Best Whole House Surge Protector Reviews
After conducting over 35 hours of research (consulting manufactures and homeowners) and reviewing all the important details and specifications, we came to the conclusion that Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK is the best whole house surge protector available in the market.
It is compatible with any brand of load center and breakers, being of use in a commercial or residential setting.
This SPD comes bundled with awesome features and specifications that protects your entire home and all electrical appliances by utilizing TPMOV (Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor) technology.
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Top 5: Whole House Surge Protectors
Most of your home electrical devices are always at risk of damages due to constant power surges. However, with a quality whole house surge protector, you can protect your home devices from random power surges and spikes. They work by letting in good electricity while blocking the excess voltage that usually damages and wears down electronics circuit boards, thus reducing their lifespan over time.
However, not all of them are the same, and it can be hard to pick a quality one. Nonetheless, our whole house surge protector reviews will help you know a quality surge protector and a fake one. So read on…
1. Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole Home Surge Protector
This home surge protector uses a Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor Technology, TPMOV to protect your home as well as light commercial environs from power supply surges. Moreover, it has type 1 and types 2 applications.
Type 1 application usually includes outdoors installations before utility meter cabinets and service entrances, while type 2 applications are installations after service entrance.
QUICK SUMMARY
This device is ANSI/UL 1449 3rd Edition and UL listed. It uses a consumable replaceable IModule that has red lights that show you when to replace it.
You can easily do the replacement solo, no need to replace the entire hardwired SPD unit. After which, a green light will indicate the restoration of surge protection. The blue light usually indicates that the SPD is ON.
Besides, it ships with three consumable IModules embedded with the LED power switch and protection status lights for ease and safety during replacement.
REVIEW & TESTS
- top features
- safety
- warranty
This unit is great for protecting your appliances from power surges anytime. It features Type 1 and 2-surge protections, making it highly safe for use with any type of device that drives power from your home electrical panel.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
2. Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protector
This is ideally the best whole house surge protector for commercial and residential surroundings. It protects standard residential split phase 120/240, 60 Hz system voltage, as per its unique design. Besides, it has a balanced 600voltage protection rating.
Moreover, when it comes to installation, you can have it outdoors or indoors inside the load center, with no risk to it or your home electrical appliances. This is because this device is commercially graded NEMA 4X enclosure, for ease and flexible installation.
QUICK SUMMARY
In addition, it is compatible with any breakers and brand of load center, for an easier installation process. It is a type 2 surge protective device, meaning it is UL listed for safety when it comes to home use. However, in case of a safety hazard it will notify you by an audible alarm, green LED beep and flashes of red service lit light.
In addition to all this, it takes the guesswork out of knowing when to replace it, as it will indicate so, via its 3-stage notification system of an audible alarm, green LED beep and extinguishable red service light.
REVIEW & TESTS
- Top features
- warranty
- price
This is ideally the top choice because it has a worry-free commercial class 3-stage notification that consists of audible alarm protection, status LEDs and red service LED. Moreover, it is rated at 140,000 Amps.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
3. Leviton 51120-1 Whole House Surge Protector
This surge protector is best suited for protecting your home appliances from power surges. It also works for small commercial settings, protecting light devices from damages. However, you should note that it would not work, in case lightning strikes and causes power surges.
Nonetheless, you can still rely on it to work as expected indoors. You will need to check it manually as it has no audible alarm but a visual indicator that shows the suppression as well as the status of all the phases protected by it. It also has a green LED indicator light for showing whether it is active or not.
QUICK SUMMARY
Moreover, this unit is compatible with Decora Home Controls and comes with a 120/240 volt protector for panels. Besides, it complies with the 3rd Edition of the UL 1449 standards.
It has a 10-year limited warranty on the product and an estimated amount of coverage on the connected electronic equipment.
REVIEW & TESTS
- TOP FEATURES
- safety
- DURABILITY
We highly recommend this unit for your home use be it for office work or major home appliances, as it can easily safeguard the sensitive appliances from sudden voltage spikes and over-voltage.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
4. EATON CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Whole House Surge Protector
Are you looking for an affordable yet effective surge protector? Here is your best pick in this list. You can easily customize it for phone or cable protection. Either way, it allows for easy customization of what you need, saving you from spending money on what will not use.
