A whole home electrical suppressor is a device which acts much a surge protector. It allows only the electricity needed by appliances within the home and cuts out excessive voltage from the supply. Doing this shields the household equipment from any trouble which could result from electrical surges.
Such devices are normally wired to the electric service box and located close by to protect the appliances in the home. Typically, their prices range from $200 to $500. There are several reasons why a homeowner needs to invest in such a device.
The Pressing Need for Surge Protection.
In the past few years, a lot has changed within the homes in terms of electronics. Appliances such as washers and dryers have circuit boards. There are now more of such devices along with LED lighting. All these need protection from power surges.
Presence of Other Perils.
Contrary to popular belief, most surges are caused not by lightning, but by short, intense bursts known as transients. These are normally introduced into the home’s electrical grid by the appliances. Though it’s unlikely that a large surge will take out all appliances at once, frequent occurrence of small surges will result in impaired performance of electronics.
High voltages in the utility lines can also cause harm to the home’s systems. This brings in the need for surge protection that encompasses the whole house at the service panel. Though lightning still poses a risk, there’s virtually no safeguard for a direct strike. However, lightning rods can offer some protection.
Protecting all Electronics.
Though most surges come from household devices, any gadget on a dedicated circuit sends back the surge to the main panel. Backup generators can also send power surges through electrical lines when they come on. At the breaker panel, a surge can be shunted to shield other devices within the home. A protection system for the entire house will shield the building’s wiring along with all the outlets.
The Need for Layered Surge Protection.
If a surge is sent through a shared circuit, all the outlets become susceptible. This is why surge protection needs to be layered in the building to be both at the point of use and the electrical service. For home entertainment systems, one should use power conditioners that possess the capability to suppress surges and supply filtered power.
Most homes whose service is rated at 120 volts can be sufficiently shielded using an 80kA surge protector. If subpanels are used, additional protection of half the chief unit’s KA rating should also be used. In lightning prone areas or if heavy machinery is being used nearby, then it’s best to go for an 80kA rating. You can contact us for all your whole house electrical suppressor needs along with additional advice where necessary.
