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Whole House Surge Protector – Have you ever stopped to think how much of your daily work is dependent on electricity? From the geyser in the washroom to the microwave oven in the kitchen, you use electricity and electric appliances. Can you imagine a single evening without the tube light or a single summer day without the ceiling fan?
Naturally, wherever there is electricity, there is a possibility of a voltage spike or voltage fluctuation. And continuous, not- monitored voltage fluctuation would mean damage to your electrical appliance. We wouldn’t want that, would we? A surge protector is exclusively meant to prevent such a situation.
A surge protector alternatively called a spike suppressor or surge suppressor is a specially designed appliance or device. It is meant to protect electrical appliances from sudden voltage spikes.
A spike is known to be a transient event, lasting for up to thirty microseconds. However, spikes are generally of the very high voltage value. So a few seconds are enough to cause intense damage to the electric appliance. For example, switching off a motor can give rise to a voltage spike of 1000 volts. Spikes can in fact happen on data and telephone lines. This is when the alternating current (AC) lines connect to the data line or because of lighting. (yes they can happen that easily.
If these voltage spikes are ignored and the appliances left unprotected over a long duration, fuses and overvoltage relays might be unable to handle them and cause the appliance to break down. A surge protector evens out or blocks these voltage surges by using inductors. They inhibit to a large extent, sudden changes in current.
By now you must have realized how important it is to have surge protectors for your electrical appliances at home. They come in different types and you will need to choose the best whole house surge protector that suits your domestic needs. In this article, we have covered the different types of surge protectors. We also have for you, an overview of the best whole house surge protector for 2021.
Why do you need a surge protector?
Even if it is not common in your region, you must definitely have heard of a voltage fluctuation or a voltage spike. In case of a voltage spike, more Current flows through an electric circuit than is safely permissible. If more current is provided to an electrical appliance than it can handle, it can be damaged temporarily, or even permanently.
A surge protector acts as a mediator. Whenever there is a voltage spike in the circuit due to a lightning event or any other fault in the circuit, the protector absorbs the spike. They contain a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV). The damage that would have been caused to the electrical appliance is now transferred to the surge protector. The surge protector works by blocking any electricity above the safe threshold that passes through the circuit, which is usually above 120V. Over time, the MOV degrades until it is reduced to just a basic power strip. However, it does work efficiently.
Regardless of whether your area lies in a frequent lightning region or not, you can never be too careful about a voltage spike. They can happen at any time, unexpected, and a huge enough lightning spike will be successful in destroying any costly piece of electronic equipment. As you increase the use of electronic devices in your life, it is imperative to increase their protection too.
Thus you need a whole house surge protector to protect all the electronic devices from sudden voltage spikes and fluctuations in your domestic space. Whether or not you live in an area that is subject to frequent lightning or frequent voltage spikes, precaution is better than cure. It is always a wise and safe idea to incorporate a surge protector in your household circuit in anticipation of a voltage spike and consequent damage.
Whole House Surge Protector – Buying Guide
House surge protectors protect electrical equipment from spikes in voltage. They cover the whole house by limiting the voltage that can enter an electrical appliance. It does this by simply blocking the current or shorting the excess current to the ground. Surge protectors are very different from extension leads, plugs, or towers, which only protect parts of the house.
There are various reasons for a surge in voltage. They can happen anytime, and you must always prepare yourself. Hence, protect your house using the best whole house surge protector for 2021 and avoid expensive repairs later on. Prevention is still better than cure and added expenses.
It would help if you considered the following factors before purchasing a whole house surge protector.
NEMA Enclosure Type
NEMA is the abbreviation for National Electrical Manufacturers Association, responsible for providing a set of regulations and standards concerning electrical devices. Many whole house surge protectors are of NEMA type. They can also be of different types depending on whether they protect against dust, oil, water, etc. So while installing the surge protector, make sure that the enclosure suits the location.
UL Certification
Whole house surge protectors should always be UL certified. UL stands for the (formerly) Underwriters Laboratory. UL has been certified to perform security screenings by OSHA. OSHA is a US federal company and is the abbreviated form of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It provides the list of testing laboratories that are Nationally Recognised Testing Laboratories.
