Whole House Surge Protection

Your Guide To Choosing Surge Suppression

Obviously many different surge suppression manufacturers seem to have varied ideas about what specifications (specs) to put on their surge strips or units (just look at what's on the store shelves). A lot of confusion has arisen as to what all these numbers and ratings mean. Fancy colors, packaging and that strangely cheap price might "sell you the sizzle and not the steak!"

Print this page to use as a general guideline to follow when searching for protection against surges, spikes and electrical wear and tear (rust). The "specs" are listed in priority order:

_______	* Surge Current (amps) rating - maximum single strike unit can handle without failure, higher is better i.e. amps per mode and total amps (modes added together).
_______	*MCOV (maximum continuous operating voltage) rating - The volts at which the unit starts to work and send it to ground, lower is better (see UL 1449).
_______	* UL 1449 "Second Edition" rating - the standard by Underwriters Laboratories which tests and rates each surge device using a surge generating machine: category A, B or C surge with C being the nastiest surge. Lower rating is better i.e. 330 volts @ cat. A for plug-in units and 500 volts @ cat B or C for hardwire units (breaker/fuse panel protectors).
_______	* Protection Modes - Line to line, Line to Ground etc. "all mode" is best.
_______	* Response Time - time between the surge and when the unit starts to work sending it to ground, <5 nanoseconds will do the job.
_______	* Joules rating - power dissipation (do not use to compare unless you know the units were tested equally ex. A, B or C type surge. Higher is normally better.
	Other things to look for before choosing:
_______	* RFI/EMI Filtering (filters out frequency and magnetics)
_______	* Diagnostic Indicator Lights
_______	* Self restores even after 2000 surges in a row without failing
_______	* Plug-ins have outlets w/room for transformers
_______	* Connected equipment guarantee for plug-ins
_______	* UL497A rating for phoneline protectors
_______	* The plug-ins are good enough to come with a Lifetime Warranty, a 30-Day, No Questions Asked "Money Back Guarantee," and a connected equipment guarantee.
_______	Whole House Kits have a 10-Year Product Warranty and a 5-Year Connected Equipment Guarantee.