Read the DITEK Blog for the Latest Information and Viewpoints
The DITEK Blog includes current information, opinions and suggestions for a wide variety of surge protection topics. Browse our blogs, and if you have an idea for a new topic that would push the industry further, please let us know!
Voltage Swings: How They Can Leave You Hot, Bothered, and Longing for Your A/C
It’s summer. It’s hotter than hot. And you look at that HVAC every day with love and admiration—thankful for modern-day air conditioning. It’s a lifeline for many of us on these blazing hot days and nights. Can you even imagine life without it? Ask anyone whose HVAC failed about that experience. It’s miserable. Most homes are not equipped to cool without an HVAC, and if your system breaks down, you’re in for some long, hot, humid days and nights. This is why you should consider making sure your HVAC is fully protected from damaging electrical events, including the now common voltage swings. What’s a voltage swing? Voltage swings are when the voltage either drops below the normal operating level or it spikes, sending an unexpected surge into an [...]
Whole Home Surge Protection – How It Works, Considerations, & Costs
Look around your home. Have you ever stopped to consider how many items are connected to a power source? Laptops and computers, mobile phones, game systems, TVs, appliances; plus, don’t forget your HVAC system, internet, and home security system. Even in our “wireless” homes, most items are connected in some way to a power supply. We are a society that is more dependent on the electrical grid than ever. That’s why whole home surge protection has become a necessity for homeowners. Whole home surge protection is designed to safeguard all the electrical devices and appliances in your home from power surges. Power surges are sudden increases in voltage that can damage or destroy electronic devices and appliances. These surges can be caused by many factors, including lightning strikes, [...]
DITEK Community Involvement
January 2024 - March 2024 When DITEK was founded by Robert (Bob) McIntyre, he instilled the value of supporting the local community. Today, he’ll tell you, “That’s the thing about a business; find out where you can get involved and how much fun it can be.” Here are some of the organizations we’ve partnered and volunteered with so far this year: Pinellas Education Foundation Evening of Excellence In support of the Pinellas Education Foundation, DITEK sponsored the Evening of Excellence event in January, where our VP of Administration, Melissa, introduced three of the 10 finalists for Teacher of the Year. In total, 130 teachers were nominated, with Gerard Madrinan from Seminole High School being named the Pinellas County Schools 2024 Teacher of the Year. Founded in 1986, the [...]
HVAC Surge Protection – Safeguard Homes, Health, Customers, & Your Bottom Line
The following article was originally published in the HVAC Tactical magazine, spring 2024 issue. Clear here to read the original. Protection for Homes, Health, Customers, & Your Bottom Line Think about the most valuable items in our homes. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Did you envision your TV, appliances, computer, or other electronics? We all use these items every day, and most people take steps to protect them because who wants to be without a TV, or a refrigerator, or a laptop? Insurance is one way to protect your assets. But there’s another option you should consider as well: surge protective devices (SPDs). Surge protective devices safeguard appliances and electronics from power surges and spikes by limiting voltage surges that occur in the normal electrical [...]
Surge Protection Safeguards Valuable Assets
Insurance. We buy it for protection. For our business, home, car, health, even our pets sometimes. It’s a proactive investment to safeguard our most valuable assets. But what about your electronic and digital assets? Nearly everything these days is connected to the electrical grid—your computers, communication and entertainment devices, your fire protection system, not to mention an array of appliances. Are you being proactive to protect those assets? Electric surges happen every day and more frequently than you might expect. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), a typical building experiences more than 150 power surges each month (Deerwester, 2023). That’s an average of four (or more) a day! And over time, all those power hits take a toll on anything connected to the electrical grid— security [...]
Understanding the 2023 NEC Rules for Surge Protection
In 2023, the committees of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published their most recent updates to the NFPA 70, better known as the National Electrical Code or NEC. Updated every three years, the NEC is the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards. New requirements specifically relating to surge protection emerged in both the 2020 and 2023 NEC iterations. And while NEC adoption by state varies, the consequences of failing to comply with NEC codes can be costly, endangering both people and property and resulting in expensive fees/repairs. Therefore, it is critical that all stakeholders, from electricians to electrical distributors and homeowners understand the latest NEC requirements for surge protection. Understanding NEC Requirements for Surge Protection The first [...]
Understand the Importance of Surge Protection to Boost Sales
In distributor and retail settings, sales are made one of two ways: passively or actively. In a passive sale, a customer comes in knowing exactly what item they want and purchases the product with no questions asked. Active selling requires counter sales, inside and outside salespeople, and even branch managers to actively assist their customers in finding the solution they need. The goal in active selling is to explain the benefits and importance of a product while appearing knowledgeable, so the customer is confident that they are making a good purchase decision. But before active selling can happen, the people doing the selling must first understand why a product is important or necessary so they can properly convey these benefits to their customer. Case in point, surge protection [...]
Do You Know How Much of Your Power Budget You’re Using?
Integrators and end users love Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices for their cost and time saving benefits as well as their ease of use. By delivering power and data over the same Ethernet cable, PoE devices can easily be connected, disconnected, and moved without the need for extensive cabling or electrical work. From IP cameras to access control systems and beyond, PoE is now the go-to solution for locations where power outlets or network connections are hard to come by. The low-voltage install of PoE devices is further simplified by PoE switches, which provide power to peripheral devices via a number of ports. But these switches are limited in the power output available to each PoE port and the switch as a whole. For this reason, knowing how [...]
