How To Install A Surge Protector on Your AC Unit

This installation should be done by a licensed electrician, but I wanted to educate the homeowner about the process of installation and the benefits of a surge protector for your air conditioning equipment.
Overall, I recommend every homeowner have a 200 amp surge protector installed on their electrical box coming in. But surge protectors are extremely valuable for your larger pieces of home equipment as well, such as water heaters, pool heaters, and especially your air conditioning equipment.
Having this installed could save the homeowner hundreds of dollars in labor or parts should they experience power loss and or equipment damage from electrical overload.
Please hire a licensed electrician to do this for you, but if you have any questions please comment below!
Thanks for watching!
- David
[e-mail]
Follow me on Facebook: / david-jones-ac-1010702...

[@j.frankparnell6195]

Per Intermatic installation instructions: Ensure conductor lengths are as short and straight as possible for best performance. Do not coil excess wire. The SPD functions best if all bends in wires are rounded, ideally to a 4” radius. Hard 90 degree bend will reduce efficiency. Cut all leads to the correct length. Do not coil excess leads. In other words you should trim the lead lengths to be as short and straight as possible.

[@josephgilbert9412]

Yeah I read the manual too. good info in there.

[@dmortiz1972]

Right. Inductive voltage gets in the wires if too long. Wires are supposed to be as short as possible.

[@joeweatlu5169]

At 2:49 if you look to the left of his finger you can see it in the instructions.

[@barrykozak3536]

I came here to say the same thing 😂😂

[@dienekes4364]

Thanks for this. I have a 1.5 year-old AC unit that cost me a fortune and now I know how to put in a surge protector to protect my investment.

[@commonsense5105]

When selecting surge suppression, all surge suppression is not the same. Clamping voltage, total energy rating, reaction time all play an important role. Just installing one is no guarantee you'll have adequate protection. Ground resistance is crucial too. A poor ground will make any surge protection ineffective. On installation, all wires should be as short as possible to reduce resistance. Any wires bent during the installation on the surge protector should also be installed in such a way to make the bend radius as large as possible to reduce inductance. Surge protection closest to the ground rod is the most effective. With this in mind, its also a good idea to place whole house surge protection at the distribution panel to take the "brunt" of the surge. Then place additional surge suppression with tighter specs at the equipment you want to protect.

[@OnePointLander]

Which one would you recommend for a mini split/inverter condenser equipment?

[@commonsense5105]

@@OnePointLander Johnny, I would consider something like the Intermatic AG3000 or similar, mounted at your compressor disconnect as a second line of defense. If you don't have a whole house surge protection mounted in your distribution panel, I would also recommend doing that as your first line of defense. The 2021 NEC started requiring this whole house form of protection as part of the new build code. If your panel is not too old, many of the major panel manufacturers now make a snap in whole house protection that easily installs in the panel.

[@frankrizzo893]

Wah wah wah

[@dcrams16]

Dave is the OG of these hvac videos on youtube miss them i always come watch them still

[@rickjames6948]

Wire leads should be as short as possible. Most important is the neutral/ground, keep it short. I would of installed that ON the compressor unit directly. Every 2" of wire length = 20-25VAC higher, the clamping voltage becomes or when the SPD dumps excess voltage/amps to ground. Keep the leads SHORT. AND adding wires into an already used lug (line side in this video) is not to code or the NEC. You see how easy his wire pulled out from the lug? That's why.......

[@bygonebob]

I love David Jones because you can always sense he speaks from the heart. You are very much appreciated, Mr. Jones! May God bless you and your family and those who follow your channel.

[@jonesacnaples]

Thank you so much for that comment may God bless you and your family..

[@user-kj1ro8js4o]

Shame on you! He’s going to help Someone get killed

[@EnigmaPSU]

I appreciate the video and enjoy the channel. I’ve learned a lot. I actually installed two of these. And not to beat a dead horse, but as others have mentioned the directions specifically call for using pigtails, conductors as short and straight as possible and greater than 4 inch loop.

[@Imwright720]

It tells you right in the directions to make the leads as short and straight as possible. Cut to the correct length.

