Many homeowners have turned to adding whole house surge protectors to their homes, which protect designated devices from high power voltages where the main power enters the house. These surge protectors do a great job in protecting appliances in your home and are generally connected at the main breaker box. Many experts suggest installing a whole house surge protector for maximum protection, but advise homeowners to continue using point-of-use surge protectors as a second line of defense.
A house surge protector is an investment that will protect all electrical devices in your property at once. A simple lightning-generated spike can send a 200,000 amp power jolt down your electric line immediately and turn anything from your coffeemaker to your Playstation 3 into a magnet. Any device that is run by electronic chips does not stand a chance in the event of a high power jolt without adequate protection. This investment of just a couple of hundred dollars can save you several thousand dollars in future storms.
Just like any product on the market today, there are many types of whole house surge protectors. Knowing which device is the best for saving the life of home electrical devices will save you time and money overall. While you know that you get what you pay for, in some instances this is not true. Often, even high-priced devices do not contain the proper clamping voltage or Joule rating to offer protection throughout your home. Comparing these ratings and prices are essential in the purchase of a house surge protector.
Sears offers perhaps an affordable, yet quality suppressor on the market for only $49.99. Model 83540 has a high Joules rating at 2500 and a standard clamping voltage of 330. This unit is guaranteed by a factory warranty to protect up to $10,000 of connected equipment in the event of a power spike. Not only are you protecting your electrical devices, you are basically insuring your devices as well.
Another great name in surge protection is Sycom. This well-known brand offers a top of the line power suppression for your whole home with a clamping voltage of 330 and a rating of 1,950 joules. While the Sycom surge protector does retail higher than the Sears unit, they can be found discounted for a fair price online. One great bonus is this unit has all the bells and whistles and has a specially design alarm to notify homeowners of a power spike they may have never been aware of. With an unlimited connected equipment guarantee, if this surge protector doesn’t live up to its potential, all of your home electronics are covered for replacement by Sycom.
Another leader in power protection, the Leviton Whole-House Surge Protector will protect all the electronic gear in your home with an unlimited main breaker panel current. This unit will instantaneously protect your electronic components in your home from outside power surges and has a capacity of 950 joules and 50,000 amps. It is suggested to have a professional electrician and retails online for $160.00.
While point-of-use power surge protectors are a great alternative for minor power hikes, it is strongly recommended to install a surge protector for the whole house in the event of severe situations. Protect all of your electronics rather then singling out a certain few. With a whole house unit you can protect even the small electronics in your entire home, and prevent making even a small investment on replacing any device in your home.
