surgeSENSE
What is a surge?
A power surge, defined as a Transient Voltage Surge, is a very short duration (50 milliseconds) voltage spike of up to 6,000 volts above normal voltage levels. Transient voltage surges can enter your home through the electrical power feed and can also enter via telephone or cable lines.
Transient voltage surges can also occur inside the home by switching motor driven appliances, refrigerators, and AC compressors off and on. Microwave ovens and vacuum cleaners can generate small transient voltage surges through their operation. Transient voltage surges created inside the home tend to be significantly smaller than storm-related surges, but over time, they can wear away at sensitive electronic circuits and can cause early failure.
In Southwest Florida, summer thunderstorms can create increased risk for larger transient voltage surges to attempt entry into a home.
The Need for Dual-Stage Protection
LCEC’s surgeSENSE surge-protection program is designed to help protect your major appliances from harmful transient voltage surges attempting entry into your home. The program recommends two stages of protection.
Stage 1:
A special meter-base transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) is installed directly behind the electric meter and serves as the first line of defense against surges attempting entry into a home. (For 400amp single-phase services, a hard-wired TVSS device is used). This TVSS captures the large transient surge and redirects approximately 85% of its intensity to ground (earth) before it can enter your home. Protects your major appliances such as air conditioners, washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, and garbage disposals.
Stage 2:
LCEC highly recommends a two-stage approach to protecting your home. For Stage 2, select a Point-of-Use (POU) plug-in protection; to help protect your sensitive electronics within the home, such as computers, televisions, game systems, digital cable devices, DVD systems, microwaves, and garage door openers.
STAGE 1 METER-BASED PROTECTION
LEASE
Purchase
*At the end of the minimum 24-month lease contract, the meter-based arrester is returned to LCEC if the customer chooses not to continue leasing on a month-to-month basis.
**plus applicable taxes
Payment is required within 15 days after installation.
A Remote Access Charge of $100
Your electric service will be interrupted for 5-10 minutes at the time of installation.
How do I order my surgeSense?
Call 239-656-2300 and choose Option 2, Option 3 for Products, then Option 2 for surgeSENSE. You may also Contact Customer Care to have a Customer Care Professional contact you.
- surgeSENSE can only be purchased through LCEC and installed by an LCEC technician.
- After your product service order is created, LCEC’s Energy Services team will contact you within 5 business days to schedule the installation.
STAGE 2 POINT-OF-USE PRODUCTS
LCEC highly recommends a two-stage approach to protect your home. Utility-grade point-of-use products can be purchased through SPIKESTOP.COM.
Customer Discount: On select “point-of-use products” to receive the 15% discount enter "coop".
- This discount does not apply to stage 1 surgeSense.
Terms and Conditions
For Purchase Only
- The meter-based TVSS can only be installed, serviced or removed by a designated LCEC representative.
- Your electric service will be interrupted for 5-10 minutes at the time of installation.
- If the customer moves to another home within the utility’s service area, the meter-based TVSS may be transferred. A transfer fee will be charged for moving a customer-owned device; leased devices will be moved within LCEC’s service territory free of charge.
- All warranties provided are from the manufacturer. The customer shall hold the utility harmless in connection with the operation, service, and installation of the meter-based TVSS.
- In the event the protective effectiveness of the meter-based TVSS should be interrupted or fail for any reason, the utility’s obligation shall be to repair or replace the meter-based TVSS in accordance with this agreement. Such interruption or failure shall not constitute a breach of this agreement, nor shall the utility, its officers, directors, or employees be liable to the customer or to third parties for any damage which might result from such interruption or failure.
- The equipment provided will not protect against direct or indirect high-energy lightning strikes beyond the manufacturer’s rated energy absorption level.
- Lee County Electric Cooperative, Inc., is not responsible for any damages from weather or lightning-related incidents.
- All warranty issues or claims shall be handled directly through the product manufacturer.
- Electronics such as televisions, microwaves, computers, modems, alarms, phones, stereos, faxes, copiers, printers, garage openers, and other types of equipment are not protected by the meter-based device alone. Stage 2 POINT-OF-USE LCEC highly recommends a two-stage approach to protecting your home. Utility-grade point-of-use products can be purchased through SPIKESTOP.COM or by call Customer Service at 877-787-4378.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Products sold prior to April 1, 2021:
The meter-based arrester has a 10-year product replacement with a maximum of $10,000 lifetime payout.
Read the manufacturer's warranty.
Products sold after April 1, 2021:
The meter-based arrester has a 15-year product replacement with a maximum of $50,000 lifetime payout.
Read the manufacturer's warranty.
surgeSense FAQ
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How do I order my surgeSENSE?