[@Terable13]

Exactly. Coiling them up is incorrect and the factory sells the SPD pre-wired with a certain length to accommodate different installations, they aren't meant to stay that length. Coiling and curving them creates impedance...

[@juliangonzalez3541]

I love your videos you do extraordinary work by structuring those who wants to learn 👏 thank u

[@chipset2900]

Dave, at 3m 58s you say to not shorten the leads, and to coil them. But the install instructions for the IM AG3000 say the opposite. "Do not coil excess wire." "Cut all leads to the correct length."

[@vincemajestyk9497]

EVERY SPD should have the leads UNCOILED (reduces inductance-increases performance) and the leads should be trimmed as short as you can practically make them.

[@saltrue1555]

I will get one. Thank you for your teaching God bless

[@COWABUNGA_IT_IS]

Thank you for your teaching

[@Justme77400]

I'm investing in one of these! Very helpful video!

[@ilovear15]

Not supposed to double tap connections, need to put in pigtail. Need to cut wires to make the short as possible. Also doing a half ass job.

[@nicholashaller4185]

Great video! I learned alot!

[@JohnBGood-kq3ul]

You need to learn from other videos from real electricians. This guy did it wrong, with two glaring mistakes.

[@mv20297]

The instructions says to keep the conductor lengths as short and straight as possible. You are supposed to trim them. Also, screwing down multiple wires into the disconnect is a fire hazard.

[@fritsriep3830]

Thanks for the video. One important recommendation from the installation instructions which contradict what you stated in the video is to cut the conductors as short as possible. "Ensure conductor lengths are as short and straight as possible for best performance. Do not coil excess wire."

[@bobbydylan6792]

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[@bobbydylan6792]

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[@bobbydylan6792]

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[@zaynarcher9793]

@Bobby Dylan happy to help :)

[@jankuehl4207]

Has any one seen an AC Surge protection install Video, where they use either a pigtail, or Polaris taps to combine the wires prior to the lugs. with the wire cut to the appropriate size. and where the Neutral wire is supposed to be properly connected

[@jimlaidley4826]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3qvomyAeKuYeLc

[@louwatts2119]

Good information thankyou

[@chronoshinobi6740]

Great videos

[@miamited69]

Would you also put this on the air handler?

[@mr.mr.4356]

Thanks very exact video.

[@marisolmarie5990]

Great Job! Love a great technician to implement great values on a HVAC SYSTEM. Keep up the excellent work. ty.

[@slobodanvasic7473]

Thanks for video.

[@bippy913]

Per the instructions--- Ensure conductor lengths are as short and straight as possible for best performance. Do not coil excess wire. The SPD functions best if all bends in wires are rounded, ideally to a 4” radius. Hard 90 degree bend will reduce efficiency. Cut all leads to the correct length. Do not coil excess leads. Not sure this guy knows what he is doing.

[@HoodHandyman]

what if your using 2 separate breakers in your square D box?

[@shaazy]

Thank you for this amazing vid. I live in Pakistan but I reckon the weather is the same as Florida. Our AC split units (the invertor variety) go bad in under an year. I am currently running 5 Toshibas and they all had circuit issues in under 1.5 years. We are by the sea so part of the fault is salty air and corrosion, so I wanted to ask if there's any sort of weather resistance measures we can do apart from Surge Protection to prolong life?

[@EnigmaPSU]

You can purchase units with gold plated fins that will not corrode. I believe Madea or Gree.

[@ventkingsflorida517]

You can dip your coils in a liquid to protect from salt air and etc , iam in Florida and I do that

[@shaazy]

@@ventkingsflorida517 Which liquid if i may?

[@nathang.1744]

I notice on a/c’s with scroll compressors after power surges they make this loud amplified noise and then a few minutes later they shut off thermal/high/low pressure my guess is a locked compressor because pressures weren’t equalized..

[@seek3n]

In Texas we can touch the electrical if is 6ft within the equipment. But I've seen videos doing different ways of install. Some wire nut 3 wire together and use the 1 wire they put in as the line. Some just screw it along with the line. So confused

[@rogexpo9430]

Just wanted to add that you should consult the instructions provided with your particular device and in just about every one I’ve seen it is recommended that the leads be as short as possible and connected to the line side. Wires should not be doubled up on the connection lugs instead a pigtail should be used with the appropriate wire nuts or wago connectors for your application Because it is against code to double those connectors because it can cause excessive heat buildup which may result in a fire. In any application where aluminum wire is used some electricians advise using Noalox to prevent oxidation of the wires.

