Mini Split surge protection

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Greg1707

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Location
Alexandria, VA
Occupation
Business owner Electrical contractor
The HVAC contractor I work with said the mini split units will require surge protection. He suggested a Intermatic CD1-024R.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Intermatic-Compressor-Defender-Commercial-Residential-Indoor-Outdoor-Whole-Air-Conditioner-Protector/1000007262

This device is 120/240 volts. It requires a neutral to function. It would be better if there was something that did not require a third wire since lots of these installs are retrofit and the existing power is 240V.

Anyone have any experience with surge protection for the mini split systems?
 
170222-1451 EST

The Intermatic unit you linked to has both brownout protection (under voltage) meaning it has at least a relay to disconnect output from input when voltage is low (no mention about how short in duration a low voltage will trigger an opening of the circuit, nor how long it will stay dropped out), and it includes transient limiters. This could be just two MOVs or possibly three.

The Intermatic site is next to worthless. No circuit diagram, or curves to show clamping voltage vs current. No discussion on whether you can use EGC instead of neutral.

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Maybe the image on the Lowes website is old, but it should be UL1449 4th Edition, not 3rd. And according to the nameplate, it is Type 3 which comes with special requirements from UL

http://www.intertek.com/standards-updates/ul-1449-rev-03262015-surge-protective-devices/

From UL 1449 Type 3 – Point of utilization SPDs, installed at a minimum conductor length of 10 meters (30 feet) from the electrical service panel to the point of utilization, for example cord connected, direct plug-in, receptacle type and SPDs installed at the utilization equipment being protected. See marking in 80.3. The distance (10 meters) is exclusive of conductors provided with or used to attach SPDs.
 
neutral required

neutral required

After checking a couple of other whole house surge protectors it appears that three wires is standard. With this in mind I suppose there is no way around running a new three conductors and an EGC.
 
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