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AC surge protector and hard start kit
Posted on 7/30/20 at 12:00 pm
Posted on 7/30/20 at 12:00 pm
Got a tune up done and the AC guy recommended these 2 things. Unit is about 1.5 years old if that matters. Should I get these things? If so, are they hard to install by myself?
Surge protector $250
Hard start kit $250
Remy Halo $1100 was also recommended the past few times but I passed on this.
Surge protector $250
Hard start kit $250
Remy Halo $1100 was also recommended the past few times but I passed on this.
Posted on 7/30/20 at 12:18 pm to tigers444
quote:Since its a new unit, might not be the worst idea ever
Surge protector $250
quote:Is this like a souped up start capacitor?
Hard start kit $250
quote:Nearly hospital grade air filtration for your house? Sounds legit
Remy Halo $1100 was also recommended the past few times but I passed on this.
ETA: how long has this guy been servicing your AC?
This post was edited on 7/30/20 at 12:20 pm
Posted on 7/30/20 at 12:25 pm to tigers444
I do think that is a good idea. A 5-2-1 hard start capacitor kit is about $50 and a easy DYI project. If you can change a capacitor you can easily install the hard start kit yourself. Many YouTube videos on this. I DYI’d installed a hard start kit on my HVAC last month. Many higher end condenser units come with hard start capacitors installed at the factory.
Apparently heat and voltage spikes are the 2 main factors which take out capacitors prematurely. Though it looks to me a HVAC surge protector, whose main function is to protect the compressor, is also not a difficult DYI item to install on your outside 240V disconnect, and I presently don’t have one on my unit, I’m going to have a electrician install one for me. I know I can do it myself I just don’t like messing with 230/240 volts. I need to get a electrician to the house for another job figured I’d just let them install one for while they are here for the other job. Here is a video I watched a couple days ago on this - this guy is a HVAC company owner in FL and a licensed electrician. LINK
Also many recommend that a surge protector be installed on the HVAC even if you have a whole house surge protector as many surges can originate internally within the house bypassing the whole house surge protector.
No recommendation on the Halo - don’t know enough about them.
Apparently heat and voltage spikes are the 2 main factors which take out capacitors prematurely. Though it looks to me a HVAC surge protector, whose main function is to protect the compressor, is also not a difficult DYI item to install on your outside 240V disconnect, and I presently don’t have one on my unit, I’m going to have a electrician install one for me. I know I can do it myself I just don’t like messing with 230/240 volts. I need to get a electrician to the house for another job figured I’d just let them install one for while they are here for the other job. Here is a video I watched a couple days ago on this - this guy is a HVAC company owner in FL and a licensed electrician. LINK
Also many recommend that a surge protector be installed on the HVAC even if you have a whole house surge protector as many surges can originate internally within the house bypassing the whole house surge protector.
No recommendation on the Halo - don’t know enough about them.
This post was edited on 7/30/20 at 12:58 pm
Posted on 7/30/20 at 9:32 pm to tigers444
2 extra capacitors $25 done. Mine went out yesterday.
Posted on 7/31/20 at 8:50 am to tigers444
Surge protector never does surge protection. A protector is only a connecting device to what does all protection - to what harmlessly dissipates hundreds of thousands of joules.
If an A/C needs that protection, then every household appliance (dishwasher, clock radios, washing machine, LED & CFL bulbs, modem, refrigerator, GFCIs, door bell, garage door opener, microwave oven, dimmer switches, and smoke detectors) must be protected.
Protection only exists when a potentially destructive transient is connected low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth. Only earth harmlessly absorbs surge - as made obvious by the number - hundreds of thousands of joules.
A protector in an A/C has no earth ground. Earth ground only exists at the service entrance. Where effective protectors (installed for free and required by code) also exist for telephone, TV cable, satellite dish, etc.
One 'whole house' protector, that costs about $1 per protected appliance, is also superior protection for an A/C. Since that is how it was done in all facilities that could not have damage even 100 years ago.
An effective solution always answers this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Then it is a connecting device so that hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate harmlessly in earth. Are not anywhere inside a home.
If an A/C needs that protection, then every household appliance (dishwasher, clock radios, washing machine, LED & CFL bulbs, modem, refrigerator, GFCIs, door bell, garage door opener, microwave oven, dimmer switches, and smoke detectors) must be protected.
Protection only exists when a potentially destructive transient is connected low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth. Only earth harmlessly absorbs surge - as made obvious by the number - hundreds of thousands of joules.
A protector in an A/C has no earth ground. Earth ground only exists at the service entrance. Where effective protectors (installed for free and required by code) also exist for telephone, TV cable, satellite dish, etc.
One 'whole house' protector, that costs about $1 per protected appliance, is also superior protection for an A/C. Since that is how it was done in all facilities that could not have damage even 100 years ago.
An effective solution always answers this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Then it is a connecting device so that hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate harmlessly in earth. Are not anywhere inside a home.
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