[@shanefrank3281]

Isn't double lugging (2 wires under one screw) a fire hazard?

[@alambe7275]

Some people say you didn’t show where the ground wire needed to be connected and that you needed to add a disconnect what does that mean?

[@davidd8435]

I only have a disconnect at the AC unit, the breaker is in the panel, can the surge protector be installed in the panel or next to the panel?

[@jonesacnaples]

Yes, best place for the surge protector is in the main electrical panel box Thank you for watching

[@dhelectricco]

@@jonesacnaples Then why didn't you install it at the service panel?

[@noelickes6061]

If you watched the video david said this was in addition to one already installed in the panel.

[@AgentOffice]

Both

[@user-bl5rr3om7x]

Intermatic says is doesn't protect against lightning strikes. And the instructions say it covers liability after you home insurance pays up to 75000 dollars.Then they will step in.

[@jimpickering3099]

I don't understand how this surge protector works at all. Both wires go into the line side, but how does that protect the load side? I would think a surge protector would need four wires: Two for the line side (to the breaker), through the surge protector, and then to the two wires to connect to the AC. Ditto for the AC disconnect that uses a copper bar between line and load to make the connection. These connections all bypass the surge protector, no? Help.

[@lf98037]

The components inside the surge protector connect between the lines and also from each line to ground. When an impulse or spike exceeds a certain threshold the resistance lowers and the energy of the surge is absorbed thus clamping the voltage to an acceptable level and protects the equipment.

[@luisacevedo324]

I appreciate the video and the warning to take. But as a License electricain. You are not supposed to have braids hanging out if lugs. I mean if you did not want to soldier the ends you could have used a ferral or at the minimum. Twist the wire a little tighter. Not trying to Criticize but if you’re going to show something, do it right

[@dangarcia7655]

How does this system protect? I don't see power interruption on high voltages, like the protectors that sit in the middle of the install. Is is parallel to the main current. How this equipment stop the flow of electricity if needed?

[@luisacevedo324]

You only need one leg to ground and the other to the other.. it's 120/220v single phase..

[@da324]

You'd think a licensed electrician would know how to spell ferrule.

[@bgregg55]

It popped out. That's exactly why its against code to have more than one conductor in that tap.

[@AgentOffice]

What should be done

[@hempelcx]

@@AgentOffice Properly connect the wires outside the lug to a single pigtail that goes to the lug. Or use a disconnect with multiple lugs.

[@BeLovingAwarenessNow]

What should the average cost of having someone install the surge protector be?

[@Gsxr617]

$2-300 a piece is what the average cost is

[@kenneyondawkins653]

Where can i buy the surge protector, I'm an hvac technician myself

[@JohnBGood-kq3ul]

Amazon

[@machaf]

Cut all leads to the correct length. Do not coil excess leads. - right from the instructions. Did you read them?

[@waynedoomad2573]

Code violation double tap, use Polaris taps the neutral wire from the device is going to to the ground bar

[@alambe7275]

What?

[@kazutirudy]

Placing two wires under one lug is NOT to code. That's why your "pull test" failed. The proper way to install is with a pigtail. Only ONE wire per lug!

[@MrRichardyc]

This is why you don't let the HVAC guy do the electrical work.

[@garaldweiss5348]

Is that stuff will safe condenser unit? What do you think?

[@davidkirkham6497]

@@garaldweiss5348 👍

[@IFreshhx]

A new hvac tech should be able to do this with ease this isn’t even that complicated lol

[@pablogaviria9265]

And NEVER let an Electrician work on your AC !

[@IFreshhx]

@@pablogaviria9265 literally

[@88yo88]

i have a question sir, with all do respect, it is double tap like that is very not recommended to do?