Although various regulations exist, UL 1449 3rd Edition is the highly recommended set of safety standards for SPDs (surge protective devices). Your whole house surge protector should be UL 1449. The UL certification is mentioned on the SPD itself, but you must contact the manufacturer before installing it if it’s not.
Maximum Surge Current Capacity (MSCC)
Maximum Surge Current Capacity is a rating used to represent the maximum surge current that can flow through an SPD safely, without any external damage. Not all SPD devices state the MSCC rating, but we advise you to check it once. Commonly, nominal discharge current ratings are written on the SPD devices instead of MSCC.
Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage (MCOV)
You should not confuse MSCC with MCOV. MCOV stands for Maximum Current Operating Voltage. It is also a standard rating, which means the maximum steady voltage is applied safely on a mode of SPD. The voltage should always be according to the MCOV rating because if it is higher than the mentioned one, it can lead to electrical fires.
Clamping Voltage
Clamping voltage is the quantity of voltage that can pass through an SPD before the SPD clamps or limits the passing of more voltage to the electrical device it is protecting. A whole-house surge protector, for example, restricts a 6000 V surge. Then only a load of 600 V will be visible to the device. Then the clamping voltage is 6000 V. Clamping voltage can sometimes be too expensive. In this case, the surge protector lets in more voltage than the specified value, which breaks it.
The clamping voltage should not exceed the operating voltage of your device. So remember this point while looking for the best whole house surge protectors. Or you can purchase devices with clamping voltage less than 700 V to be on the safer side.
Diagnostic LEDs
We use diagnostic LEDs to check if the whole house surge protectors are working correctly. During purchase, make sure that the diagnostic LEDs come along with the whole house surge protectors. They will help to check the power, protection, and line fault status of the SPDs.
EMI/ RFI Noise Filtering
EMI and RFI are very different technical terms but can be treated the same in whole house surge protectors. EMI is Electromagnetic Interference, whereas RFI is Radio Frequency Interference.
Filters allow only particular frequencies to pass through while restricting others. For this, we use low pass filters, high pass filters, or bandpass filters. They serve the purpose of transferring the required EMI/ RFI emissions to the gadget that the SPDs are protecting. These emissions do not interfere with the gadget’s working and frequencies.
EMI/ RFI serves the purpose of noise filtering. When they reach the whole house surge protectors, they remove electromagnetic or radio frequencies that might interfere with the device. So always select SPDs with EMI/ RFI emissions.
Desirable features and functions in Surge Protector Devices (SPDs)
These are some of the features and functions of whole house surge protectors that are found in different types of devices.
These are some of the features and functions of whole house surge protectors found in different types of devices.
- Automatic power shut off
The automatic power shut-off feature is only found in a few models in the market and can be highly beneficial. When the voltage or current exceeds the maximum surge protection capacity, it damages the SPD. Then this function shuts off the power to all the outlets in your home. This function preserves all the electronic devices that you connected to outlets. But it will also shut down the wireless or broadband routers, which can be a disadvantage.
- Inbuilt diagnostics capacities
The best whole house surge protector models come with inbuilt diagnostic LEDs. It helps understand the right way to ground wires, connect gadgets, check the availability of outlets, etc. The diagnostic LED must meet all your requirements. So purchase SPD after cross-checking for them.
- Eliminating phantom load
Phantom load is nothing more than standby power. It uses up electric energy if the devices are not in use. It is a kind of electric leakage. All house surge protectors with power-saving options protect the appliance by automatically stopping power flowing from your device by turning off the master outlet.
- Inbuilt safety covers
Whole house surge protectors must come with safety covers to protect the children of your house. Children are curious beings and can poke their fingers in the device if it is within easy reach. It may cause electric shocks or even something more severe.
- Selection of wattage
People who work with multiple devices simultaneously, like desktop, laptop, peripheral devices, must look into this feature before purchasing the best whole house surge protector for 2021. It provides a network switch and the selection of wattage that a particular device requires.
