Surge Protector Comparison

High Quality, High Performance Panel Surge ProtectorsPanel Surge Protectors

Note: Our SPD manufacturer (SSI) provides surge protector comparison testing via surge generator and industry standard surge test protocols. Test results include scope shots, scope data and summary.

SSI tests and has tested numerous name brand and lesser known competitor SPD's at their CSA ANSI/UL 1449-2006 certified testing facility in Brooksville, FL. They also conduct device testing for attendees during IEEE accredited Continuing Education Seminars/Courses. These courses also discusses current SPD designs, protection modalities, surge environments and other related subject matter. The course is open to engineers, building managers, executives, electricians, maintenance managers and the like. If interested in attending a seminar near you to learn more about SPD’s and/or to gain continuing education credits click here.

Surge protector comparisons can be difficult, especially if you want to discuss product literature/marketing performance claims vs real world application install. Product spec sheets can be helpful if you are familiar with product nomenclature, however, they call it marketing material for a reason.

Performance claims can be tough to verify, especially if you don't have a surge generator to test the SPD via test protocols to validate marketing claims.

After all, the performance claims are usually why you buy one product over another isn't it? And when it comes down to it, don't you want to make sure your purchase performs as advertised?

Otherwise, why buy it?

High Performance SPD vs.
Average Market Place SPD

Why choose High Quality, High Performance SPD’s over other SPD’s…?

High Quality, High performance SPD’s offer...

  • Multiple Protective Technologies
  • Multiple Redundancies
  • Multiple Fusing Stages
  • Multiple Connection Capabilities
  • Multiple Disconnect Options
  • Multiple Enclosure Options
  • Multiple Status Notification Options
  • Encapsulation Technology

These compact sized, solid-state constructed, American made SPD’s deliver...

  • Greater Quality
  • Greater Performance
  • Greater Protection
  • Greater Life-Cycle
  • Greater Warranty
  • Greater Value

From our experience, high quality, high performance surge protectors are better options then the average, commodity driven SPD’s found throughout today’s market place.

Plug-In SPD Comparison

High Quality, High Performance Plug-In Surge ProtectorPlug-In Surge Protector

It doesn't matter if the SPD is a panel application unit for your business, a whole home unit for your house or the everyday direct connect outlet surge protector.

Circuitry used, quality of components and type of components in devices are important. Many times, a number of these components may be similar.

However, combining components, number of components and overall design approach are typically the point of quality and performance separation.

Depending on how effective and dependable a protection device you want, you have different choices of design available.

Below is a simple example of three different outlet surge protector units that were used to protect the power side of a general home network. All three units use similar concepts and some similar components to achieve protection.

This surge protector comparison demonstrates differences in SPD equipment designs, their marketing claims and unit performance through a very basic test...

Real world application.

In-Use Application
Real World Comparison

This comparison is called in-use or real world. This is the result of three different units put in-use over a 5 year time span to protect the power side of home network electronics.

Again, the units in this surge protector comparison use some of the same components and have similar protection claims. However, the results were not the same.

In two of the three cases... a protected piece of equipment failed.

All three units have:

  • 6 Outlets
  • 3-Foot Cord
  • 120 Volt/15 Amp Circuits

Basic Unit Marketing:

  • Unit 1: Surge Protector – Computer/Electronics Protection
  • Unit 2: 585 Joules - 36,000 Amps Maximum Spike Current; Includes EMI/RFI Filtration, All Mode Protection
  • Unit 3: Discrete All Mode Protection - 60,000 Amps Peak Surge Current; Includes Frequency Responsive CircuitryTM  often referred to as Enhanced SineWave Tracking.

Units were sold as electronics protection gear.

  • First unit was purchased from a Big Box electronic store
  • Second unit was purchased from a Computer Store
  • Third unit was purchased from the manufacturer

Equipment protected:

  • Two PC's
  • Two Monitors
  • One Laser Printer
  • Three different Cable/DSL Routers (one at a time)

High Quality, High Performance Plug-In Surge Protectors

Surge Protector Comparison Results

Remember, depending on how effective and dependable a protection unit you desire, you have different available choices.

Quality and quantity of components, types of components used and quality of design, determine overall device effectiveness.

Again, this is true for both TVSS Panel Surge Protector devices and plug-in units.

All surge protectors are not created equal. Although at times, marketing material and performance claims seem to take you in that direction.

Some product marketing materials are accurate and some are not so accurate. How the product works when in use or when installed is whats important.

Remember... all three plug-in units were marketed as... electronics protection.

Real World plug-in power surge protector comparison results.

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