surge protection socket Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[rhino.fog]

Hi,
I am having a new fibre line installed and want to provide a power socket for the OTP and Router with surge protection.

While I can find many examples of trailing extension sockets with surge protection, there seem to be very few options with it built into the wall socket itself. As I am tight on space to fit everything in, adding a socket and an extension bar would take up too much space.

2 Gang mains extension leads with Surge Protection seem to cost around £3 to £6 whereas an MK Logic Plus 13A DP 2 Gang Spike Filtered Switched Socket is £84 (from CEF) which is quite a difference.

Any advice on the best way forward would be appreciated.

[Mr White]

If you are that worried, buy a plug in surge protector such as This one (Click the link)

You are more likely to get a spike down the phone line than up the mains, and CEF are always expensive. (I also bet you said you are not trade)

[ericmark]

Surge protection devices can fail, so most built into sockets can be renewed without renewing whole socket, they also come as different classes, and I have not really looked into what the classes mean, I think the one built into my consumer unit was around the £30 mark, and it has indicators to show if still healthy, and are designed to stop spikes damaging items like LED lights, I know items switching within a circuit can cause spikes past the main device, but would not think it really needs extra protection to what is already in most modern consumer units.

[rhino.fog]

Thank you for the responses, they have been very useful.
I have found another option which has a more palatable price tag M2 Surge protection socket (https://www.videk.co.uk/section.php/1437/) but I am now considering having surge protection added to the consumer panel.

[Mr White]

I personally think you are wasting your money. I have only ever seen one "spike" that did damage, it came down the data line, not the mains, but it's your money.

[ericmark]

I am also as an electrician unsure if surge protection is required, if a surge was taking out our LED lights, one would expect to see multi failures at the same time, I have not seen this,

However my son has lost more LED bulbs than me, and I have a SPD and he does not, but he thinks it was due to a bad batch of bulbs, and since all that failed were from same batch that does seem likely.

Equipment traditionally if vulnerable would have a filter built in, this would include items like a router, it is the cheaper items which are more likely not to have protection built in, but one can with a wind up mega show the SPD is working, although not a good idea as it can damage them, but it needs nearly the full 500 volt before they pass, so to me that does seem a little on the high side, so wonder if akin to snake oil?

[Mr White]

Another "must have" that we neither want or need.

Arc Fault Detection Device (Average price £100+ Each)