[@JohnBGood-kq3ul]

5:19 ...The wire popped out because those lugs are *_not_* designed for 2-wires. You need to pigtail the conductors so there's only one wire in the lug, the way it's designed. Also, the wires from the surge protector need to be trimmed, not full length. Did you read the instructions before you did this? Here's a pro doing it correctly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3qvomyAeKuYeLc

[@condor5635]

Geeze David a couple of pretty serious mistakes - wire is not cut to length, double tapping the lug instead of using a pigtail.

[@mrgreen9086]

I would add a quick disconnect on the wires and crimp it before putting inside the lugs

[@alambe7275]

What’s a disconnect and where would you place it

[@georgeknerr]

The instructions I have state the shorter the leads the better.

[@DS-fb9te]

did mine thanks to you tube community

[@MMS-cn1zg]

Will this trip when there's a voltage drop?

[@AgentOffice]

Not this model but they do make one

[@vincemajestyk9497]

Against electrical code to double tap like that, especially with Cu and Al wire. Totally illegal. Leave electrical work to electricians. Also, those 2 line leads should be as short as you can possibly get them for the best pass through voltage performance (most suppression).

[@TrojenKnight69]

Yup shoulda been pigtailed, definitely let electricians do this.

[@markavery2888]

the no connector on the feed coming into the disconnect is also nice ;)

[@TrojenKnight69]

@@markavery2888 I see a 1/2 inch connector on the liquid tight flexible conduit 3:43? Yes, not having those is a big no no

[@markavery2888]

@@TrojenKnight69 The flex yes, but nothing on the back of the disconnect at all...

[@TrojenKnight69]

@@markavery2888 Good eyes didn't see that!

[@sibarrette8374]

Umm, this needs to be pigtailed. That’s a fire waiting to happen.

[@davemoss9505]

Intermatic what? Part number?

[@fayco1]

This is wrong, those leads are supposed to be pigtailed with the line coming from the breaker and then connected to the lugs on the disconnect

[@jstasiak2262]

1. You are “double tapping” the lugs on the disconnect switch. Double tapping like that is a hard fail for all electrical codes in all US jurisdictions EXCEPT where the lug is specifically designed to clamp each wire separately. In such a case, the device would be clearly labeled that the wire clamp is approved for double tapping. Such is not the case here. The proper way to handle this situation is to install proper sized pigtails on the lugs of the each pole of the disconnect switch and then connect one side of each of the AC Condenser unit and the surge protector wires to the respective pigtail using a wire nut or other suitable connector. 2. To ensure the maximum effectiveness of the surge protector, its leads should be kept as short as possible AND twisted together along their length. Twisting improves the inductive protection of the surge protector. This is not widely known, but every little bit of increased protection helps.

[@wesshishido2756]

Code violation. Double tapping on the Line side.

[@AgentOffice]

What should be done

[@stevenle1760]

@@AgentOffice You have to use extra wire and make a pig tail, i.e. use extra wire and wirenuts to make the connections.

[@AgentOffice]

@@stevenle1760 wire is so big don't think I can do that

[@artc8577]

@@AgentOffice polaris taps

[@PatriotSecuritySystems]

@@stevenle1760 Do you think you can use Wago connectors instead of wirenuts?

[@asuarezjd]

NO NO NO NOOOO!!! Pig tail if you must because you cannot double tap, is one of those things any electrician's assistant learns before lunch in his first day! Is not code! And, where did you hear or read the wires are not to be cut? On the contrary, you MUST cut them to length and AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE. You want any surge to reach quicker and travel the shortest distance. It will go to the shortest and least resistant path. This is one of those situations where people know enough and he connected the wires but lacks formal training and basic knowledge on electricity, harmonics, etc. Anyhow, send the green to the NEUTRAL, is how it sheds the surge!

[@charlesr4006]

Like he says, It is best to hire a licensed electrician, because the way he says to install it is pretty much wrong.

[@Y3227jl]

120 volt surge suppression for 240 volt system?

[@fritsriep3830]

This unit is designed for split phase power with 120v to neutral/ground and is rated for 240v phase to phase. the manufacturers spec and installation instructions clearly show this unit is rated for 240v for line to line protection.

[@user-st4rh6fu5g]

You’re not protecting anything by putting them under the same lugs. You need to break the power through the device to protect it. You’re just powering a surge protector the way you’ve wired this….

