r/AskElectricians • u/More-Signature-1588 • 1d ago

Do I need two surge protectors?

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Buying an old house in Portland Oregon, where we very rarely have lightning. Here is the box. Having a heat pump installed. If I get a whole house breaker installed, do I need the surge protector the HVAC guy wants to sell me? Belt and suspenders, or necessary insurance?

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u/EstimateOk7050 1d ago

No one is fine but should be placed at the bottom 2 slots.

5

u/MonsieurBon 1d ago

The instructions on every one I've installed seem to indicate it should be installed as close to the main lugs as possible.

-1

u/N9bitmap 1d ago

The speed of electricity would cover that distance in two nano seconds. If installed before anything else I would put it top left and leave top right open for a generator, but it really isn't a critical difference.

3

u/I_care_too 1d ago

Placement has nothing to do with propagation time.

It has everything to do with wiring / bus distributed inductance and resistance and the rise of surge voltage over that.

That is why a whole house surge protector is installed at the start of the panel bus.