Price and warranties
The best whole house surge protectors are handy devices as they protect your house from electrical fire and damages. It keeps the electronic gadgets safe from sudden voltage and current jumps. Hence it would be best if you purchased premium surge protectors with the top features and functions. T is justifiable to spend a little extra on them.
Also, look into the warranties offered with the best whole house surge protection devices and adequately go through the terms and conditions. Some companies mentioned in the small print that the warranties are only viable if the SPD was installed by a professional. So be careful while going through the small print as well.
Value
The overall value of the best whole house surge protector for 2021 should be high. You must try to get value-for-money products. It must also fit your budget and provide the maximum number of features possible.
9 Best Whole House Surge Protector with Reviews
#1 Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole Home Type-1 or 2 Surge Protection Device
| Product dimensions | 6.5 x 8.3 x 8 inches |
| Protection Rating (V) | L-L, L-G 1200; L-N, N-G 700 |
| AC Outlet | – |
| Product color | Grey |
| LED Light Indicator | Present |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
The Intermatic Whole house surge protector is one of the best whole house surge protectors in the market, with fantastic customer reviews. The Intermatic IG series is advanced and modern and gives your house the utmost protection and safety. The wide array of features included in the design of the device make it a beneficial product.
Specially designed for various applications, the product is durable and reliable. In any adverse situation which might damage your power line, the surge protector will divert it through your home’s grounding path. The Intermatic surge protector guarantees safety and security to satisfy all your needs.
The Surge Protection device gives you a higher capacity to handle sudden spikes of surge energy when compared to standard plug-in strips. The modern design featured in the product allows for high-performance and security features. The Intermatic whole house surge protector is specially designed for 120/240 volt single or (split-phase) panels at an affordable price.
The best whole house surge protector of 2021, the product is a safeguard against all power problems. With up to six different surge protection modes, you can expect the best results and guaranteed safety with the Intermatic surge protector. Easy to install and use, the protector makes a good investment.
With a green LED indicator present in the machine, you can view the status of surge protection. The advanced property set of the device makes it a convenient and comfortable choice for power safeguard! With its robust capacity, the product will protect you and your house against any sudden power spikes or irregular surges.
Pros-
- The best whole house surge protector in the market comes at an affordable price, with various properties to handle surge protection and power spikes.
- The Intermatic IG1240RC3 surge protector also features a green LED indicator to show you surge protection status.
- With the TPMOV surge protection technology, the product has a high capacity to handle surge energy, based on its close location to the service ground.
- You can use the surge protector for various applications. It includes a robust and durable design, with helpful 1 and 2 type surge protection.
- The device’s ideal built allows it to control irregular power spikes and makes it easy to install and use.
- The Type 3R rainproof enclosure of the surge protector allows for both indoor and outdoor purposes in plastic.
- The Intermatic whole house surge protector is a durable product with excellent customer satisfaction and reviews.
Cons-
- The installation process needs to be read carefully before installing the surge protector.
#2 Leviton 51120-1 120/240 Volt Panel Protector
| Leviton 51120-1 120/240 Volt Panel Protector | |
| Product dimensions | – |
| Protection Rating (V) | – |
| AC Outlet | – |
| Product color | Grey |
| LED Light Indicator | Present |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8 out of 5 |
An ideal choice for a powerful yet durable surge protector, the Leviton panel protector flaunts advanced features. The comprehensive property set included in the machine makes it a beneficial and robust product. You can expect nothing less than the best safety with the panel protector with a reasonable price range.
The product diverts sudden spiked voltage or surges away from your house or electrical equipment. With single-phase applications, the surge protector is a vital safeguard against sudden and dangerous power surges that may damage sensitive electronic equipment. With surge protection as a severe problem for houses, you can expect guaranteed security with the Leviton panel protector.
The real-time visual indicator featured in the product gives you useful insights to show power and suppression status for the protected stage. With full support and compliance with the 3rd edition of the UL 1449 standard, the product is one of the best surge protectors of 2021 available in the market.