[@willhansen6922]

With all due respect, this video should be removed. The tech left an unsafe situation by his installation. The lugs that he inserted the SPD wires into are not rated for more than one wire. That is evident when the wire he tried to insert along with the original wire popped out. This is not the proper way to install an SPD. It is also irresponsible to present such a fire hazard because others will follow this bad advice.

[@bigbirdpukindog]

You need to edit your video with the correct information. My instructions say to cut the leads to the correct length…do not coil excess leads

[@siahmanjoe]

So not only did you double tap, you also say "you want this line long and they are those size for a reason" this is bull shit and you actually want it as sorry as possible for the surge to work correctly... SMH

[@perproject06]

Double tapping is not advisable per the other video that I saw. Should have used pigtails. Also, shortening the wire is okay.

[@JohnBGood-kq3ul]

Not only not advisable but totally wrong according to code and a fire hazard.

[@calvinbrady9944]

So much wrong here. Leads are supposed to be cut to fit, not wound into the box. Do not double-tap. Use a pigtail. I'm not even an expert and know that much from watching This Old House.

[@OnePointLander]

If you use pigtails, the connection will generally will be a wire-nut which are not alluminum rated generally(which is what the wires are on the mars, 10ga AL strand), which is the lesser of the two evils?

[@fcrick]

@@OnePointLander use a 10 awg wago with aluminum paste. Note that the surge protector wires are tinned copper, so this would only be needed if the line wires are aluminum like in the video

[@OnePointLander]

Thanks Calvin, that is what I did. Used 3 port Wagos for 10 gauge and the copper is not aluminum, but tinned according to the specs. So no paste needed.

[@JohnBGood-kq3ul]

@@OnePointLander If using AL feeder, you can put no-ox on the conductors.

[@rickjames6948]

Where is this installation Pakistan? People, stay out of that box if you want to live.

[@garygray4664]

No! To so much wrong in this video. Home owners, please do NOT try this using his incorrect methods

[@lorunner1213]

So much bad info in this video.

[@soydelrancho]

Two big mistakes on your installation: Double taping it is a big no no. Second of you tied the neutral to a grounding wire not a neutral.

[@fritsriep3830]

Item two is actually not valid. At the ac unit there is no neutral available, and per the manufacturer in the installation instructions: "According to NEC Article 285.27 . For applications where the neutral wire is not present, the SPD white wire (grounded conductor) may be identified with green tape for connection to the equipment ground." So it was perfectly fine to use the ground in this situation as long as the SPD white wire is identified with green tape. Recommend you always refer to the manufacturers installation instructions and check the relevant NEC section for authoritative information.

[@da324]

@@fritsriep3830 I'm about to install one of these on my new split unit. What should be done to prevent the double tapping?

[@fcrick]

@@da324 make a pigtail using a 10 awg wago or a wirenut

[@soydelrancho]

@@fritsriep3830 Nowhere in the instructions says what you stated. Connecting the neutral to the grounding is making it live, which it could be extremely dangerous. 285.27 Connection Between Conductors An SPD shall be permitted to be connected between any two conductors - ungrounded conductor(s), grounded conductor, equipment grounding conductor or grounded electrode conductor. The grounded conductor and the equipment grounding conductor shall be interconnected only by the normal operation of the SPD during a surge.

[@rich13la1]

DO NOT INSTALL LIKE THIS VIDEO INSTRUCTS : never put two wires under a screw lug, it is a fire hazard , you need to make up a pig tail . Hope this guy is not a licensed electrician .

[@joeweatlu5169]

No offense, but this guy who claims to be an electrician, is doing this all wrong, and potentially creating dangerous hazards for the homeowner and those who view this video.

[@markavery2888]

Wow, don't follow this as an install guide!

[@home65182]

You need to delete this video. It has incorrect installation instructions riddled with code violations. You’re going to burn someone’s home down

[@da324]

Instead of criticizing, how about telling everyone the correct way to do it?

[@JohnBGood-kq3ul]

@@da324 There are videos done by real electricians showing the correct way to install this. Also, if you just read the instructions you'll see that this video is not only wrong, but a hazard. That $7,500 warranty will be useless if Intermatic sees this video.