Whole Home Protection – SPDs
Steve Maurer, IME
Today’s homes, no matter the date of construction, have one thing in common. Scads of electronic devices populate our personal domiciles, even those of us “old folks.”
When you think about it, there aren’t too many appliances and pieces of equipment that aren’t controlled by some sort of circuit board, or even computer-style mother board. Of course, as I’m writing this, I’m sitting in front of a computer that’s bristling with electronics. In my office to the left of me, there sits a small refrigerator and coffeemaker.
And to my right, my trusty Alexa® Echo Show is patiently awaiting my command to play music, answer questions, or light my path to the kitchen …
Or bathroom.
Touring around the typical residence, you’ll see some or all of the following:
And a host of other electronic devices that need protected from one common enemy…
Voltage surges, aka, power surges.
To protect our myriad toys and tools, we normally think of surge suppression devices or SPDs. And the most common one is the power strip surge suppressor. Quick note: not all power strips are surge suppressors. They must be specifically designed for that purpose and will have a large block on the end that provides that capability.
That brings to mind the 4 levels or types of surge protection devices.
Types of surge suppression and protection modes
There are four types of surge suppression devices and they are designated by location.
What every PSD type does is shunt transient high voltage to ground, extending the life of the devices connected to it. This high voltage can come from various sources, both outside and inside the home. If you think of a sign wave, the suppressor basically tries to knock the top and bottom ends off the voltage.
Protection modes refers to what the SPD is monitoring and protecting from voltage surges. There are 6 modes of protection and not every SPD monitors for all of them. The modes are: L1-Neutral, L2-Neutral, L1-Ground, L2-Ground, Neutral-Ground, and L1-L2. The more modes monitored, the better the protection, obviously.
Whole home SPDs
Type 2 surge suppression devices are located at the main entrance panel, as close as possible to the main breaker. Internal SPDs mount on the buss bar, similar to a breaker, and are connected to the neutral and ground bars. If the panel is installed inside on a finished wall, this may be the only, or at least easiest option.
External SPDs are mounted outside the panel and connected to the system by a conduit. If the service entrance panel is located outside, make sure the unit is rated 3R or higher to protect it from rain and snow.
They wire into a dedicated double-pole breaker, as well as the neutral and ground bars. When a high-voltage surge is detected, they shunt it to ground. While these whole home SPDs protect …well … the whole home from power surges, Type 3 devices are often used in conjunction with them to protect highly sensitive or expensive equipment.
One advantage to external SPDs is that their operation can be monitored without opening the main enclosure door. They’ll be equipped with LEDs, audible alerts, or both to indicate the device status.
SPD installation and replacement notes
Most installations are done by qualified electricians to ensure state, local, and national codes are adhered to for safety. However, some locales may allow homeowners to do the install. But I believe it’s always best to have a licensed electrician do the initial work.
While most SPDs come with a warranty and guarantee, both for the device and the protected equipment, don’t expect them to last forever. They do wear out over time, just like any other electrical component, and will need replaced eventually. Here again, the homeowner may be able to replace the damaged unit as long as they follow code and proper procedures.
In most cases, replacement will entail shutting off the breaker, removing the panel’s inner cover, removing the old unit and replacing it with the new device. While it’s not that difficult, one slip and … well … you know. So a qualified electrician is usually the best option.
However, there are some models, such as the SMART GUARD® line of PSDs from Intermatic® that have consumable modules that can be replaced safely and easily. Some units have their own breaker (although it’s still attached to a double-pole breaker in the cabinet), and can be shut off to replace the snap-in modules without opening the main electrical enclosure.
In this modern electronic age, your customers need all the protection for their electronics they can get. You can help provide that with whole home surge protection devices.
When you think about it, there aren’t too many appliances and pieces of equipment that aren’t controlled by some sort of circuit board, or even computer-style mother board. Of course, as I’m writing this, I’m sitting in front of a computer that’s bristling with electronics. In my office to the left of me, there sits a small refrigerator and coffeemaker.