The Leviton Panel Protector can be used for a wide variety of applications, and it can satisfy all your needs. With durability and longevity as a benefit, the product gives you the best surge protection against power spikes to protect devices such as computers, televisions, and much more. The surge panel is specially designed to provide you with a high capacity to handle surges and spikes.
With an easy-to-use and install design, the built of the protector is robust. The device comes enclosed in a J-Box metal NEMA 1. This excellent property allows you to access connections to existing branch panels. With full compatibility with Leviton Decora home controls, the product features a modern structure and design.
Pros-
- Leviton’s Surge protection device can be used individually or as part of a coordinated home application system. Compatible with Leviton’s Decora home controls, you can protect all your home applications as a sole unit.
- With excellent quality and durability, the best whole house surge protector of 2021 comes with an additional warranty in the unlikely case of your dissatisfaction.
- Leviton’s panel protector promises safeguard against high-energy transients and power spikes.
- With a 4-mode protection benefit, the product features a real-time visual indicator that displays power and suppression status during the protected phase.
- The outstanding features flaunted in the device allow the diversion of power from sensitive electronic equipment.
- The 120/240 Volt Panel Protector comes in a J-Box metal NEMA 1 enclosure, supported by an affordable price and limited lifetime warranty.
Cons-
- The product is specially designed for indoor use exclusively.
#3 Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Protective Device
| Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device | |
| Product dimensions | 2.67 x 3.75 x 3.6 inches |
| Protection Rating (V) | – |
| H AC Outlet | – |
| Product color | Grey |
| LED Light Indicator | Present |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
Another fantastic house surge protector, the Square D home electronics protective device, comes with modern benefits and features. Affordably priced, the surge protector can be used for various applications. It is an excellent product to help you safeguard against any sudden power surges or voltage spikes.
It protects all appliances and electronic devices like computers, LED televisions, and more from sudden power surges. With a wide range of accessible features and applications, the protector does not fall short of anything. It includes a modern and comprehensive feature set that promotes ease of use and convenience. The device is durable, beneficial, and features excellent customer satisfaction.
The surge protector controls high voltage transients, and sudden power surges well. Though power spikes are common in our electrical systems, they can be fatal and harmful. Hence, to give you a vital safeguard against any adverse effects of surges, this product flaunts an excellent build quality and robust design.
The product gives you a surge of depression at residential load centers to help you suppress waves that might overwhelm your electrical appliances. It provides additional protection for devices, including dryers, refrigerators, stoves, and more, which plug-in strips cannot protect.
Powered by an 80kA surge rating, the product has a high capacity to control power spikes and help in surge depressions in the best way. Each metal-oxide varistor (MOV) featured in the product is individually fused with thermal and overcurrent fusing for the most robust protection.
Pros-
- The product is affordable, durable, and secure. With modern features and advancements, it flaunts excellent technology and design to suit all your requirements.
- The best surge protector of 2021, the Square D HEPD uses high energy suppression circuitry to control surge power and voltage transients actively.
- It protects all your electrical appliances in the best way possible. The surge protector also safeguards against devices that are not well covered with standard plug-in strips.
- With a NEMA 4X rating for indoor and outdoor use, you can utilize the product for many different applications and uses.
- The LED indicator in the product further shows you the status of surge depression and control, allowing ease of use and convenience.
- With an 80000 -amp surge current rating and 25000 -amp SCCR, the product is versatile, and it is compatible with any brand of residential load centers.
Cons-
- The LED indicator features a dim light.
#4 Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector
| Dimension | 2.92 x 5.39 x 11.69 inches |
| Protection Rating | 5 |
| AC Outlet | — |
| Colour | Other |
| Led Indicator | Yes |
| Amazon Rating | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
The Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone, and Ethernet Protection device will protect your entire house from high-voltage so that it can not damage your electrical products. As we all have sensitive electronic products in our homes, we need to protect ourselves from one thing: high-voltage.
If there is high-voltage, then it will be going to damage modular technology. That is why it’s essential to install Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone Ethernet Protection device in our electrical panel, which will be going to help in protecting our devices from any electrical power surge.
This Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone, and Ethernet Protection device is completely designed to control a high-voltage transit that is common in an electrical system. It can also control the more extensive and small voltage transit that might damage electrical equipment instantly. This works as a barrier between the main power supply that is going into your end control so that there will be no voltage fluctuation that can damage your electrical system.
You can easily use this device because it is an advanced appliance protection system that will protect every electrical wiring, expensive LED, CFL, home entertainment system etc., by providing it the right amount of electrical voltage.
Like every other device, it also has some pros and cons. However, the pros are usually less in comparison with the cons. The Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone, and Ethernet Protection device will enhance the life expectancy of expensive electronic appliances.
Pros:
- The device is straightforward to install anyone can install it with the use few screws and module snap into the place.
- It will save a lot of space due to its compact and minimal design.
- It is extended protection that will protect your electrical appliances from any voltage surge that can affect your appliances like lighting cable, ethernet, telephone, television, refrigerator, microwave or anything else.
- It has application flexibility by which you can easily remove the model and allow it quick and easy installation with customization.
- The Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone, and Ethernet Protection device will provide you maximum surge suppression, including long-lasting protection against the powerful surge.
- The Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone, and Ethernet Protection device comes five years complete warranty.
Cons:
- Some of Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 Surgebreaker Plus Whole House Surge Protector, 120/240-volt with Cable, Telephone, and Ethernet Protection device module, are hard find other than finding its equipment.
Check out our collection of angle grinder as well.
#5 Siemens TPS3A03050 120/240 Type 1 Split Phase Surge Protective Device
| Dimension | 3.25 x 3.25 x 3.3 inches |
| Protection Rating | — |
| AC Outlet | — |
| Colour | — |
| Led Indicator | Yes |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
To protect your home’s electrical appliances and sensitive electronic equipment, you need to stop the high-voltage before it enters your home. The Siemens TPS3A03050 120/240 Type 1 Split Phase Surge Protective Device Lightning Arrester Replacement device can split-phase surge and restore replacement for the secondary surge.
As our homes are equipped with electronic appliances that are always connected with electric supply, it’s essential to protect them from high-voltage damage. And to protect from high-voltage damage, it requires a surge protection device. The Siemens TPS3A03050 120/240 Type 1 Split Phase Surge Protective Device Lightning Arrester Replacement device is one of the most compact search protective devices out there, which will work at low voltage surge also with lighting arrester. This surge protector was specially designed to protect the sensitive electronic device from voltage spikes.
This device re-routes the extra energy which came into your house with the help of a pressure-sensitive valve. This way, you can easily save all your sensitive electronic products and equipment from any surge damage. Sometimes it’s essential to control the voltage to be protected from any surge damage.
Nowadays, most of us have major electronic products in our lives for daily use like dishwashers, garage doors, refrigerators, electric stoves, and much more. And in case any high-voltage enters your home, it needs to be controlled; otherwise, it will damage the products. That’s why this Siemens TPS3A03050 120/240 Type 1 Split Phase Surge Protective Device Lightning Arrester Replacement device is one of the most useful devices to help prevent your equipment from burning.
Pros:
- The Siemens TPS3A03050 120/240 Type 1 Split Phase Surge Protective Device Lightning Arrester Replacement device can be easily mounted in an external electrical distribution channel.
- It is a recommended device for line and sideline applications to save from any voltage damage.
- It is a low-voltage surge protecting device with a lighting assister.
- It is effortless to install. Also, it can easily be mounted in any position.
- The overall product is made from high-quality material that is being used to separate the current feeding.
- It comes with standard monitoring LED indicator, which will indicate whether a home is fully protected or not. Its green light will be blink when it is fully protected.
Cons:
The mount of the Siemens TPS3A03050 120/240 Type 1 Split Phase Surge Protective Device Lightning Arrester Replacement device does not come with a versatile angle. That is why you need to buy an extra mount.
