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Electrician in Stockholm
When lightning strikes, voltage spikes travel through the mains — and TV, router, heat pump and appliances are unprotected. A surge protection device in the consumer unit takes the hit instead. Fixed price, installed and done in one visit, whether it is a flat, terraced house or detached house.
Power strips with "surge protection" protect at best only what is plugged into them. Proper lightning protection is installed in the consumer unit and protects the whole home's installation, including fixed appliances such as heat pump, underfloor heating and EV charger. The protection does its job in the minutes each year when it really matters.
Surges do not only come from nearby strikes. A strike several kilometres away travels in via the mains, and even ordinary switching events in the electricity network cause voltage spikes that wear on electronics over time. In a modern home there is a lot of sensitive electronics that benefits from protection in the consumer unit, whether you live in a flat, a terraced house or a detached house.
Heat pump, induction hob, TV, router, EV charger — a modern home quickly adds up to a lot of money in electronics. Home insurance covers lightning damage with age deductions and excess, and never compensates for the hassle of weeks without heating or connectivity. The protection in the consumer unit is a one-time cost that sits there doing its job for decades.
A surge protection device is a consumable: it sacrifices itself when it takes a serious hit. The module has an indicator showing when the cartridge needs replacing — we show you how to read it at installation. After a severe thunderstorm it is worth taking a look at it.
No, a direct hit requires external lightning protection with a lightning conductor — a different type of system. The protection in the consumer unit handles the surges that enter via the electricity network, which is by far the most common path for damage.
With protection in the consumer unit you do not need to rush around unplugging cables. If you are especially concerned about a particular appliance it can get additional protection at the socket, but the main protection is in the consumer unit and covers the whole installation.
Often, if there is space. If the box is cramped or worn you will be told and given a fixed price — sometimes it is wisest to add the protection at the same time as a unit replacement.
The protection handles surges arriving via the mains — the router's and media converter's power supplies are protected that way. The fibre cable itself does not carry current and is not a path for lightning surges.
How the ROT deduction works — conditions, amounts and what does not qualify