Tori Little

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

TPD’s thirty years of field-proven power quality solutions for both power and data in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities have led us to the following conclusion: a properly installed TPD surge protection system will take care of up to 95% of surge related issues. Implementing a TPD power quality plan creates an incredible protection system for any home or facility. Continue reading for our suggested steps in creating a power quality plan for your home or facility.

Just like HVAC and refrigeration equipment turning on and off, EV Chargers create surges that travel back to the breaker panel, potentially damaging other equipment in the building. Protecting your home from the surges generated by EV charging stations helps prevent damage to other equipment in the home.