Did you know that up to 80% of power surges come from inside your home? According to NEMA, common household devices like A/C compressors, heating elements, and switch-mode power supplies are the primary culprits. While lightning and power grid switching are well-known external threats, new and potentially more damaging risks—like electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) and solar flares (CMEs)—are on the rise.

Most electronics in the U.S. are built for 120V AC. Even small spikes above this level can slowly wear down internal components, especially power supplies, leading to unexpected failures and costly replacements.

Home insurance might cover some surge damage, but it won’t cover the inconvenience or the downtime. That’s why investing in reliable surge protection isn’t just smart—it’s essential. It’s a simple step that can protect your electronics, save you money, and give your customers peace of mind.

These devices are designed to protect electrical installations and equipment from transient overvoltages, typically caused by indirect lightning strikes or switching operations in the power grid. They are usually installed at the main distribution board (electrical panel) of a building. Modern homes and businesses use equipment like computers, TVs, HVAC systems, and industrial control devices that are sensitive to voltage spikes. Type 2 SPDs limit overvoltage to a level that these devices can tolerate.

🔹 Typical Applications

• Residential and commercial buildings
• Industrial facilities
• Data centers
• Electrical panels serving sensitive electronics

Key Characteristics of Type 2 Surge Protectors:

• Installation Location: Main service panel (downstream of the Type 1 device if present).
• They protect downstream systems from residual surges that make it past a Type 1 device (or from grid-induced surges if no Type 1 is present).
• Protection Level: Medium-level protection — they limit voltage surges to a level that downstream equipment can tolerate.
• Application: Suitable for residential, commercial, and light industrial installations.
• Voltage Waveform Tested Against: 8/20 µs waveform (simulates the kind of surge from switching or nearby lightning).
• Response Time: Fast (in nanoseconds), enough to catch transients before they affect devices.

These types of surge protectors, also known as point-of-use surge protective devices (SPDs), are designed to protect individual electronic devices or appliances within a building. Typically installed at a maximum conductor length of 10 meters (30 feet) from the electrical device to be protected. They are the final layer of surge protection in a multi-tiered surge protection system (Type 1 → Type 2 → Type 3).

Key Characteristics of Type 3 Surge Protectors:

• Location: Installed close to the protected equipment—typically at wall outlets or integrated into power strips or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

• Purpose: They protect sensitive electronics (like TVs, computers, gaming systems, etc.) from residual surges that pass through the main service panel or are introduced inside the building.

• Surge Capacity: Lower than Type 1 or 2 SPDs. They handle surges in the range of a few hundred to a few thousand amps, enough to stop small spikes and residual surges.

• Installation: Plug-and-play (no electrician needed).