Best Whole House Surge Protector 2019 Consumer Reports
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Before we consider the criteria and options for your ideal whole firm surge protector, we need to know what ability surges are and why you need a power surge protector. Wall sockets in the US provide 120 volts of electricity, while in the UK the standard system voltage is 240V. It's quite usual for voltage to rise and fall in a rhythm of peaks and lows simply well within a predetermined tolerance band. Correspondingly, appliances are designed to work at an input voltage of 110-120V in the U.s.a. and 220-240V in the UK.
A power surge occurs when something (lightning, power grid factors, power outages, and the on-and-off cycles of big appliances inside the home) causes a sudden fasten in the supply of electricity in the system. This spike increases the current flowing to wall sockets and into devices with voltages that far exceed the normal threshold.
Modern devices with control boards and sensitive electronics are most vulnerable to surges. Massive ability surges often lead to overheating and fire, and lest you think that smaller ones are prophylactic, well, yous're incorrect. Through repeated occurrences, they steadily wear down the circuitry in your appliances, impact their integrity, and shorten their lifespan.
That'due south the reason why you demand a power surge protector. It eliminates overvoltage by diverting it to the ground wire and by dissipating and arresting heat free energy. Non all ability surge protectors are created equal, though. Different types provide unlike levels of protection. The one we're interested in is the whole firm surge protector.
How does a whole house surge protector piece of work?
Yous're probably familiar with the Type 3 surge protector. It's that surge strip you employ to protect your calculator, TV, and other smart devices. It provides some level of protection to devices continued to it; thus, it'due south too called a point-of-use surge protector.
On the other mitt, a Type ii surge protector is a whole house surge protector. Information technology is also called a service entrance surge protector or suppressor because it is mounted on the primary service entrance panel. This type reduces unwanted voltage before it even enters your home. It protects all devices in the circuit, including lite and fixtures that you don't plug into sockets or surge strips.
We're non going to affect and so much on Type 1 surge protectors, but it's worth mentioning that at that place are three stages in the tiered approach to surge protection. Blazon ane is your home's first line of defense. It reduces overvoltage originating from the grid fifty-fifty before information technology reaches the service panel.
Features, markings, and ratings to look for when choosing the best whole house surge protector
At that place are features that you need to expect for and understand when shortlisting potential Type two surge protectors:
i. "UL Listed" mark or certification from other Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs)
UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. It ensures the safety and performance of products in their lists. A product listed under UL 1449 (3rd edition) means that it meets the UL standards for surge protection devices (SPDs). Other independent organizations that provide testing, regulation and certification for SPDs are MET Labs, CSA, and Intertek.
Tips: Examine the marks of accreditation.
- If it'south a UL marking, make sure it says "UL Listed" and non "UL Recognized Component."
- If the product yous're buying has a CSA mark, but y'all intend to utilise it in the Us, make sure that it is the CSA logo with "U.s." marker. This shows that CSA has certified its utilise in the United states of america. The aforementioned is true when buying a product bearing a UL mark with the intention of using the production in Canada. Look for the UL logo with "C" mark.
two. Maximum continuous operating voltage (MCOV)
MCOV is the maximum steady voltage that each fashion of the SPD can withstand without catching fire. Ideally, the MCOV must be xv-25% college than the nominal system voltage of all protection modes supported.
For instance, an SPD with a nominal voltage of 120V/240V must provide an MCOV of at least 138V (120V * 1.15) for line-to-neutral (L-Due north), neutral-to-ground (Due north-Chiliad), and line-to-ground (Fifty-Thou) protection modes, and an MCOV of at to the lowest degree 276V (240 * one.xv) for line-to-line (L-50) style.
4. Voltage protective rating (VPR)
VPR is too called clamping voltage, permit-through voltage, or suppression voltage rating. Information technology is the voltage that the SPD lets through to your devices whenever a surge event takes identify. You may also think nigh it as the voltage that volition trigger the SPD to start diverting or shunting a surge.
Tips:
– Compare the VPR of two (or more) SPDs on the same manner. For instance, SPD ane has a VPR of 400V for the 50-N mode, brand sure that you compare information technology with SPD two'due south VPR for the L-N manner also (not with L-One thousand, Due north-G, or L-50 modes).
– The lower the VPR, the better.
v. Maximum Surge Current Capacity (MSCC)
The MSCC, besides chosen surge rating, represents the maximum surge current (in kA) that the SPD can handle.
Annotation: The most commonly experienced surges are less than 10kA. And so why would yous spend more for an SPD with MSCC higher than ten-20kA if surges of loftier-magnitude are highly unlikely?