#6 Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection
| Dimension | 10 x 6 x 4 inches |
| Protection Rating | 5 |
| AC Outlet | — |
| Colour | Other |
| Led Indicator | Yes |
| Amazon Rating | 4.0 out of 5 stars |
Nowadays, our home is filled with a lot of smart electric appliances. And that is why we need to protect these electrical appliances from high voltage damage. For that, we need a search protection device. Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection device is one of the best as it ensures your house appliances remain protected from any voltage spikes.
This product is specially designed to protect your electrical home alliances from voltage spikes. The overall built of this device is made from high-quality materials. The Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection will limit the voltage supply to all the home appliances by blocking unwanted voltage, which is above the safety level as our homes are now equipped with smart devices that are always connected to electricity all time. That’s why it’s essential to use this surge protector to save your electronic device from any voltage damage.
You can install this search protective device on your electrical panel, and this will stop surges before they get into your home. This device has a robust build quality that will protect your home appliances from any high-voltage strike. It can also notify you immediately if the unit needs to be replaced. And it is the first in a class device that has an LED notification light. The device comes with three protection levels it has 60,000 Amps of protector, 100000 Amps protector, and 1,40,000 Amps protector.
Most of the damage in the house appliances enters through the home power cable or telephone line. However, it’s essential to have a kind of electrical system protection that will help protect the electronic devices installed in your house. This Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection device will be going to help you with that.
Pros:
- With this Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection device, you will get three-stage protection.
- It also has a commercial-grade notification for home and commercial applications.
- It is compatible with all the load centers.
- The device can be installed in the inside load center very quickly.
- It will offer three protection levels from electric systems from 60,000 Amps, 100,000 Amps, and 1,40,000 Amps.
- The Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection device comes with ten years limited product warranty, and the connected equipment also has a product warranty policy.
Cons:
- This electrical component degrades fast over time.
#7 EATON CHSPT2ULTRA ULTIMATE SURGE PROTECTION 3RD EDITION
| Dimension | 2.38 x 5.25 x 7.5 inches |
| Protection Rating | 600V L-N, 1000V L-L, 800V N-G, 600V L-G |
| AC Outlet | 120.00 volts
|
| Color | Other |
| Led Indicator | Yes |
| Amazon Rating | 4.8/5.0 |
Honestly, we can all agree that our homes are the safest place in the world, wherever we go the only place we think is about our home. But with the increasing cases of power failures and fluctuation in the electric flow especially in metropolitan cities had made our home a ticking bomb for our families as modern homes are hot wire to keep it updated with the modern home appliances,
All we need our home and families to be safe and secure. We opt and go for electricity solutions that will help us in keeping the house safe, when we think about it Eaton’s ultimate surge protection comes to our mind as they are the best in the world in these solutions to keep our homes safe.
Eaton Ultimate Surge Protection is a Type 2 AC Power protection. Indoor/Outdoor.120/240V Surge Protective Device. 108kA/Phase, UL 1449, which can be universally connected to any manufacture’s load center (breaker box), which is very useful for anyone to use in general, and it has a quick-connect design which makes it easy to mount telephone and cable protection modules. It has a led indicator which helps to understand that it is working fine.
The best thing which makes it more value for money as it comes with a lifetime warranty and the industry’s best Connected Equipment Warranty per the product warranty policy.
Pros-
- It comes with 108kA which is far more than the normal MSCC requirement, so it can handle more surge than other competitors product
- It comes with 22ka SCCR, which keep the house safe from short circuits which is far above other products in the market
- As it has NEMA Enclosure Type 4, which made it resistant to water and dirt, and makes it the most useful product for outdoor and indoor.
- It has the best voltage protection rating in the market.
- It is very compact.
- It comes with four different modes of protection.
- It comes with a lifetime warranty.
Cons-
- The product can’t be installed without the help of a certified electrician.
