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5 Tips For Buying A Whole House Surge Protector

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What Is A Whole House Surge Protector

If you are unsure exactly what a whole house surge protector does, it protects your home from electrical surges caused by external factors, such as lightning strikes and power outages. It is sometimes called a service entrance surge protector and can be of two varieties: a transient voltage surge suppressor or a secondary surge arrestor. The TVSS is connected to the main breaker board on the side of your internal wiring, while the SDSA is connected to the breaker box on the utility side. Both of them accomplish the same goal but are completely different in how they are tested and thus rated. We're going to look at some things to look for when purchasing either one.

Contents at a Glance

Tip 1: Choosing A Whole House Surge Prot...
Tip 2: Make Sure Your Whole Surge Protec...
Tip 3: Check The Clamping Voltage
Tip 4: Know That Your Device Is Working
Tip 5: Check The Warranty
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Tip 1: Choosing A Whole House Surge Protector

Like I said, it doesn't matter what kind you choose but it is important that each one have certain specs. A SDSA should have a tested product recommendation with code IEEE C62.11. A. The TVSS is the more modern of the two kinds of whole house surge protectors and is listed with the UL 1449 code by the Underwriter's Laboratory, 2nd Edition code.

Tip 2: Make Sure Your Whole Surge Protector Has Fuse Protection

Fuse protection is important to maintain the integrity of any surge protector, especially on a whole house surge protector. Your TVSS will need to have thermal fuse protection. This is an insulated metal oxide varistor (MOV) that heats up when absorbing a surge. This special coating prevents the MOV from short circuiting and catching fire. The SDSA is already fused.

Tip 3: Check The Clamping Voltage

The Clamping Voltage measures how much of a surge it takes to set off the surge protection device. It is recommended to have a clamping voltage between 330V to 800V, the lower the volts the better.

Note: Clamping voltage refers to TVSS models only. A Secondary Surge Arrestor (SDSA) is not measured by the UL 1449 code. This leaves a large discrepancy in the effectiveness of a SDSA as each manufacturer provides the testing of its own product and summarily provides the safety rating.

Tip 4: Know That Your Device Is Working

A quality device has an indicator light to alert you that it is functioning properly. Typically the indicator is a green LED light. As long as the light is lit you are protected. Should the light cease to work, the power will continue through the device but you will not be protected. Your device should be replaced as soon as possible. It is important to check the indicator light on a regular basis, at least once a month.

Tip 5: Check The Warranty

Most whole house surge protectors come with a manufacturer's warranty that covers anything under the device's protection up to a certain amount. This can be quite substantial, as much as $300,000.

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Other Surge Protectors In The News

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West Seattle family says surge protector started fire: Noel Bracelin of West Seattle is thankful her house is still standing and her family is safe after a device meant to help protect from electrical fires -- a surge protector -- apparently caught fire in her home. Bracelin felt the company that makes the ...
Axis Communications' T98 Surveillance Cabinets: ... surveillance cabinet that combines and protects multiple electrical system components ? such as a midspan, power supply, media converter, surge protector and fuse ? in an easy-to-install, sleek design that blends together with Axis network cameras.