Today we’re taking a look at the best surge protector for the electric panel. It is estimated that each home has approximately $15,000 of electrical equipment. Power surges can cause around $26 billion of damage in lost time, repairs, and equipment per year.
20% of our electrical surges come from lightning or issues caused by provider companies.
A massive 80% come from within our homes, according to NEMA Currents. If these statistics aren’t enough for you to rush out, think of your family’s safety!
In a hurry? Here’s our best tip:
Get the Morris Products 89114. It features 72,000amp protection, a 500 VPR, and less than 1 nanosecond response time.
Power surges may cause electric shocks and/or fires. A whole-house surge protector is worth the investment. Before you choose one, it is worth taking the time to understand more about how they work.
Table of Contents
- Top Rated Surge Protectors For Electric Panels
- Pros and cons of whole house surge protector
- Wrap Up
- Check out our other resources
Top Rated Surge Protectors For Electric Panels
In this article, we will explain the technical details of a whole-house surge protector. This way you know some things to look out for. After that, we will look at 10 of the top surge protectors for electric panels. Those are surge protectors that are installed in your house’s electrical panel and protect the whole house’s electrical installation.
Not all of us are qualified electricians. For those who are, we apologize if our explanation is rather simplified.
Imagine one big power line coming from your utility company. It reaches your home at the electrical panel. From here, the power goes throughout your house whether that’s through telephone lines, Ethernet cables, or electrical wires. All homes will have a grounded wire.
Here are some key things to look out for when buying a whole-house surge protector
Before we dive into the product reviews, let’s check a few key points you should be aware of:
- Amps: There is no correct number, but we recommend it to have a protection level of 20,000 – 40,000 amps. If your area is prone to lightning storms, aim for 80,000 amps. A higher number doesn’t mean better protection. It means it will last longer.
- VPR: The clamping voltage, or voltage protection rating. It is more complicated than a surge protector strip because there are various modes of protection. However, a lower number is still better.
- Modes of protection: There must be a minimum of two modes, L-N, and L-G (Line to Neutral and Line to Ground). Most offer at least 4 modes, the two previously mentioned are N-G and L-L, (Neutral to Ground and Line to Line).
- Joules: Unlike a power strip surge protector, we don’t consider the joule protection because the above factors are more important.
- Response time: The best whole house surge protectors will respond within less than a nanosecond.
For more information check out our surge protector buying guide.
Pros and cons of whole house surge protector
Pros
The biggest advantage of having a whole house surge protector is to ensure the safety of every electrical device you have connected, and also the integrity of the whole home’s electrical system.
That being said, a proper installation of whole house surge protectors not only protects your electrical devices such as computers, TVs, kitchen appliances, etc. but also your home’s electrical outlets, switches, plugs, electrical wiring, and even light bulbs from unexpected harmful power surges.
It is an investment that can prevent the loss of thousands in electrical equipment. Keep in mind that power surges and their effects are rarely ever covered under home insurance plans.
And more, it’s a plus for your safety too as it’s not only protecting your equipment but also your life by preventing potential short circuits and fires.
Cons
The most notable drawback of having a whole-house surge protector is its price and other costs associated with the installation process. Those are not cheap devices and you’ll have to add the installation cost as another expense.
A surge protector installation needs to be done by a credited professional, ensuring a proper connection between the surge protector and your house’s electrical panel.
You should also consider getting your home’s electrical grounding inspected by a licensed electrician. If it has an unstable electrical grounding, it will not be capable to handle the excess electricity forced onto it by the surge protector. And that’s another additional cost you should be counting on.
Whole house Surge Protector review
This table helps to compare the various products in this review:
| Product Name | Volts | Level of protection (AMPS) | Connected equipment warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leviton 51120 | 120/240 | 50,000 per phase | None stated |
| Eaton CHSPT2 Ultra | 120/240 | 105,000 per phase | $75,000 |
| Siemens FS140 | 120/240 | 140,000 per phase | Yes, but amount not stated |
| Intermatic IG1240RC3 | 120/240 | 10,000 per phase | $25,000 |
| Square D HEPD80 | 120/240 | 80,000 per phase | $75,000 for residential use |
| Siemens TPS3A03050 | 120/240 | 50,000 per phase | None stated |
| Morris Products 89114 | 120/240 | 72,000 per phase | None stated |
| Murray MSA2020SPD | 12/240 | 10,000 per phase | None stated |
| Square D SDSB80111 | 120/240 | 80,000 per phase | $75,000 |
| Intermatic AG3000 | 120/240 | 20,000 per phase | $7,500 |
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Leviton 51120
Key Features:
- 50,000amp protection
- 3-Phase panel protector
- 4 modes
- Limited lifetime warranty
They designed the Leviton for a range of buildings from homes to commerce. It is available in single-phase or 3-phase protection. It has 4 modes of protection and a low VPR at 300. 50,000amp is well within the recommended amount.
