Surge Protection for Sign

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CONDUIT

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I am going to be installing a led sign that requires 3 -20 amp circuits. I am planning on putting surge protector on the circuits feeding the sign. Sign is located a couple of feet off the ground in some brick. Sign is quite expensive. Any thoughts on if you think it is a good idea or that there is no need to do. I talked to some other contractors that do signs and they say the thought of surge protection never crossed their mind.
 
who made the led sign? the led driver ckt should already have some MOV's in it. they only last so many hits.
 
FionaZuppa said:
who made the led sign? the led driver ckt should already have some MOV's in it. they only last so many hits.
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A local sign maker. I think he orders the boards already built by a third party. He told me that there is nothing built into it to provide surge protection.
 
CONDUIT said:
A local sign maker. I think he orders the boards already built by a third party. He told me that there is nothing built into it to provide surge protection.
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so why are you taking on the task? your "product", or are you contracted just to install it.
MOV's are not a bad idea, but i would not take on the task unless you are warranty'ing the sign itself.
 
FionaZuppa said:
so why are you taking on the task? your "product", or are you contracted just to install it.
MOV's are not a bad idea, but i would not take on the task unless you are warranty'ing the sign itself.
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That was my first thought.

Make sure the customer is aware, and give them the dollar amounts of all their options. You can even make a professional recommendation if you choose to do so.
 
I would suggest this. Virtually all DC power supplies have pretty good inherent resistance to surges already. You probably won't gain much. The comm link on the other hand may well be much more susceptible to transients.
 
FionaZuppa said:
so why are you taking on the task? your "product", or are you contracted just to install it.
MOV's are not a bad idea, but i would not take on the task unless you are warranty'ing the sign itself.
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I am the electrical trades instructor at a public vocational school for high school student's. I volunteered my class to install the wiring to the sign.
 
install and be done with it. when it dies your class can dig in and study what failed ;)
 
CONDUIT said:
I talked to some other contractors that do signs and they say the thought of surge protection never crossed their mind.
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Most businesses fail brfore the signs do so what would be the point?

You can't make much money hooking up signs but it is good repeat business.

On a serious note: I would guess that the sign companies would rather get paid for repairs rather than protection up front.
 
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