And to my right, my trusty Alexa® Echo Show is patiently awaiting my command to play music, answer questions, or light my path to the kitchen …
Or bathroom.
Touring around the typical residence, you’ll see some or all of the following:
- Computers
- Smart TVs (and “dumb” ones, too)
- Electronically controlled ovens and ranges
- Furnaces and heaters
- Air conditioning units
- DVD players and VCRs
- Gaming systems
And a host of other electronic devices that need protected from one common enemy…
Voltage surges, aka, power surges.
To protect our myriad toys and tools, we normally think of surge suppression devices or SPDs. And the most common one is the power strip surge suppressor. Quick note: not all power strips are surge suppressors. They must be specifically designed for that purpose and will have a large block on the end that provides that capability.
That brings to mind the 4 levels or types of surge protection devices.
Types of surge suppression and protection modes
There are four types of surge suppression devices and they are designated by location.
- Type 1 devices are located ahead of the electrical panel board. Those supplied by power companies often fall into this category.
- Type 2 devices are located directly after the main breaker in a panel and are field installable. We’ll talk more about that kind in a minute.
- Type 3 devices are those that plug into a wall outlet and are designed to protect equipment plugged into them. The power strip with surge suppression mentioned above is one example. Another one, most commonly used for computers and similar equipment, is a battery backup device with surge suppression built in. It may also be called a UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply.
- Type 4 surge suppression devices are built into a piece of equipment by the manufacturer. Some high-end entertainment systems or appliances may have these.
What every PSD type does is shunt transient high voltage to ground, extending the life of the devices connected to it. This high voltage can come from various sources, both outside and inside the home. If you think of a sign wave, the suppressor basically tries to knock the top and bottom ends off the voltage.
Protection modes refers to what the SPD is monitoring and protecting from voltage surges. There are 6 modes of protection and not every SPD monitors for all of them. The modes are: L1-Neutral, L2-Neutral, L1-Ground, L2-Ground, Neutral-Ground, and L1-L2. The more modes monitored, the better the protection, obviously.
Whole home SPDs
Type 2 surge suppression devices are located at the main entrance panel, as close as possible to the main breaker. Internal SPDs mount on the buss bar, similar to a breaker, and are connected to the neutral and ground bars. If the panel is installed inside on a finished wall, this may be the only, or at least easiest option.
External SPDs are mounted outside the panel and connected to the system by a conduit. If the service entrance panel is located outside, make sure the unit is rated 3R or higher to protect it from rain and snow.
They wire into a dedicated double-pole breaker, as well as the neutral and ground bars. When a high-voltage surge is detected, they shunt it to ground. While these whole home SPDs protect …well … the whole home from power surges, Type 3 devices are often used in conjunction with them to protect highly sensitive or expensive equipment.
One advantage to external SPDs is that their operation can be monitored without opening the main enclosure door. They’ll be equipped with LEDs, audible alerts, or both to indicate the device status.
SPD installation and replacement notes
Most installations are done by qualified electricians to ensure state, local, and national codes are adhered to for safety. However, some locales may allow homeowners to do the install. But I believe it’s always best to have a licensed electrician do the initial work.
While most SPDs come with a warranty and guarantee, both for the device and the protected equipment, don’t expect them to last forever. They do wear out over time, just like any other electrical component, and will need replaced eventually. Here again, the homeowner may be able to replace the damaged unit as long as they follow code and proper procedures.
In most cases, replacement will entail shutting off the breaker, removing the panel’s inner cover, removing the old unit and replacing it with the new device. While it’s not that difficult, one slip and … well … you know. So a qualified electrician is usually the best option.
However, there are some models, such as the SMART GUARD® line of PSDs from Intermatic® that have consumable modules that can be replaced safely and easily. Some units have their own breaker (although it’s still attached to a double-pole breaker in the cabinet), and can be shut off to replace the snap-in modules without opening the main electrical enclosure.
In this modern electronic age, your customers need all the protection for their electronics they can get. You can help provide that with whole home surge protection devices.
Photo courtesy of Intermatic
