to look that up. That's interesting as arcing I would have thought would be a major cause of fires in CU. I shall have AFDD as well as SP then, thanks for that.

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Sorry, wasn't trying to be cocky using the acronym. More here:

 

https://www.electrium.co.uk/about/news/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-amendment-2-18th-edition

 

[Onoff]

Lost a couple of fax machines years ago after a storm (TN-S system). 

 

Same street where in another house up the road I had "blue lightning" come out horizontal from the socket during a massive electrical storm. Scared the sh!t out of me. I had the ring main fuse in my pocket and the DP main switch was off. Earth was the only path. Saying that it was all run in old imperial steel conduit. 

 

It happened!

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by Onoff

[Susie]

Hi been in our house North Bude GCHQ area for over 6 years we have numerous small power cuts some we don’t notice the clock on the microwave is the tell other items must have a capacitor in them as a few minutes is ok for them, very little needs resetting. No surge protection. Wiring about 20yrs old. Never had any problems with a surge following a power cut. One computer a big iMac needs unplugging for a minute before it will restart. No blown tv’s, or routers etc. I think it’s something you just get use, I certainly don’t worry about not having surge protection. 
 

[jamieled]

  On 07/04/2022 at 17:47, ProDave said:

Just what was it that went bang rather spectacularly?  Any "before" photo?  Was it something plugged into that now rather sorry looking socket?

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Don't have the before photie unfortunately. It was a bt socket that went bang. You can see the remains of it with the wire sticking out. A router was plugged in above. It was also beyond repair.

 

The CU was remarkably intact inside - everything checked post bang. It did melt and warp adjacent to the bt socket so we had it replaced. This was not from a standard power cut/storm though. Buzzard flew into the transformer that serves the house from the overhead line. It was mostly stuff attached to bt sockets that got fried, according to the guy the DNO sent out he's seen a few similar instances.

[ProDave]

  On 07/04/2022 at 18:49, jamieled said:

Don't have the before photie unfortunately. It was a bt socket that went bang. You can see the remains of it with the wire sticking out. A router was plugged in above. It was also beyond repair.

 

The CU was remarkably intact inside - everything checked post bang. It did melt and warp adjacent to the bt socket so we had it replaced. This was not from a standard power cut/storm though. Buzzard flew into the transformer that serves the house from the overhead line. It was mostly stuff attached to bt sockets that got fried, according to the guy the DNO sent out he's seen a few similar instances.

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I guess the buzzard formed a circuit from the HV primary to the LV secondary.  I very very much doubt any surge protection devices would have helped there.

[jamieled]

Useful to know, ta. The buzzard was well cooked.

[SteamyTea]

  On 07/04/2022 at 20:10, jamieled said:

Useful to know, ta. The buzzard was well cooked.

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Tastes similar to swan don't it.

[jamieled]

  On 07/04/2022 at 20:24, SteamyTea said:

Tastes similar to swan don't it.

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Bit tough though.

[SteamyTea]

  On 07/04/2022 at 20:36, jamieled said:

Bit tough though.

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Try Sea Eagle then

[Onoff]

You'll be going all rcbo I trust?

[Gone West]

  On 08/04/2022 at 05:59, Onoff said:

You'll be going all rcbo I trust?

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I will, yes. I did that at our last place.

[Onoff]

  On 08/04/2022 at 07:35, Gone West said:

I will, yes. I did that at our last place.

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Schneider board wasn't it?

[Gone West]

  On 08/04/2022 at 09:52, Onoff said:

 

Schneider board wasn't it?

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The CU, RCBOs etc were MK but all the switches, sockets etc were Schneider.