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Where to install a surge protection device - single phase domestic / light commercial supply

A surge protection device can be installed in two locations:

1. The consumer unit. This is the easiest to install but it takes up two spaces which may not always be available.

2. The isolator switch. This is more difficult to install as it involves having to remove the big fuse but it avoids taking up two spaces in the consumer unit.

Does anybody have any more comments or advice on the best location?

Proteus sells an attractive looking isolator switch with a 2 module SPD although it is a bit pricey compared with SPD modules for consumer units. Has anybody got experience of it?

Who actually owns an already installed isolator switch? Is it National Grid, the utility company, or the property owner?

Parents
  • The DNO's responsibility stops at the cut-out these days, so the the isolator is usually owned by the supplier (or their metering agent) - although not always (mine is owned by me as I fitted it for my own convenience as my supplier seemed to be one of those that preferred not to fit their own by default). Nothing stopping you putting a "REC2-stype SPD" immediately downstream of the supplier's isolator though (subject to the usual rules of what can go in a meter box of course).

    As for positioning, I'd suggest as close to the "MET" as possible (i.e. where all the main bonding branches off) - there's little point in keeping the leads to the SPD as short as practical (e.g. <0.5m) if you're then going to by-pass the c.p.c. to a point that's perhaps several metres away. If the intake and CU are some distance apart you might even be best installing SPDs in both positions.

        - Andy.

Reply
  • The DNO's responsibility stops at the cut-out these days, so the the isolator is usually owned by the supplier (or their metering agent) - although not always (mine is owned by me as I fitted it for my own convenience as my supplier seemed to be one of those that preferred not to fit their own by default). Nothing stopping you putting a "REC2-stype SPD" immediately downstream of the supplier's isolator though (subject to the usual rules of what can go in a meter box of course).

    As for positioning, I'd suggest as close to the "MET" as possible (i.e. where all the main bonding branches off) - there's little point in keeping the leads to the SPD as short as practical (e.g. <0.5m) if you're then going to by-pass the c.p.c. to a point that's perhaps several metres away. If the intake and CU are some distance apart you might even be best installing SPDs in both positions.

        - Andy.

Children
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