Whole home surge protection systems are becoming increasingly popular, and the 2020 National Electric Code requires them. Modern homes have many expensive electronics, such as ovens, microwaves, televisions, generators, and Level 2 electric vehicle chargers. A surge from the grid or a lightning strike can damage or destroy your expensive electronics. Additionally, surges can damage circuit breakers with advanced electronics, smart switches, and devices like GFCI outlets in updated electrical systems.
The cost and inconvenience of a surge can wreak havoc on your home–a broken router, resulting in no internet, broken televisions and stereo equipment, circuit breakers that need to be replaced, and smart switches that won’t respond to voice commands. For around the cost of an insurance policy deductible, you can reduce the risk to your home by installing a whole home surge protector.
Surge Protection Installation Locations
- Good Option
- Surge Protection Device installed in main panel or subpanel with surge current rating of 10,000 amps – 30,000 amps.
- Point of use Surge Protection Devices for televisions, computers, printers, and other electronics.
- Better Option
- Surge Protection Device installed in main panel with surge current rating of 30,000 amps – 100,000 amps.
- Point of use Surge Protection Devices for televisions, computers, printers, and other electronics.
- Best Option (Defense in Depth Strategy)
- Surge Protection Device installed at exterior disconnect with surge current rating of 100,000+ amps; this device reduces the severity of the surge at the main panel to minimize the amount of surge current that flows through the wires inside your home.
- Surge Protection Device installed in subpanels with surge current rating of 30,000 amps – 100,000 amps.
- Point of use Surge Protection Devices for televisions, computers, printers, and other electronics.
What if I have two (or more) main panels?
Generally, each panel or path should be protected, according to the budget tier above (Options #1 – Option #3).
What do I have at my home?
- Surge Protection Devices (SPD) installed at exterior disconnect with surge current rating of 100,000+ amps
- Surge Protection Devices installed in subpanel with surge current rating of 36,000 amps
- Point of use surge protection devices (power strips with surge protection or UPS, depending on area)