- For full benefits, you have to buy a phone and cable add-on modules
#8 6 Outlet Swivel Wall Tap Surge Protector Power Strip
| Dimension | 6.81 x 4.72 x 2.95 inches |
| Protection Rating | NA |
| AC Outlet | 1500 Joules
|
| Color | 6AC/2U/white&gray |
| Led Indicator | Yes |
| Amazon Rating | 4.6/5.0 |
All we need is connected to our devices and juice them up fully to never stop in the fast-moving world, just imagine we are chilling in our room watching a movie on our laptop and writing a mail to your office client and suddenly both of the devices need a charge and you’re in the middle of the climax, and there’s only a single socket, you can’t stop both, and you stuck.
The solution to this kind of multi-task we need multiple ports in our wall trap and a perfect solution to it would be the outlet swivel wall tap surge protector power strip comes in handy. It has two multi-functioning USB ports, three fixed and three swiveling ac outlets.
The two USB ports are high-speed 3.1 USB ports which are helpful to connect wireless chargers as the output won’t slow down the charging speed of the charger. The portable and light come very handily especially when you are traveling or going out on a business tour.
The three fixed and three swiveling AC outlets come with surge protection and two LED surge protection lights red and green to know the output is safe for the electronic devices and any power fluctuation won’t harm any of the devices or cause an electric accident in your home or workplace.
Pro-
- It is very compact and handy to take minimal place in your bag while traveling or taking it for your office use.
- They have high speed 3.1 USB ports, which comes very handy in charging the devices
- The 1500 Joule wall mount surge protector covers any single charging port to a powerful charging station.
- It has an ETL/CETL Certified 12 months warranty.
- EMI/RFI line noise filtering makes the connected devices perform at a peak.
- It can easily stand or stick up with the wall.
CONS-
- It doesn’t come with mounting screws as other brands provide.
- You have to adjust small furniture if it is coming between the swiveling AC outputs as it’s outward.
#9 Square D by Schneider Electric QO250PSPD QO Plug-On Neutral Whole House Surge Protective Device
| Dimension | 7.5 x 5 x 3.3 inches |
| Protection Rating | NA |
| AC Outlet | 120/240 vac |
| Color | Other |
| Led Indicator | Yes |
| Amazon Rating | 4.6/5.0 |
Imagine you have just built a new home, but after moving into your new home you found out the area has many electric surge cases and power failure. Now, these kinds of surges shorten up the life span of your electronic home appliances and the smart appliance or destroy it, you can’t afford to change appliances quickly and a threat to your family’s life.
According to a survey it is estimated, that modern households have up to $20,000 worth of electronics and experience up to 100 surges per month which decade and destroy the life span and sometimes the appliances.
Here, comes the best solution you can ever find everywhere in the world, The Square D by Schneider Electric QO250PSPD QO Plug-On Neutral Whole House Surge
Protective Device, the best in protecting homes from surges in the market. It is a compact and most value-for-money surge suppressor, which is designed for installation into QO Plug-on neutral residential load centers and CSEDS. The device protects your household and household equipment to get damaged.
It is the best in the world as it not only protects important items it also provides surge suppression to plug strips that are not provided by any other brand in the market. It comes with 5 years of warranty / $50,000 connected equipment coverage warranty provided by the company Square D.
Pros.
- The device can handle 50,000amp electric current capacity with ease which is far
- higher than usual which are available in the market around the globe
- It has the same size as a 2-pole breaker, which is very compact and light.
- It is pocket-friendly and affordable.
- It has MOVs that act like magnets and protect against high amps and high voltage.
- It doesn’t require any kind of extra wiring it is easy to install, just plug-in and you are good to go.
- It handles important and plugs strip devices like air dryers, washing machines, with ease, which many other brands don’t provide.
CONS-
- It won’t work if your panel is not having PoN.
- It does not have the white pigtail, for the standard Square D QO panel.
Types of whole house surge protectors
Whole house surge protectors are also of various types, with each type having its own set of functions.
Type 1 SPD
A Type 1 SPD is used to protect your house and gadgets from lightning or problems caused directly by the power company. It defends your home from all power surges that are straight from the grid. It uses a spark gap technology and discharges a current in a waveform of 10/350 microseconds. You must install Type 1 SPD at the entrance of your house. Make sure to put it on the “line side,” which lies between your apartment’s power meter and the utility pole.