This unit is a type 2 SPD usually installed in your home load center or any type of manufacturer breaker box. It is easy to install and features a UL 1449 3rd Edition, meaning it meets the safety and performance standards of UL. Likewise, it meets NEMA type 4 specifications for home use.
QUICK SUMMARY
Consequently, its two green indicator lights can be a bit dim especially when installing outside but if they are there, it means your unit is active. However, when these indicator lights go off then it is time to replace this residential and commercial surge protection device.
Besides, it is a 120/240V surge protection device, with a maximum surge current capacity of 108kA/Phase.
As for warranty, read on it as it covers the product for up to 10 years and to some extent the connected devices. So get well acquainted with the coverage details before you make your purchase.
REVIEW & TESTS
- INSTALLATION
- USABILITY
- WORKING
This surge guard has a quick connect design for easy installation as well as the mounting of cable and telephone protection modules.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
5. Square D SDSB80111 Whole House Surge Protector
This surge protector safeguards your entire home from high-energy power surges as well as low-energy repetitive surges by suppressing the surge from the power supply. It protects all home devices, even those not plugged in a surge plug strip.
Moreover, it features removable modules for cable, Ethernet, and telephones making it easier to install and customize. This level of flexibility is what makes it ideal for whole home residential use, you can just set-up what you need and leave the rest. The modules will just snap into place, but you will need a few screws for overall secure installation.
QUICK SUMMARY
It also takes care of other home appliances like your HVAC system, lighting, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dry as well as microwaves among others.
Therefore, rest assured that this unit can work. Do not be discouraged by its size, as it functions way better than some bulky and heavy SPD in the current market.
REVIEW & TESTS
- INSTALLATION
- SURGE SUPRESSION
- warranty
This is the ultimate power surge unit for those looking to save on installation space, as it is compact yet effective and useful in so many ways.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
Whole House Surge Protector Buying Guide - Things to Consider
Buying a whole house surge protector is no easy task, given the number of models in the current market. However, we have got you covered in this whole house surge protector reviews.
Here is how you can easily pick a quality surge protector for your home without compromising on price or value.
- Type– Get acquainted with different types of surge protectors before buying any model. You can choose any, depending on your need as well as knowledge of how each works.
A Power Strip surge protection can safeguard several devices simultaneously while a Point-of-Energy or whole house surge protector will guard your entire electrical system from external surges.
A Wall Mount surge protection has no cords and plugs directly into a power outlet, fitting snugly onto a wall. As with the uninterruptible power supplies system, your devices get a safe battery backup for continuous operation even after a power surge, cut or dip.
- Check for Number of Ports- Never assume that every surge protector has the same number of ports, some has six, and others have twelve. Therefore, buying one with the right number of ports is essential, to avoid daisy chaining of surge protectors.
- Consider Appliances You Want to Plug– Always buy the appropriate surge protector for your electric devices. You can always go for quality but your television will need a different kind of power protector that your lamp.
- Look Out for Certification– Make sure your power protector is UL certified and meets the UL 1449 standards, which is transient voltage surge suppressor. This way you can trust it to protect your equipment as stated.
- Check for Energy Absorption Rating and Clamping Voltage– The absorption rating is how much energy the surge protector can absorb before failing. Higher is always better, 6-700 joules or more is preferred. The clamping voltage is the voltage that triggers it to wake and start absorbing energy. It should be lower around 400volts or less.
- Response Time– This is time, in nanoseconds, the surge defender takes to activate. One nanoseconds or lower is better.
- Essential Features– There are essential features that top-quality whole house surge protector have like timers, LED indicator light, remote control for ease in operation, as well as GFCI protection for preventing electrical fires in case of a short circuit, and energy saving capabilities among others.
- Warranty- You should know what the warranty covers and what it does not. This is because some warranties cover the devices connected to the surge protector to an extent, in case it fails. Likewise, check on how you can file the claim in case it does not work as expected.
Is Whole House Surge Protection A Good Idea For Your Home?
There is no better way to protect your home from different kinds of power disruptions and surges than with a whole house surge protector. A surge protector is like insurance for your electrical appliances, you just have to pick a quality one for the job.