Call 239-656-2300 and choose Option 2, Option 3 for Products, then Option 2 for surgeSENSE. You may also Contact Customer Care to have a Customer Care Professional contact you. surgeSENSE can only be purchased through LCEC and installed by an LCEC technician.After your product service order is created, LCEC’s Energy Services team will contact you within 5 business days to schedule the installation.
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How can I pay for my surgeSENSE?
Payment should be applied to your product account which is separate from your electric account; we mail your product account invoice to you after installation. Full payment is required within 15 days after installation and can be made by cash or check. Cash payments are accepted at our Immokalee Payment Center. Check payments are accepted online at www.lcec.net, at our Immokalee Payment Center, or by mail using the enclosed envelope. -
Why do I need surge protection?
Almost any power disturbance can cause interruption or possible damage to electrical equipment, especially sensitive microprocessors. Low-level transient voltage surges can cause stress on their circuits, leading to early failure. High-level transient voltage surges can result in immediate destruction of expensive equipment and circuitry. Customers are faced with many choices for transient voltage surge protection on the market and can be misled by lower-grade devices and their capabilities. -
What are the two stages of surge protection?
Stage 1 surge protection (meter base TVSS) redirects or reduces high-energy transient voltage surges that may occur on the power lines, at the point they first enter a building’s electrical wiring. This is commonly at the meter base.Stage 2 surge protection (plug-in TVSS) goes a step further by offering protection to properly connected sensitive electronics at the point of use. This is commonly where a device is plugged in to electricity, phone, cable TV, network, etc.
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What can I do to protect my electrical equipment?
Utility-grade surge suppressors provide the highest quality in transient voltage surge protection. LCEC’s surgeSENSE program offers you a way to help protect your electrical equipment against the constant danger of transient voltage surges. surgeSENSE components are specially manufactured to meet LCEC’s high engineering standards and are backed by the manufacturer’s product warranties. -
Do all surges cause damage?
No, but they can wear away at sensitive electronics and other equipment. An electronic device that is designed to last for a long period of time could fail much sooner than expected, if it is continually hit with small transient voltage surges. -
Do surge suppressors protect against direct lightning strikes?
No. There is nothing that can guarantee protection against a direct lightning strike. In fact, most lightning-related damage to customer equipment is from “indirect” lightning strikes, such as a strike occurring down the street. Quality TVSS equipment is designed to protect against transient voltage surges often generated from indirect strikes. -
Does the electric utility take steps to reduce surges?
Yes! Lightning arresters are installed throughout the electric distribution system. They certainly reduce the potential for large surges but cannot “completely” eliminate exposure or the risk of damage from them. -
How do “utility-grade” plug-in suppressors compare with some of those available from local retailers?
Utility-grade TVSS’s are built to perform under high energy transient voltage surge conditions, they use large surge elements in multiple stages, and they handle up to six times as much surge energy as locally available products. -
What types of appliances are protected by a meter-base surge arrester?
The Stage 1 meter-based TVSS is designed to arrest and redirect to ground (earth) the majority of a transient voltage surge or “spike” before it enters a building’s electrical wiring. It can help protect the electromechanical components of motor-driven appliances, such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers during transient voltage surge events.Meter-based TVSS’s cannot guarantee protection from a transient voltage surge that occurs when lightning physically strikes a building (direct strike) or in situations where lightning physically strikes an object or structure very close to the building (power transformer, tree, satellite dish, antenna, pump house, well, etc.). These are considered indirect strikes. The extreme intensity of these creates a large electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can induce transient voltages directly onto a building’s electrical wiring, communication cables, telephone lines, appliances, and sensitive electronics. Meter-based TVSS’s are also not designed to protect against damage caused by short-cycling of electrical equipment (motors, compressors, etc.), sustained over-voltage, or sustained under-voltage conditions.
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How do I know the Meter-based surgeSENSE is working?
When the indicator light is on, the device is working properly. The color of the light may vary from green, red, amber, or blue depending on the model of the device. Checking the indicator light when it is dark outside works best; direct sunlight can make it difficult to verify.If the indicator light is not illuminated, contact LCEC for assistance.
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Are the sensitive electronics inside my equipment protected?
Sensitive electronics located within equipment can typically be protected ONLY by Stage 2 TVSS’s (power strips, battery backups, hard-wired suppressors, etc.), which are specifically designed for that purpose. Some equipment and appliances such as stoves, clothes dryers, central HVAC systems, and pool/spa systems that contain electronics, unfortunately cannot be protected by commonly available Stage 2 devices in many cases because of their amperage requirements and plug design.