Hit 200 panel installs and saw a pattern I missed

I crossed 200 residential panels last month here in Phoenix. What got me was the surge suppressor failure rate. Almost 20% of houses with cheap suppressors needed service within 2 years. Have any of you tracked your failure numbers by region?

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thomas78412d ago

Almost 20% of houses with cheap suppressors needed service within 2 years" - That lines up with what I've seen here in Tucson. The cheap units just can't handle the heat cycles we get in the summer, the MOVs dry out and fail way faster. I switched to only putting in units with thermal fuses and metal oxide varistors rated for 50kA minimum, and my callbacks dropped to almost nothing. Also started checking the suppressor's connection at the panel - loose neutrals kill those things faster than any surge.