The world of technology is offering homeowners more and more conveniences. The introduction of smart home technology has allowed many homeowners to control their HVAC, lighting, and other home electronics from the convenience of their smartphone or tablet. If you’ve invested in smart technology, you must invest in a surge protector.
What Is a Surge Protector?
A surge protector, also known as a surge suppressor, is an electrical device that operates as a filter for your electrical system. It filters out dangerously high levels of electricity while allowing safe amounts through. This ensures that your electrical devices aren’t damaged due to power surges and other events that send too much electricity through the circuit.
The Types of Surge Protectors
Surge protectors come in several types, depending on your preferences, budget, and needs. The most common type is point-of-use surge protectors, which are usually power strips with multiple outlets. They protect any devices plugged into the strip from electrical overloads.
Another type of surge protector is the whole-home protector. This is installed directly at the electrical panel box and protects all the circuits that run from the panel box throughout your home. This means any items plugged into your outlets and your lighting will be protected from power surges.
Finally, we have the meter surge protector. Some power companies offer this option, where they will directly install a surge protector on your electrical meter. This protects every part of your electrical system, from the meter to the inside of your home. While meter surge protectors can be a great option, they’re not yet widely offered by power companies. The best option for most homeowners to protect their smart home technology is to invest in a whole-home surge protector.
How to Choose the Right Whole-Home Surge Protector
There are many different whole-home surge protectors available. To ensure that all your electronics and appliances are adequately protected, you need to take care when selecting which one is ideal for your home. Fortunately, we’ll discuss each particular attribute in detail below so that you can better decide which one is right for you.
Absorption Rate
One of the first things to concern yourself with is the surge protector’s absorption rate. This is the amount of energy the protector can absorb when a power surge happens. While there are varying options for different absorption rates, most households can benefit from a minimum of 40,000 amps.
Clamping Voltage
A surge protector’s clamping voltage is simply the amount of electricity it will allow through to the various circuits in your panel box. The lower the clamping voltage, the lower the chance of damage to your electrical devices. Consider options for a whole-home surge protector with a clamping voltage of around 400 volts.
NEMA Rating
Many whole-home surge protectors are on the market, but not all have been properly evaluated. A great investment is to choose a surge protector with a NEMA rating. NEMA stands for National Electric Manufacturers Association. They will give surge protectors a rating between one and four. A rating of four means the device offers maximal protection. However, realize that the higher a surge protector’s NEMA rating, the more expensive it will be.
Malfunction Alerts
When your whole-home surge protector malfunctions, you want to know about it. You don’t want to end up experiencing a power surge and having your electronics damaged because your whole-home surge protector simply wasn’t working right. Fortunately, some surge protectors come with a built-in alert system for malfunctions. Whenever the surge protector determines it has a malfunction, it can alert you by sending a message to your phone or by turning on a special LED warning light. This can allow you to remedy the malfunction quickly to ensure your home remains protected.
The Top Benefits of a Whole-Home Surge Protector
Excess electricity can surge through your electrical wiring and devices if you don’t have adequate protection. Lighting is one of the most common causes of power surges. Others include things like faulty wiring and overloading electrical circuits. Fortunately, a whole-home surge protector can help protect your electronics and appliances from these unfortunate situations. In fact, these surge protection devices can provide you with many great benefits.
Whole-home surge protectors are more effective than simply power strip surge protectors. They can handle more amperage absorption. Even better, you only have to invest in one device instead of multiple ones to protect your home’s electrical system and everything plugged into it, like your appliances, televisions, and computers. With the price of modern-day appliances, it’s a no-brainer that a whole-home surge protector is necessary to protect your financial interests.
One commonly overlooked benefit of a whole-home surge protector is the peace of mind it can give you. Power surges can damage your devices and even lead to potential electrical fires. With a whole-home surge protector, you can rest assured that your home and items will be protected in the event of an overload, even if you’re not physically at home.
A whole-home surge protector can also enhance the resale value of your home because new homebuyers know that your appliances and electrical systems are covered in the event of an overload. You may even find that your homeowner’s insurance premium goes down when you inform your insurer that you have a whole-home surge protector installed.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
Just like anything you can get for your home, a whole-home surge protector has some drawbacks. The most obvious is the upfront price. If you want a superior level of protection, it’s going to cost you. However, when you add up the cost of replacing all your smart electronics and appliances, the price of a new whole-home surge protector will be minimal.
It’s also important to note that whole-home surge protectors aren’t a 100% foolproof option. The best surge protectors will have an absorption rating of up to 40,000 amps. With most lightning strikes ringing between 5,000 and 20,000 amps, the typical surge protector will handle most lightning strikes. However, there have been some rare lightning strikes reaching levels of 100,000 to 200,000 amps. Unfortunately, modern-day surge protectors aren’t equipped to handle these rare physical anomalies.
A Note on Installation
It can be highly beneficial to consult an experienced electrician to help you select the best whole-home surge protector. It’s always best to have a professional do the installation for you as they have the knowledge and appropriate equipment to do the job. Furthermore, most surge protector manufacturers won’t honor their warranty coverage if the device isn’t installed by a licensed electrician.
Reliable Surge Protector Installation Service
Potts Electric offers reliable surge protector installation service to the Fenton, MO region. We’ll also assist with all your car charger, electrical repair, generator, smart home, new construction, wiring, electrical panel, aluminum wiring, and commercial needs. Simply call us today to schedule an electrical services appointment with one of our electricians.
