Tim Fazio
Posts by Tim Fazio for News
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TPD Success Story: Everything Worked When the Power Came Back On
Just the other day, a TPD surge protector proved its value by absorbing a massive electrical surge, preventing any damage to internal appliances. Damaging power surges aren't limited to lightning strikes. Utility failures, damaged service equipment, downed power lines, and power restoration after outages can all create powerful voltage surges capable of destroying expensive electronics.
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TPD Success Story: Solving Electrical Noise in a Newly Remodeled Home
One of our dealers recently shared another excellent example of how surge protection can solve problems that are often difficult to diagnose. While surge protection is commonly associated with protecting electronics from lightning and voltage surges, this success story highlights that properly installed surge protection can also reduce electrical noise and improve overall power quality.
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Why Pool Control Systems Need Surge Protection
The wiring that connects outdoor pool equipment to the pool panel and controls can also provide a direct path for damaging electrical surges caused by nearby lightning strikes. Without proper surge protection, a single storm can damage expensive equipment both at the pool and inside the home or pool house. Installing TPD surge protection on pool control systems helps extend the life of expensive electronics, reduce service calls, and improve the long-term reliability of the entire pool control system.
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TPD Success Story: Smart Home Survives Direct Lightning Event Without Damage
One of our dealers, Tim Bell with Electronic Environments in Memphis, Tennessee witnessed lightning strike a transformer outside of a home he was working on. Despite the intensity of the event, the home's electrical systems continued to perform flawlessly. No breakers tripped, no GFCIs required resetting, no electronic equipment was damaged, and all TPD surge suppressors were still operating normally after dealing with the lighting induced surge energy.
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The History of Surge Protection Devices (SPDs)
Since Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod, people have looked for ways to protect homes and electrical systems from lightning and power surges. Since then, many codes, standards, and practices have been created surrounding surge protection including NEC and OSHA requirements that surge protection devices be listed for purpose by a NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) certified by OSHA. When selecting surge protectors, it is important to choose products certified to ANSI/UL 1449 and listed by a NRTL such as UL, ETL, or CSA. These certifications verify the device has passed rigorous safety and performance testing.
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Why Gates and Cameras Fail After Storms
Security gates, surveillance cameras, and access control systems are particularly vulnerable to electrical surges caused by nearby lightning strikes. Long wire runs and grounding issues make lightning damage more likely, but implementing a proper TPD surge protection system can greatly lower the risk of your electronics getting damaged due to lightning.
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What to Look for in Surge Protection Warranties
Some surge suppressor warranties exclude the very surge events the device was designed to protect against. A strong surge protection warranty should clearly state whether the unit is covered if it fails due to lightning or severe surge activity during the warranty period. TPD is one of only a few SPD manufactures that offer replacements for units under warranty including workmanship, defects in materials, and damage from lightning and surges.
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Why Amplifiers Connected to Outdoor Speakers Need Surge Protection
Outdoor speaker systems are especially vulnerable to lightning-related electrical surges, which is why amplifier surge protection is critical in outdoor audio installations. Without proper protection, surge energy can travel through speaker wiring into the amplifier, where it can destroy sensitive electronic components and spread to other connected equipment.
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Surge Protection and Voltage Regulation: What's the Difference?
Surge protection and voltage regulation serve completely different purposes, but both are required for a reliable electrical system. Surge protection is the foundation. Voltage regulation helps sensitive equipment operate consistently by maintaining proper voltage to the equipment.
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Why Do Appliances Fail?
If your appliances are failing prematurely or unexpectedly, one major contributing factor to their failure is due to poor power quality. This is why a layered surge protection approach is paramount for the protection of sensitive electronics.
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TPD Success Story: Whole Home Surge Protection and Noise Elimination
Both chronic electrical noise and lightning strike surge damage were solved in this TPD success story on whole home surge protection!
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VFD and PLC Systems Tripping, Resetting, and Failing Even When Wired Correctly
VFD and PLC systems resetting, tripping, and failing even when wired correctly is most likely caused by ongoing power disturbances that slowly damage electronic components. Voltage transients, electrical noise, and surge energy entering through power and control circuits degrade equipment until downtime becomes unavoidable. Applying TPD surge protection where failures occur reduces downtime, limits service calls, and extends equipment life.