There are 3 LED indicators. When all three are on, you know it fully protects you. If one light goes out, you know you need to replace the module inside. This means you don’t need to replace the whole surge protector each time.
They make the box from metal and it is easy to mount with a standard J-Box enclosure. The Leviton is UL 1449 3rd Edition Listed, so it has passed all the safety tests.
Pros:
- Good protection for appliances
- Easy to install
- Correct levels of protection
Cons:
- Expensive
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Eaton CHSPT2 Ultra
Key Features:
- 105,000amp protection
- 4 modes
- Indoor and outdoor use
- < 1 nanosecond response time
- $75,000 connected equipment warranty
This is a great whole-house surge protector. It has high amp protection, so it is ideal if you are prone to storms or power cuts. It has 4 modes of protection. If a power surge strikes, it will respond within less than a nanosecond. The VPR is a little too high at 600V but there is joule protection of 2820j.
There are two indicator lights. If either of these goes out, you must replace the surge protector. It comes with a warranty covering up to $75,000 for connected equipment. However, it doesn’t say how long the warranty is for. The warranty also doesn’t cover lightning strikes.
This one is very easy to install and you can install it indoors or outdoors. It has the UL 2449 3rd Edition Listing which is great value for money considering what it can save you.
Pros:
- Listed as Type 4 by NEMA
- Installation is straightforward
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Warranty needs careful reading
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Siemens FS140
Key Features:
- 140,000amp protection
- 3-phase protection
- 4 modes
- Indoor and outdoor use
- 10-year warranty
It is great when your whole house surge protector can work for homes and/or commercial buildings. The Siemens FS140 is good for residential properties, offices, and commercial buildings. It has high amp protection and a response time of less than 1 nanosecond.
While there are 4 modes of protection, the VPR is still slightly high at 600V. Considering the price, it would be nice to see a lower number. We like the audible alarm and LED indicators.
NEMA rated this model as Type 4, suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is easy to install, and it is UL 1449 listed. There is a 10-year warranty and a connected equipment warranty although they don’t state the amount. Again, read the warranty carefully. It is only valid if a licensed electrician fits the unit.
Pros:
- Excellent all-round protection
- LED lights
- Audio notification
- Made from quality materials
Cons:
- Some people received refurbished models
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Intermatic IG1240RC3
Key Features:
- 10,000amp protection
- 6 modes
- Replaceable modules
- 10-year warranty
The Intermatic whole house surge is a popular choice. However, we feel there are better options regarding protection. It has 10,000amp protection, which is far lower than the recommended amount. The VPR is 800v but they do not state the response time.
The Flush mount kit comes with it and it is nice that holes in the door line up with the LED lights. Blue lights show power, green lights mean there is protection, and red rights mean the module needs replacing. You can buy individual modules rather than replacing the whole surge protector.
It is UL 1449 3rd edition listed and comes with a 10-year warranty, and a $25,000 connected equipment warranty. Intermatic stated that it has state-of-the-art TPMOV technology. But we would prefer to see some better amp/VPR numbers.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Offers more modes
- Excellent quality build
- Made from good materials
Cons:
- Too expensive for the value it provides
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Square D HEPD80
Key Features:
- 80,000amp protection
- 6 modes
- Indoor and outdoor use
- 5-year warranty
This product looks too good to be true. It ticks all the protection boxes we like. It has 80,000amp protection and a 600 VPR. The response rate is less than 5 nanoseconds. There is also a joule rating of 3300.
The LED indicators will let you know that everything works correctly. NEMA gave it a Type 4 rating so you can use it both indoors and outdoor. The connected equipment warranty is for up to $75,000 but for residential use only.
It even comes at an excellent price.
Pros:
- Great value for money
- UL listed
- Very good levels of protection
- Easy to install
Cons:
- None
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Siemens TPS3A03050
Key Features:
- 50,000amp protection
- 2 modes
- UL 1449 3rd edition listing
- UL 96A listing
- Compact size
This is like the little brother of the Siemens FS140. It has 50,000amp, which is less than the FS140 but still a sufficient amount. The VPR is still 600. Here, we are unsure of the response time.
The size of the unit is useful if you are short on space. It is just 3.2 x 3.2 x 3.3 inches (8.25 x 8.25 x 8.38cm). It is UL listed and UL 96A listed- Lightning Protection Master. There is a 5-year warranty, however, they don’t state the connected equipment warranty.