Here's why: The protective components of an SPD degrade with every surge that they meet and shunt. And then a college MSCC ways a longer lifespan for your surge protector.
The manufacturer may not always indicate the MSCC, and may but list the nominal belch current or l2. The I2 is the peak value of the current that the SPD can withstand and however be functional after xv impulses.
6. Curt Excursion Current Rating (SCCR)
This number represents the maximum level of curt-circuit current that a surge protector tin withstand and safely disconnect from.
7. Style of protection
A way is a potential path for diverting a surge. The SPD should offer protection for L-North and Northward-Thou modes at the minimum. Many SPDs now protect all 4 modes (including L-G and L-L).
8. Enclosure type
When installing outdoors, look for enclosures rated NEMA 3R, iv, or 4X. These are suitable for indoor or outdoor installation. Also, consider weather condition atmospheric condition and other factors in your environment.
9. Response time
Response fourth dimension is not always listed, but if you tin can discover it (usually from the manufacturer'southward website). Surges occur rapidly, ofttimes lasting for only a few microseconds, so your SPD has to be equally quick. Again, when comparing models, SPDs with shorter response times are ameliorate.
10. Energy rating
Energy adequacy (energy captivated or diverted), likewise called joule rating, is oftentimes provided only this is not as important as VPR, MCOV, and MSCC.
xi. Alarm or indicator low-cal
The indicator is usually a small LED light that shows whether your SPD is working or non. It tin too exist an warning that gives a long beep to betoken that the SPD has stopped working.
12. Warranty offered
Compare warranties for different products to run across what is covered. It will too be good to know how to file claims. For case, the fine print oft specifies conditions for claiming, e.g., the device has to exist installed by a technician, or you demand to accept a allow for installing. Don't be lured by a very attractive warranty if claiming for the coverage will be a problem for you.
Our Picks for the Top five best whole house surge protectors
We reviewed several SPDs and came upwardly with 5 products that impressed us. All 5 models are Type 2 SPDs per the UL 1449 3rd edition list.
Here are the products that made it to our top 5 best whole business firm surge protectors.
one. Siemens FS140 Whole Firm Surge Protection Device
ii. Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection
3. Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole Home Surge Protection Device
4. Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111
5. Leviton 51120-i Panel Protector
Comparing the Models
Our comparing focuses on the specs that we consider about critical, namely, MCOV, VPR, MSCC, SCCR, and modes of protection. Since these are technical and quantitative, we think that the best way to size upward the devices is to compare them side by side in tabulated form.
Specification Comparing of Whole House Surge Protectors
 |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Siemens FS140 | EATON CHSPT2ULTRA | Intermatic IG1240RC3 | Square D by Schneider Electric SDSB80111 | Leviton 51120-ane |
| MCOV | 150V for L-North 150V for N-Thou 150V for 50-Chiliad 300V for Fifty-L | 150V for L-N 150V for N-G 150 V for L-M 300V for 50-L | 150V for L-N 150 V for North-G 300V for L-G 300V for L-Fifty | 150V for L-N 300V for Due north-Yard 150V for L-G 300V for 50-Fifty | 150V for 50-N 300V for L-50 |
| VPR | 600V for L-N 600V for N-K 600V for 50-G 900V for L-50 | 600V for L-Due north 800V for N-Grand 600V for L-G 1000V for L-L | 700V for L-N 700V for N-Thou 1200V for L-K 1200V for 50-L | 600V for 50-N 1000V for Due north-G 700V for L-G 1000V for Fifty-L | 800V for L-Due north 1200V for L-L |
| MSCC | 140kA | 108kA (note: In = 20kA) | n = 20kA (note: MSCC not indicated) | 80kA (note: In = 10kA) | 50kA |
| SCCR | 100kA | 22kA | 100kA | 25kA | 10kA |
| Modes of protection | L-N, N-Yard, L-G, L-L | L-Northward, N-1000, L-G, Fifty-Fifty | L-N, N-Chiliad, L-Thousand, L-L | L-North, N-Grand, L-G, 50-Fifty | L-N, L-L |
| Amazon Reviews | Client Reviews | Customer Reviews | Customer Reviews | Customer Reviews | Client Reviews |
| Where to buy |
Equally a upshot of our assessment, we've already ranked the SPD models every bit they were listed (1 to 5) in a higher place. With the tabulated comparison, it's quite piece of cake to see how each fared.
MCOV: 1. Intermatic and Schneider, 2. Siemens and Eaton, iii. Leviton
The MCOV on the L-North and L-L modes are equal for the five models.
