[misterhouse-users] Whole Howse surge wiring

[Mark L. <mla...@ge...>]

If there's a better place for this question, let me know...

I have a Leviton X10 amp/bridge (4820) and a whole house surge suppressor
(1 yr old Leviton, I don't have the ser. # handy) wired in.

The amp/bridge has been there for almost a year, the surge suppressor has
only been in a couple weeks.  We've had some electrical storms in those
weeks, and I was glad the suppressor was finally in.

yesterday, after a storm, I found that my amp/bridge has failed.  The
surge suppressor still indicates that both legs are ok.  Neither breaker
had tripped.

The amp/bridge is wired with a 15 amp double-throw breaker in the circuit
box.  it's wired to both legs of power, neutral and ground.  It's worked
for almost a year.

The surge suppressor is wired almost identically to the amp/bridge.  It's
on a 20amp breaker, per the installation sheet from Leviton.

I had an electrician wire the surge suppressor in when I had some other
work done.  He questioned the wording of the instructions which indicated
that it had to be wired to the "main".  However, the wiring diagram didn't
indicate which side of the main breaker it should be wired to.  Given the
way these work (or how I THINK they work, dumping excess power to neutral
or ground when the voltage exceeds the rated limit between two leads) It
should be wired inside the main.

Is this correct? Is the surge suppressor wired in just like any other
circuit in the box, or is it special?

Is my surge suppressor doing anything, or is it just an elaborate,
expensive pair of green indicator lights, wired as it is.

Given the fact that i have a surge suppressor wired in, (if I can find my
reciept, and the fact that it's less than 1 yr old, what are the odds if
getting Worthington (the distributor) or Leviton to replace it under
warrenty?

My house isn't that big, would I be better off with a simple bridge (X10,
$29) instead of the amp/repeater (Leviton, $200)?

- Mark

Mark Lamourine <mla...@ge...>
Genuity Inc. Tools Development
225 Presidential Way, Woburn, MA, 01801-1100 Cube 27/4324c
Voice: +1 781 865 3676   Fax: +1 781 865 8883