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The majority of homeowners know about surge protectors that plug into the wall. However, surge protectors that are integrated into the electrical system in your home can protect all electronic equipment that is sensitive from damage caused by electrical surges (not only the devices that are plugged into the protector). The power surges that can occur inside and outside the home can cause serious damage, including thousands of dollars worth of damage to electronic equipment and devices.
The whole-house surge protection, also known as a surge protecting device (SPD), can protect electronic components while giving you peace of mind. These units detect the surge in power and send it to your home’s grounding systems. The grounding system is made up of rods that are buried outside the house and connected via wire to the main panel box. In some homes, the box may be connected to the cold water pipe at the entrance to the home. The electrical current in both cases is harmlessly discharged to the ground.
A whole-house surge protector can also shield obvious items like computers, sophisticated audio and video equipment and other electronic devices. It will prevent damage to any item with a circuit board. Circuit boards are found in many household appliances, including refrigerators, washing machine, dishwashers, and LED light bulbs.
Installing surge protection in your home is easy with two methods. However, it’s best to leave this job to a professional. This protection is so important that many building codes including the National Electric Code require it for all new construction and extensive remodeling.
How power surges damage electronic devices in the home
Electronic components operate best with a constant electricity level. These components can be damaged by fluctuations in electricity levels. Lightning strikes on power lines, or utility transformers can cause a surge of electrical current to be sent through the lines into your home. A surge in power can be caused by trees that fall during a storm or hurricane.
Electrical surges can be caused by items in your home. According to estimates, 60-80% of surges in power are caused by HVAC systems, window ACs, refrigerators, and similar items. The motors of large appliances require more power to turn on and off. This disrupts the electricity flow in the home. The electrical surges are not as noticeable as a bolt of lightning, but they do affect electronic circuit boards. They can shorten their lifespan and reduce their efficiency.
What are the two types of whole-house surge protectors and how do they work?
Most whole-house surge protection devices are labeled either type 1 or 2, but some can be labelled both. SPDs are permanently installed and hardwired to the electrical system of your home. The surge suppressors are effective from both inside and outside of the home.
Before it enters your home, a type 1 SPD will be installed. The device is installed between your home’s electric service panel and the utility service line. They are designed to block very large surges, but may allow smaller ones through. The installation is always the responsibility of a licensed electrical contractor. Utility companies will be involved directly because they will have to turn off the power at your home for installation.
The type 2 SPD should be installed after power has entered your electrical panel. These units are connected to the circuit breaker in the breaker panel. The SPD can be installed in a variety of ways, depending on the product. In most cases, it is mounted to the wall, either next to or below the panel box. The SPD wires are run into the breaker boxes through holes in the sides or bottom.
The surge protector for the whole house has four wires – a neutral wire, a ground wire and two hot wires. The neutral and the ground wires are connected to their respective bus bars which are located under a protective cover of the panel. The excess electrical current generated during a surge will be diverted into the home’s grounding system. The hot wires connect to a circuit breaker with two poles that is located near the top panel box.
Point-of-use surge protectors, also known as type 3 surge protectors, are the strip surge protectors that you plug into an outlet in your home to protect computer, TVs, and gaming consoles. They can provide protection for the devices plugged in, but not for your entire house. Do not confuse surge protectors for strips with power strips, which do not protect against voltage spikes.
Surge Protector Codes
In accordance with the 2020 National Electric Code, all new constructions of single-family houses, two-family houses and multifamily housing must include a whole-house surge protection device. The installation of a SPD must be included in any renovation project that involves updating or altering an electrical service panel.
The NEC sets safety standards for electrical devices such as arc-fault and ground-fault interrupters. The requirement for a whole-house surge protection is intended to protect electronic safety equipment, such as GFCIs, hardwired carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and smoke alarms.
The NEC serves as a guide for local building codes. The NEC is a model building code that can be used as a reference for local jurisdictions. Not all communities adopt new codes at the same pace, so any NEC recommendations may or may NOT be included in your local code. If you’re doing extensive remodeling or new construction on an older house, installing a surge protector throughout the home is advisable. Check with your local code authority to determine the specific requirements.
Whole-House Surge Protectors
When evaluating an SPD, there are several things to consider. First, make sure that the product meets the standards set forth in UL 1449. UL is a non-profit organization that certifies that products meet a certain set of standards.
The unit’s power rating is also important. The voltage protection rating is measured in kiloamps (kA). SPDs are rated from 10kA to 100kA. Most SPDs offer protection above 30kA and some even exceed that. Lightning discharges are typically between 30kA to 40kA. About 10 percent of lightning strikes exceed 100kA.
The maximum continuous operation voltage is used to determine the voltage that the unit can handle, before it starts diverting power. This process is called clamping. The unit will not trip every time it receives a small amount of power — like one or two volts above the usual 120 volts. Most units clamp when the spike is between 15 and 20 percent higher than normal.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has a rating system for surge protectors that are installed in whole-house enclosures. Residential surge protectors are rated from type 1 to type 4X. Do not confuse the enclosure type ratings with SPD type ratings. Type 1 enclosures can be used indoors and are designed to protect the SPD components from being touched. Type 4X enclosures can be used indoors or outdoors and provide protection against snow, wind and rain.
Whole-House Surge Protectors Costs
You can expect to pay between $100-300 for a residential entire-house protector, plus installation fees for an hour or two of work. To get the best unit for your house, it is important to talk to an electrician about your needs. The cost of a unit will depend on the power it can handle, its enclosure, and any additional features, like indicator lights to let you know if the unit is working.
A SPD will divert excess power into the grounding systems of your home. If the current grounding system does not meet the standards, it may be necessary upgrade it. Also, consider the replacement costs. The majority of SPDs are made up of consumable parts. This means that during a power surge your electronics could be saved but the SPD may not function. This means that an electrician must install a brand new unit in order to provide surge protection.
Some units come with consumer-friendly modules. When you need to replace a part, the indicator lights will let you know.
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