The power company has to directly install the Type 1 SPD, which can be a disadvantage. They shut off the service panel before proceeding further.
Type 2 SPD
Type 2 SPD is the most commonly used whole house surge protector and is also called the panel protector. It protects all the circuits, along with the sub panels of your house. It works on the MOV (metal oxide varistor) technology and has an 8/20 microseconds current wave. So you need to install it at the break panel. It then branches the power to the house’s various service panels, as it is directly connected to a dual-pole breaker.
Type 3 SPD
Type 3 SPD is used in addition to the already installed Type 1 or Type 2 SPD to provide extra protection, as they have low discharge capacity. You must install them all around the house at the points of use. It plugs directly into the power outlet, which gives you the chance to plug in your electronics in the SPD itself. It provides maximum safety from sudden power surges. Type 3 SPDs have combined waves of voltage (1.2/50 microseconds) and current (8/20 microseconds). They are inexpensive and prevent damage to your devices or home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1 Where should Surge protectors be installed?
Surge protectors are meant to protect all the electrical appliances in your home. Any electrical appliance might face a voltage spike at any given time, so your ideal surge protector will cover all the electronic devices that you use at home. Thus, if you go for a whole house surge protector (that is recommended) it will be installed at the main panel or meter at your house.
Q2 We have never experienced damage to electronic appliances due to voltage spikes. Why should we use a surge protector?
You can never really be sure about a voltage spike. A voltage spike can happen at any time, because of lightning, or because of any fault in the circuit, or otherwise. Often some voltage spikes are small enough not to be noticed and they cause damage over a long time. Thus, it would be wise and safe to use a whole house surge protector to be ready for any kind of voltage spike.
Q3 Will a surge protector help to reduce my electricity bills?
Unfortunately no. Surge protectors are not designed to be energy-saving devices. They are meant to be used as insurance to electrical appliances against damage from voltage spikes, by evening them out. That is the only function they perform. However, a good surge protector from a trusted company will protect your electrical appliances for quite a long time, so that is a huge plus point to be considered. So, even though surge protectors have no direct relation to your electricity bills, they are a wise option to opt for.
Q4 Will whole house surge protection be very expensive to cover?
Actually, no. There are different types of surge protection devices available in the market in different price ranges. You can choose the best whole house surge protector that will fit into your budget and at the same time, fulfill your domestic requirements. Especially in areas with frequency lighting, voltage spikes are very common and can happen almost every day, causing extensive damage to domestic electrical appliances. When you compare the cost to your electronic devices because of voltage spikes to the cost of surge protection, you will realize that it is actually very economic.
Q5 How long can I use one surge protector?
The better quality surge protector that you purchase, the longer it works and lesser the expensive equipment you have to buy. The lifespan of a surge protector also depends upon the amount of voltage spike it is absorbing. This will vary from place to place and from household to household. You can also not understand for sure when your surge protector has degraded and has turned into just a basic power strip. However, on average, for all areas, changing the surge protector once every two years is a good idea. A good surge protector will have the capacity to endure for at least two years.
However, if you have a feeling that your surge protector is taking a bigger hit than usual, you can change it more frequently too.
Conclusion
Over the course of time, we have come to realize that electricity has become an indispensable part of our lives. At the same time, we must recognize that no matter how useful, electricity is definitely a dangerous source of energy. Any kind of misstep or fault when it comes to electricity or electrical appliances can cause huge damage. Just a voltage spike can be enough sometimes to destroy a very costly electrical device.
Thus we need to be very conscious about protecting the appliances that use electricity in our domestic spaces. As established, surge protectors are the best and most economical ways to do so. In the article, we have discussed the best whole house surge protectors available in the market now. We have also discussed the various types of surge protectors, their attributes, prices, and differences. Finally, we have also provided you with a description of the best whole house surge protector for 2021.
Now, it is up to you to use the buyer’s guide, which is an extensive guide, to select the surge protector that works best for you. Surge protectors can definitely be seen as a blessing, especially in heavy lighting areas. They protect our electrical appliances from causes we cannot physically protect them from.
