Can a surge suppressor be constructed to withstand a prolonged multi-thousand volt overvoltage? Every once in awhile we hear of a house whose wiring is fried from the inside out. This can happen if a primary line, typically about 7000 volts to ground, falls on a secondary (120/240 volt) line. What I am thinking of is two metal plates with a thin gap in between, connected to hot and neutral of the house service. (A second unit would be connected to the other side of the 120/240 volt service.) This would require that the main breaker be upstream of the first breaker panel with the surge suppressor(s) in between. Should a medium-high voltage surge occur, we expect that the current will arc between the suppressor plates before it arcs through the insulation of the house wiring. Should the surge last long enough and the suppressor plates melt, the plates would be large enough and thick enough to come to a fairly low temperature despite the resulting dead short circuit.

I currently have 200 amp service to my house. It consists of a main panel box and a sub panel, which is fed by a 60 amp double pole out of the main panel box. Every single "single pole" breaker is a "piggy back" setup, and both boxes are maxed out of space. I have the need for at least 4 or 5 more double pole slots, and another concern is the service going to an outside garage. Now, the garage only has a 12-2 underground wire running out there for lights. I would like it to be 50amp to 100amp service in the garage. I've been told that I could change the meter socket, wiring from the socket to the panel boxes, and add another 200 amp main panel to achieve a 400 amp "split service." A couple of questions: 1) Is this correct? 2.) Would I need to change the wire from the electric pole to the meter socket (underground wire)? Thanks for any insight!