Whole-house systems should be rated to stop a 40,000-amp surge, at minimum. Features to look for include thermal fuses, and lights or alarms that indicate when a device has taken a hit. Protection for an average house with 200-amp service will run about $500—including a couple of hours of an electrician’s labor.
How do I choose a whole house surge protector?
This is the amount of electrical current that can be absorbed, measured in kiloAmps (kA), which is thousands of amps. The minimum is usually 10kA (10,000 amps), but it depends on the device type. The best whole-house surge protectors are generally rated from 30kA upward.
Which whole house surge protector is best?
Best Whole House Surge Protectors Reviews
- Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection. …
- Leviton 240 Volt Panel Protector. …
- Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole Home Surge Protection Device. …
- Siemens QSA2020SPD Whole House Surge Protection. …
- Eaton CHSPT2SURGE SPD Type 2 Chsp Whole Home Surge Protector.
What should I look for when buying a surge protector?
A higher joule rating is the best indicator of greater protection. Choose a surge protector with a joule rating at the very least in the 200 to 400 range. Sensitive or costly equipment, such as computers, displays and audio/video equipment, warrants a joule rating of at least 1000.
What is the best joules for a surge protector?
A higher number indicates greater protection. Look for a protector that is at least rated at 200 to 400 joules. For better protection, look for a rating of 600 joules or more. Response time: Surge protectors don’t kick in immediately; there is a very slight delay as they respond to the power surge.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 surge protection?
Type 1 SPD is characterized by a 10/350 µs current wave. The Type 2 SPD is the main protection system for all low voltage electrical installations. Installed in each electrical switchboard, it prevents the spread of overvoltages in the electrical installations and protects the loads.
What size breaker do I need for a whole house surge protector?
Essentially, the circuit breaker must be sized to the protector’s wire size and the electrical panel’s ratings. For example, a surge protector with 10 AWG wires should be used with a breaker rated at 30A. The circuit breaker’s ratings (interrupt rating, voltage rating) must also be suitable for the panel.
How much should a whole house surge protector cost?
According to HomeAdvisor, a whole-house surge protector costs an average of $300, with a typical range of $70 to $700. These provide the best protection from power surges that can fry your electronics.
Are whole house surge protectors worth the money?
Most power strip surge protectors only offer low-level surge protection, meaning they can help during frequent small surges but aren’t effective during a high-surge situation. Whole house surge protectors, on the other hand, effectively reduce both kinds of surges.
How often should a whole house surge protector be replaced?
Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. And if your home is subject to frequent brownouts or blackouts, you might want to replace your surge protectors as often as every two years.
What does joules mean on surge protector?
A surge protector joule rating indicates how much energy it can absorb before it fails. The higher the number of joules, the greater the surge protection provided. Keys to determining the amount of protection needed include the type and value of the equipment to be protected.
How many joules should a surge protector have for a TV?
Recommendations. Electronic accessories manufacturer Belkin recommends its 1,411 joule model for most TV sets, or its 2,444 joule unit for projection televisions. ReviewSurgeProtector.com similarly advocates a minimum level of 1,500 joules for TVs.
Can I install a whole house surge protector myself?
Can you install a whole house surge protector yourself? You’ll need two blank spaces, one on top of the other, in your main panel to hook up the SPD. Or, you can connect it to an existing two-pole 240V breaker—but only if that breaker is rated for two wires.
Are whole house surge protectors required by code?
The 2020 NEC (National Electric Code) has made surge protection required for service replacements and upgrades. With a new service, service upgrade, or service replacement, there must now be a type 1 or type 2 surge protector installed.
Where should surge protection be installed?
Surge protection (type 1 or type 2) should be fitted at the origin of the supply to the property. This can be installed inside the existing consumer unit, fed from the consumer unit and fitted in its own enclosure, or fed from the supply tails and fitted in its own enclosure.
What does a whole house surge protector do?
Simply put, a surge protector is a pressure-relief valve for an electrical system. A plug-in surge protector offers protection to the appliances connected to it. A whole-house surge protector can divert surges as they enter your home’s electrical system, protecting the whole building and any appliances inside.
How many joules protection do I need?
1,000 to 2,000 Joules
If you’re trying to protect things like cell phones, basic laptops, printers, routers, and copiers, you’ll want a surge protector with a rating between 1,000 and 2,000 joules. This rating is also large enough for your power tools and other building appliances.
What appliances need surge protectors?
But bigger or more important items, as well as appliances that require constant power, such as computers, printers, televisions, and refrigerators, should all use surge protectors. Any device that you don’t want to lose in the event of a power surge, or that would be expensive to replace, should be protected.
