Are whole house surge protectors required by code?

The 2020 NEC (National Electric Code) has made surge protection required for service replacements and upgrades. With a new service, service upgrade, or service replacement, there must now be a type 1 or type 2 surge protector installed.

What size breaker do I need for a whole house surge protector?

30A
Essentially, the circuit breaker must be sized to the protector’s wire size and the electrical panel’s ratings. For example, a surge protector with 10 AWG wires should be used with a breaker rated at 30A. The circuit breaker’s ratings (interrupt rating, voltage rating) must also be suitable for the panel.

How often should a whole house surge protector be replaced?

Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. And if your home is subject to frequent brownouts or blackouts, you might want to replace your surge protectors as often as every two years.

What type of whole house surge protector do I need?

The recommended minimum protection from a whole-house system is 40,000 amps, though many are much higher. A lightning strike is usually around 30,000 amps. That said, it’s always advisable to unplug what you can if a lightning storm is imminent.

Who installs a whole house surge protector?

Installation is always a job for a licensed electrician. The utility company will be directly involved because it will need to shut off power to the home during installation. A type 2 SPD is installed on the load side of the system, or after the power enters your electrical service panel.

Is surge protection a legal requirement?

Additionally, any commercial, industrial, or public building that is supplied by overhead lines requires surge protection – so the majority of buildings will require surge protection. Residential properties will depend on use and occupancy levels.

What is the lifespan of a whole house surge protector?

Yep, that’s right: Surge protectors don’t last forever. Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. And if your home is subject to frequent brownouts or blackouts, you might want to replace your surge protectors as often as every two years.

Where should a whole house surge protector be placed?

A whole house surge protector is a device that is installed between your electrical meter and your home’s main electrical service panel. It’s usually hard-wired directly to your electrical box, where it connects directly to your panel’s grounding wire.

What are the different types of whole house surge protectors?

Best Whole House Surge Protectors Reviews

  • Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection.
  • Leviton 240 Volt Panel Protector.
  • Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole Home Surge Protection Device.
  • Siemens QSA2020SPD Whole House Surge Protection.
  • Eaton CHSPT2SURGE SPD Type 2 Chsp Whole Home Surge Protector.