On May 12, 7:26 pm, N8N wrote:
OK, well, let me rephrase that. The only failures are the air filter,
one surge strip, and the dishwasher, which was installed literally the
week before we bought the house. Grr. So there will be no cleaning
of the furnace filters today.
I haven't tried the A/C yet either, which is also new.
The washer (ancient) and dryer (new) seem to be OK.
This could be an expensive experience.

Useful is to determine which phase attached to the Siemens TVSS.
Then determine which other appliances were on the same phase. Was all
other damage also on that same phase?

Makes little difference whether an appliance is on or off for major
surges. That little gap in switches will only block smaller surges.
If the surge was not finding destructive paths through powered off
appliance switch, then, surge typically should have been too small to
harm any surge protector. Any protector diverts surges and remains
functional. Surge protectors only intended for one surge are grossly
undersized.

A TVSS on the breaker box should be 1000 joules minimum. Other
manufacturers make protectors that are maybe 2000 joules. A larger
protector may withstand surges 8 times larger. And again, must divert
surges without damage. Damaged TVSS implies that protector was too
small for your location.

Surges can also cause appliance overstress. Should the failed TVSS,
tripped circuit breakers, and other failed items be on the same phase,
then do some sniffing about on other appliances share that same
phase. Seek indication of damage that may result in failure months
later.

A properly sized plug-in protector does not fail on one surge. To
increase profit margins and to get the naive to recommend that
protector, some protectors are grossly undersized. Surge apparently
was rather small. Otherwise bathroom GFCIs, clock radios, dimmer
switches, smoke detectors, kitchen appliances, TV etc would also
appear on that damage list, and other appliances. Many of those
appliances were 'on' even when they appear to be off.

A surge struck an Ionic Breeze and protector simultaneously with
same potential. Surge was too small to harm the appliance but was
large enough to harm the adjacent protector. Age of the protector was
irrelevant. That implies a small surge - too small to overwhelm
protection already inside the Ionic Breeze.

'Whole house' protectors from GE, Intermatic, Siemens, Cutler-
Hammer, etc should be available in every electrical supply house as
well as through Lowes and Home Depot repair service. If your Siemens
TVSS is not sufficiently sized, then consider getting a second one to
exponentially increase breaker box protection. Other protectors not
part of a circuit breaker tend to be sized larger. You had appliances
damage implying the breaker box protection was too small - let too
much surge into the house.

Finally, also inspect your primary protection system since that is
your utilities responsibility and might be sufficient for them to pay
for damage:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html