| Q. |
What
is a Surge? |
| A. |
Minor voltage fluctuations are normal
on any electrical system and typically are harmless. A “surge” or “spike” however,
is when there is a rapid rise in the flow of power which usually
causes damage (often unseen). |
| |
 |
| Q. |
What causes
a Surge? |
| A. |
Downed power lines, bad weather, birds
and squirrels coming in contact with lines, and even the normal
cycling on and off of large appliances can cause a momentary
surge that can be damaging to your household equipment. |
| |
|
| Q. |
What is a Meter-Base
Surge Protector for? |
| A. |
A meter-based device provides heavy-duty
protection and is specifically designed to reduce or eliminate
a “surge” or “ spike” before it enters
your home. The unit is capable of withstanding up to 57,000
Amps of surge current. It will provide increased life for your
household equipment and protection for your motor driven appliances
such as your refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer etc... The
METER-TREATER® is an affordable means of added security
and peace of mind. This device is available to utilities only. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Does the
Hardwired Device do the same job as the Meter-Based Device? |
| A. |
Both yes and no. A hardwired device
connected at the meter box is slightly less efficient at diverting
surge energy due to the wires. However, the difference in effectiveness
at keeping surges from entering a home through the power lines
is nearly the same. Hardwired devices located at the circuit
breaker panel are less effective at keeping surges from the
power line outside because the device itself is located inside
the home. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Will a Meter-Based
Device or Hardwired Device protect everything? |
| A. |
This device (like any other surge protection
product) is not designed to handle direct lightning strikes,
stop your clocks from blinking after an outage or save energy.
Devices making such claims require close evaluation. To date,
no one product can completely protect from the forces of nature!
Note: This device alone may not provide enough protection for your
sensitive electronic equipment.
Electronic equipment is becoming more complex and sensitive to surges.
Surges can enter via phone or cable lines. For this reason, we highly recommend
using both a Meter-Based device or hardwired device for general protection and
quality outlet protectors (point-of-use) for added protection for your sensitive
electronic equipment such as TVs, VCRs, Satellites and Computer Systems. |
| Q. |
What doesn't
the Meter-Based Device and Hardwired Device protect from? |
| A. |
Any electric activity that does not
come in through the power line (such as a surge on the phone
line), surges beyond its capability (such as a direct lightning
strike) or sustained/continuous over-voltages. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Will it protect
me from something as severe as a direct lightning strike? |
| A. |
No. Nothing is a complete guarantee
from a direct lightning strike. No product on the market can
effectively handle such a high level of energy. |
| |
|
| Q. |
What happens
if it fails? Will it cut off power to my house? |
| A. |
MOVs self sacrifice in a 'dead short'
mode. When this happens on a METER-TREATER®, the MOV ruptures
and goes off line. The METER-TREATER® will not cut off
power to your house. Only the MOV surge circuit becomes inactive. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Where
is it installed? How long does it take? |
| A. |
Meter-base devices go between the Electric
Meter and the Meter Box on the outside of the house and takes
between 2 and 10 minutes to install. A simple pigtail ground
wire is attached; the device is then snapped into place. The
cover and meter are then repositioned and sealed into place.
Hardwired devices take longer to install due to the time required
to mount the unit and route the wires. Hardwire units can be
typically installed in less than 30 minutes by an experienced
electrician. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How long will
it last? |
| A. |
Somewhere between infinity and 8 microseconds.
The life of any MOV based product is determined by the number,
duration and intensity of surges that the component sees over
it's lifetime. MOV manufacturers publish curves called pulse
life curves, which show the survivability of any given component
at a given amperage and time duration. In general the more
MOV mass the more durable the product. A larger single MOV
tends to be more durable than groups of smaller MOVs. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How do I make a warranty claim? |
| A. |
Please contact our Warranty Department at 800-342-6890. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Can I buy one direct
and install it myself? |
| A. |
Meter-based devices must be installed
by qualified utility personnel or a licensed electrician. Meter-Treater,
Inc. requires written approval from the utility before a unit
can be purchased by a private homeowner. All hardwired products
may be purchased by consumers directly. However, a qualified
electrician should do the installation as working around electricity
can be hazardous. |
| |
|