For the other modes (L-G, N-Chiliad), Intermatic and Schneider edged Siemens and Eaton. Nosotros also notation that Leviton's MCOV reflects its rating for the L-N and Fifty-L paths existence the only modes it protects, simply nosotros'll get into that shortly.
VPR: 1. Siemens, ii. Eaton, three. Schneider, iv. Intermatic, 5. Leviton
Siemens has the lowest VPR in all four modes which makes it our number 1 in this criterion. VPR should always be weighed with MSCC because it shows how capable the device is at enduring big surges (MSCC) and nevertheless still exist able to suppress overvoltage and let through a much lower voltage (VPR).
MSCC: one. Siemens, ii. Eaton and Intermatic, iii. Schneider, 4. Leviton
Siemens again leads with the highest MSCC at 140kA. Eaton is about 30% lower. Intermatic has a 20kA nominal belch current, so we rank it with Eaton. Though trailing behind among the v, we think Schneider and Leviton are still way ahead of most products in the market today.
SCCR: 1. Siemens and Intermatic, ii. Schneider, 3. Eaton, 4. Leviton
Highest SCCR comes from Siemens and Intermatic. The iii other models are far behind.
Modes of protection: 1. Siemens, Eaton, Intermatic, Schneider, 2. Leviton
The first iv models protect all modes. Leviton protects but two, clearly losing this round to the others.
Other factors to consider
Aside from the quantitative criteria, there are other specs that nosotros left for you to evaluate. What are these?
- Enclosure type – you're the best person to know where you're going to set up the device upwardly, whether indoor or outdoor.
- Warranties – every bit we take stated above, find out first what the fine print says.
- Response time – we've left this out of the equation because not all manufacturers publish this detail. The industry has yet to come up with standards for testing procedures and pass/fail criteria for response time. Suffice it to say that SPDs are designed to reply within a few nanoseconds of a surge.
- Notification – all models reviewed have a notification feature, and it's upward to you lot to determine which one you prefer.
- Dimensions – find out how the device fits in or on your console.
We've provided those details and filled them in the table below to make it easier for you.
Feature Comparing of Whole Firm Surge Protectors
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Siemens FS140 | EATON CHSPT2ULTRA | Intermatic IG1240RC3 | Foursquare D past Schneider Electric SDSB80111 | Leviton 51120-ane |
| Enclosure type, per NEMA standards | Type 4X (indoor/ outdoor) | Type 4 (indoor/ outdoor) | Type 3R plastic (indoor/ outdoor) | NEMA rating is not indicated but per our assessment, it is for indoor use | Type 1 (indoor) |
| Dimension | 8.25" x iii.62" 10 3" | ii.38" x 5.25" 10 7.5" | 6.49″ x eight.29″ ten 7.99″ | 4.32" x 10.87" x 2.92" | 10.ii" x 8.6" x half-dozen.9" |
| Warranty | 10-twelvemonth limited warranty on production and continued equipment $25k max coverage | Limited lifetime 75k max coverage | one-twelvemonth production warranty | 5-yr warranty, $75k downstream equipment protection | 10-yr limited lifetime product warranty $25k max on connected equipment |
| Response time | less than i nanosecond | Not indicated | Not indicated | Not indicated | Not indicated |
| Notification | Beep - Continuous green LED shows protection condition; flashing ruddy LED notifies you when service is needed | LED protection status indicator | LED protection condition indicator | 2 green LEDs - one indicates protection status, and the other notifies you when replacement is due | LED protection status indicator |
| Annotate | Top of the line. Works with any brand of unmarried-stage panel. | Inexpensive. Piece of cake to install. | Cheap. Easy to install. Compact. | Easy to install. Customizable installation of removable modules for cable, Ethernet, and telephone. Meaty and sleek look. | Only ii modes of protection. Expensive. |
| Amazon Reviews | Customer Reviews | Customer Reviews | Customer Reviews | Customer Reviews | Customer Reviews |
| Where to purchase |
Final thoughts
We've created a complete guide for whole house protection using Type ii SPDs. It is designed for surges inbound the service panel from the chief and for those generated within the house. For this to be truly "whole business firm" protection though, you must realize that a Type 2 surge protective device alone is not enough.
You lot need to implement a cascading level of defense against surges. Type 1 is your home'south first line of defense force against a power surge from the grid. Type 2 is responsible for surges that get through Blazon 1 and those generated within your home by appliances. Information technology also protects lights and equipment that cannot exist connected to surge strips. Speaking of surge strips, these are your third line of defence or Type 3 protective devices which safeguard appliances at the point of use.
Finding the right whole house surge protector is an of import decision. We hope we were able to assistance you brand your choice a whole lot easier.
Source: https://www.consumermentor.com/best-whole-house-surge-protector/
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