A power surge can be due to loads of reasons, from a faulty wiring, short circuits, tripped circuit breakers, downed lines due to natural calamities like wind, bad weather, lightning or accidents, malfunction caused by your power company, as well as high demand of electricity and problems with electrical devices and constant repairs.
The on and off cycling of major appliances throughout the day can also lead to power surges, thus degrading the circuitry system of your home appliances.
However, if you have a quality surge protector you can save loads of money on replacing damaged electronics due to power surges and constant spikes. Moreover, it will protect your electrical appliances, by preventing the frying of their inbuilt circuit boards. Besides, this device can also inhibit home hazards like electrical fires caused by the sparking of power spikes.
Therefore, a whole house surge protector is essential for every home, as the number of electrical devices you own keeps growing by the day. Besides, some of your personal electronic devices are likely to carry important and sensitive information that you would not want to lose in case of a power surge.
For this reason, it is better to safeguard them and stay protected with an excellent whole house surge protector, no matter the cost. As electronic replacements, are costly and data is usually irrecoverable in most cases.
DIY Guide: How to Install Whole House Surge Protectors?
If you are a fan of DIY, and always looking for challenging projects to do. You can add this to your list. It might not be an easy one for some, but you will learn a lot.
However, like all electrical DIY projects, you have to secure a permit and let your work be inspected by a professional electrician. This way you ensure that there is no risk to your home and its surroundings. Besides, everything should be as per the standards of the local electrical regulations.
Here is how you go about installing a surge protector for your home use.
Required Tools and Materials
- Cordless drill/driver
- A flat blade screwdriver
- Pliers
- Hammer
- Wire cutter/stripper
- Rigid ½-inch offset nipple with locknuts
- Double pole 15-amp circuit breaker
- Whole house surge protector
Preparation Stage of Installing a Surge Protector
- First, you need two blank spaces in your main panel, one on top of the other, to hook the Surge Protection Device, SPD. Likewise, you can use the already present two poles 240volts breaker, but only if rated two wires. You can always call the technical support line of the manufacturer of the breaker for verification.
- Alternatively, if the breakers are not graded for two wires and you have no blank space in your main panel. Then just buy a Surge Protection Device, (SPD) which installs right into the meter box.
- As much as there is a disconnection to the main breaker, there are still live wires that can kill you with just a touch. So know them very well and find a way to protect yourself from them before unscrewing the main panel.
- You should not be wearing any jewelry or rings during this DIY installation of a house surge protector.
Systematic Process of Installing a Surge Protector
- Secure Offset Nipple to Main Panel
Flip OFF the service disconnect, then place a cardboard protector inside the panel to prevent any contact with the still live wires. Remove two circuit breakers, directly below service disconnect. Then relocate them elsewhere within the panel, together with the others wires running into them.
Position Surge Protection Device, SPD net to the main panel near the two vacant spaces in the main panel. This way the wires can enter it. After which, you can connect the offset nipple to SPD, and to the main panel. Secure SPD to the wall with some screws.
- Connect Neutral and Ground Wires to Bus
Thread wires from SPD into the main panel. Then strip off ¾-inch of insulation from neutral/white wires and ground/green wires, before routing and securing them to nearest separate screw terminals on the neutral bus.
Make bends as steady as possible, keeping all wires green, white and black short.
- Cut Black Wires and Install
Mark two SPD black wires then cut to the required length and strip its insulation. After which, insert bare wires in the breaker screws and secure tightly.
- Install Telephone and Cable Surge Protections
Find service demarcation boxes outside your house, and run the lengths of your telephone wires to the in connectors on the telephone SPD line. Then connect house telephone lines to out terminals. Follow this same procedure when it comes to protecting your cable television lines from power surges.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you have to know some basics to SPD, Surge Protection Device before any purchase. Besides, there is never room for compromises when it comes to this device, as the best whole house surge protector is what works and delivers as expected. Others are just course to damages for your electrical appliances.
Therefore, if you want the best for the money, use this whole house surge protector review and buyer's guide for your own personal research. It is detailed and informative. You can never go wrong with an SPD if you follow this guide. Feel free to start with any of the above-listed products, if you want one ASAP.
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