We highly recommend that a professional install this unit. It is super simple to read with one green LED indicator when it is protected. Overall, a good whole house surge protector for a relatively good price.
Pros:
- High-quality
- Mountable indoors or outdoors
- A great option for protection
Cons:
- Only 2 modes of protection
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Morris Products 89114
Key Features:
- 72,000amp protection
- 2 modes
- UL listed
- Easy installation
It is difficult to find fault with this whole house surge protector. It is the perfect example of how you need not spend hundreds to protect your home. 72,000amp is enough for standard homes and will hold up well during storms.
It also has a 500 VPR and less than 1 second response time. There is a joule protection rating of 940j, not much but handy to know. They have a UL Listing for it and they make the housing from high-quality plastic. It also has an automatic rest button, so it protects you in case of multiple power surges.
It only has 2 modes of protection but this is not enough to put us off. There is no information about a warranty or connected equipment warranty.
Pros:
- Excellent protection
- Protects from lightning and electrical faults
- Easy to install
- Brilliant value for money
Cons:
- None
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8. Murray MSA2020SPD
Key Features:
- 10,000amp protection
- 2 modes
- 360 VPR
This is a good option if you are looking for space-saving surge protectors for electrical panels. It has just the right amount of protection but it would be good to see more than 10,000amp. The 360 VPR is the lowest we have seen.
It takes up the same amount of space as two standard single breakers. Installation is straightforward and the LED indicators show you it works correctly.
Features a two-year warranty but we recommend you to read the fine print. Once this unit has received a hit, or you notice the LED light is not on, you will need to replace it.
Pros:
- Low VPR of 360v
- Protects against electrical faults
- Good price
Cons:
- Low-quality materials
- Not UL listed
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Square D SDSB80111
Key Features:
- 80,000amp protection
- 6 modes
- Removable modules
- 5-year warranty
This Square D whole house surge protector has the same amps and modes as the HEPD80. It has a faster response time of less than 1 nanosecond. Unfortunately, we can’t find any information about VPR. As it is UL listed, we know it has passed the safety tests.
The main difference is that this version has removable modules. You can replace those that are not working rather than the entire unit. It has the same 5-year warranty and a $75,000 connected equipment warranty.
Pros:
- Cable and Ethernet surge protection
- Good protection
- Protects from lightning
- Easy to install
Cons:
- None
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Intermatic AG3000
Key Features:
- 20,000amp protection
- 3 modes
- TPMOV technology
- NEMA Type 4
20,000amp is right at the lower end of the recommended amount. The 700 VPR isn’t adding to its attractiveness. On the positive, there are 3 modes of protection and it is UL listed to ANSI and UL 1449 4th Edition Listed.
The NEMA Type 4 listing means the outer casing is durable enough for indoor and outdoor use. There is a simple green LED indicator to show you it’s working.
It’s the cheapest whole-house surge protector that comes with a 3-year warranty. The $7,500 connected equipment warranty isn’t as grand as others but it’s better than nothing. If you are on a budget, this is not a bad option for you.
Pros:
- Good warranty
- Simple installation
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Low amps
- High VPR
Wrap Up
Before we deliver our final opinions on the best whole surge protector, we feel it is important to mention one thing. We are dealing with the main electrical panel in our homes. If you don’t have the basic knowledge about electrics, ask an electrician to install it. It is always better to be safe than sorry. And this way you will prevent potential issues with the warranty.
There are three whole house surge protectors that we will cross off our list straight away: the Murray has no UL listing and both the Square D protectors have risks to our health that are not worth it.
Initially, we thought the more expensive units would have to provide better protection. But after thorough investigations, we changed our minds. A high amp doesn’t make for the best protection. So, this took Siemens off our favorites list.
Both of the Intermatics didn’t have the recommended VPR. Neither of them had enough amp protection either.
Our final best option for a whole house surge protector is the Morris Products 89114. On the downside, it only has 2 modes of protection. That being said, it offers 72,000amp protection, a 500 VPR, and less than 1 nanosecond response time. You couldn’t ask for better protection.
It has an automatic reset button and an LED indicator. All of this for a lot less than you would pay for some leading brands.
Check out our other resources
Any kind of power surge means all of your electrical appliances will receive an extra load of electricity. This may cause small amounts of damage. Check out our article on the Difference Between Surge Protector and Power Strip
Check out some of our other awesome articles:
Having no protection against power surges could blow every appliance in your house. You can add a whole house surge protector to your electrical panel. It will take any additional power to the ground through the grounded wire.
If you’d rather save some money on your electric bill, take a look at our article on the best Energy-saving Surge Protector.
If you’re into RVs, also take a look at our other reviews on Surge Protector for Travel Trailers (RVs).
