The Gadgeteer
Active Member
I am interested in what the collective thinks about surge protection on the OEM 120V cord.
Surge protector or no surge protector
- Thread starter The Gadgeteer
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Great point. I have a sky-high auto insurance deductible and no home insurance on my rented house. This car is my most expensive possession, and it is plugged in more than 12 hours per day, everyday.
It's like any type of insurance. You need to weigh the cost of the protection + the pain of doing the repair against the probability of the insured event occurring.
I would also assume that the Honda system would have some sort of surge protection built into the car to protect from a surge. However, I base this on absolutely no knowledge of such protection. It's just a hunch
I am currently living as though this wont happen; but I'm open to a convincing argument to purchase a protector.
I didn't notice it when I briefly skimmed the manual, but does Honda recommend such a protector?
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
The manual is mute on the issue of surge protection. I went with a whole house surge protector since I own the house and also have a solar PV system whose inverter I wanted to protect.
Since you are renting and only Level 1 charging, you want a plug in model plug that you can take with you when you move.
Surge protectors are rated by the Joules they can absorb as they give their life for your electronics. This one has 1410 Joules (a goodly amount at this price point) and also has very robust noise filtering capability. It’s only $27.85 on Amazon and has 4 star reviews.
It’s a Triplite which is a respected brand and has the required 15 Amp capacity. It also indicates when it’s absorbed it’s max surge and needs to be replaced.
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-P...1249&sprefix=triplite+isobar+2+outlet&sr=8-14
Here’s the guts
And the outside
Hope this helps. I think it would be cheap insurance for you or at least a cheap way to keep from worrying.
Since you are renting and only Level 1 charging, you want a plug in model plug that you can take with you when you move.
Surge protectors are rated by the Joules they can absorb as they give their life for your electronics. This one has 1410 Joules (a goodly amount at this price point) and also has very robust noise filtering capability. It’s only $27.85 on Amazon and has 4 star reviews.
It’s a Triplite which is a respected brand and has the required 15 Amp capacity. It also indicates when it’s absorbed it’s max surge and needs to be replaced.
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-P...1249&sprefix=triplite+isobar+2+outlet&sr=8-14
Here’s the guts
And the outside
Hope this helps. I think it would be cheap insurance for you or at least a cheap way to keep from worrying.
Clarity_Newbie
Active Member
I believe most, if not all, electric utility companies offer "whole house" surge protection for a reasonable fee. The surge protection apparatus is typically affixed to the meter.
Seems to be very effective based on personal observation and reports from several acquaintance's.
Might be worth a look.
Seems to be very effective based on personal observation and reports from several acquaintance's.
Might be worth a look.
I am generally against government mandates; but if this is a real threat common enough to be worth the price of a whole house protector, it seems that if the Gov mandated that the utilities "protect" each house, we would get the economies of scale of a single purchase of millions of these. Theoretically, even after the utilities passed on the cost + profit, the consumers would be getting the protection far cheaper than a one off home surge protector purchase.
However, if it is an irrelevant 1 in a million chance per year of happening to a single house, then it may not be worth it.
I have never heard anyone that I've ever known say that they lost appliances due to a surge. I'm certain that it can happen. I'm just not sure what the odds are.
However, if it is an irrelevant 1 in a million chance per year of happening to a single house, then it may not be worth it.
I have never heard anyone that I've ever known say that they lost appliances due to a surge. I'm certain that it can happen. I'm just not sure what the odds are.
Fast Eddie B
Well-Known Member
I had lighting strike the side of a house in Florida. It took out a modem.
Then again, not sure how effect surge suppressors are against the huge voltages that lightning can generate.
Sandroad
Well-Known Member
I don't know if the Honda EVSE or the Clarity charging electronics have surge protection. However, I think it's very important to have surge protection for all electronics. I have some experience with surges and surge protection and have learned the hard way how important it is. I lost $1000s in solar equipment to a lightning strike that led to a surge traveling through underground wiring to control electronics, destroying them. I also lost $1000s in home electronics when deteriorated insulation in wiring from the street to the house lead to a series of surges as shorts occurred intermittently over a few minutes. I now have lightning arrestors and surge protection on all my solar equipment and a whole house surge protection device in both the main circuit breaker panel in the house and the garage. I strongly recommend others do the same. The whole house surge protection device I use is simply a replacement circuit breaker that costs less than a $100 at the Home Depot for the 2 that are needed. I consider these better than using temporary surge protection strips plugged into each outlet, but there is no harm in using both.
The Gadgeteer
Active Member
Great info. Any of the concerns that come with using an extension cord apply to using a surge protector such as overheating at connecting points?
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
If the surge protector is used in a garage and not outside, it’s no different from anything you plug into a receptacle in your house assuming the garage is attached and not overly humid. Just occasionally check the prongs for corrosion and a tight fit. I’ve never has a problem with receptacles or extension cords in my garage, but then I run a dehumidifier in it to keep my tools rust free.
Sandroad
Well-Known Member
Good call on keeping surge protector power strips indoors. When the electrical inspector came last year to approve my solar installation, his hair caught on fire and he started pooping kittens when he saw I had a surge power strip outside my garage for some “temporary” yard lights. I removed it right then and there.
