Surge Protectors & Devices

For home, commercial and industrial applications

View All Surge Devices
Lightning storm over residential neighborhood

Why do you need surge protective devices? To protect what matters. Whether that’s a TV in a home, emergency circuits in a healthcare facility, or production equipment at a manufacturing plant, surge protectors help protect your devices from damage or failure, saving critical machinery and avoiding unnecessary downtime.

What is a power surge?
  • A power surge, or voltage transient, is a brief electrical spike that occurs on power, cable and telephone lines.
  • The duration is typically in the thousandths or millionths of a second, sometimes recurring
Two electricians looking at electrical tower
What causes a power surge?
  • Most people associate surges with storm activity and lightning, however, many daily events, from utility work to periods of higher-than-average usage cause small surges and disturbances inside buildings ever day.
  • While these routine events may not render obvious damage, they could diminish the lifespan of your equipment and appliances over time.
Plug getting inserted into a receptacle
Can I protect against a power surge?
  • Surge protective devices (SPDs) are an ideal way to protect against power surges.
  • They are designed to divert excess voltage away from the circuit, protecting critical equipment and preventing unnecessary downtime.
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Surge Protection Portfolio

Surge protection is meant to be a system of layered solutions. There are different types of surge protectors, categorized based on the service area they protect and where they are installed. It's important to understand how they can be layered to ensure complete surge protection.

TYPES OF SURGE PROTECTIVE DEVICES
Blue Lightning Bolt in Blue Frame
Mounted on the line side of the main electrical service entrance panel, as well as the load side
Type 1 SPDs
Mounted to the load side of an electric service panel - protect against residual external power disturbances and internally generated power surges.
Type 2 SPDs
Surge protective receptacles, strips and plug-in adapters for shielding computers, smart phones, and gaming systems from harmful transients.
Type 3 SPDs

Different Types Of Surge Protectors Live In Different Parts Of A Home And Building...

House and Office Building showing potential SPD applications

Surge Protection Videos

Frequently Asked Questions

A surge protector is a device that helps protect your electronics from sudden increases in voltage by redirecting excess electricity away from your devices during a power surge. This helps prevent damage and extends the life of your equipment.

For more information, see: Benefits of using a surge protected device

Yes! Most homes benefit from surge protection to help prevent damage caused by power spikes from storms, outages, or appliances. It’s a simple way to protect valuable electronics and extend their lifespan.

  • Lighting strikes
  • Power grid issues or outages
  • Large appliances turning on/off
  • Faulty wiring or electrical problems

Surge Protected Power Strip: Protects your devices from voltage spikes by diverting excess electricity from them.

Power Strip: Provides multiple outlets for plugging in devices but does not necessarily offer surge protection, always check before use! 

Surge protectors typically last 3 to 5 years, depending on usage and the number of power surges they absorb.

Whole-house surge protection works through a layered system that includes Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 devices. Together, these components help minimize surges at the electrical panel while offering added protection at individual outlets for sensitive electronics and devices.

Yes! A whole-home surge protector is worth it because it helps protect your entire home’s electrical system and appliances from costly damage caused by power surges. 

No, a whole-home surge protector provides broad protection for all appliances but may not fully protect sensitive electronics on its own.

Yes, a layered approach is recommended because whole-home surge protection reduces large surges at the panel, while Type 3 protectors add extra protection at outlets for sensitive devices like TVs, computers, routers, and gaming systems.

kA (kiloamps) - How much surge current the device can handle

Joules - How much energy it can absorb before failing        

  • Look for UL-listed products to ensure safety and reliability
  • Consider panel vs. point-of-use based on your setup
  • Match the protector to the type and value of your electronics
  • Review the home connected warranty for added coverage details

Yes! Surge protection can help reduce damage from lighting-related surges, but it cannot guarantee complete protection from a direct lighting strike. It’s best used as part of a layered protection approach for your home.

A surge protector can fail after absorbing multiple power surges over time or from a single large surge that exceeds its capacity. It may also stop working due to age or internal component wear, even if there are no visible signs of damage.

Leviton surge protectors are known for their reliability, high-quality engineering, and rigorous safety testing, including UL certification. They’re designed to provide consistent, whole-home and point-of-use protection backed by a trusted electrical brand.

Yes! Leviton surge protectors are UL listed, meeting recognized safety and performance standards.

Blogs

Benefits of Using a Surge Protected Device: How They Work
Learn More
Is Your Home Protected From Lightning Strikes?
Learn More

Surge Protection For Any Application

Are you up to code with Surge Protection?

The National Electrical Code® (NEC) has several articles related to surge protective devices.  Learn more about the codes and requirements in your code year to ensure compliance.

NEC Code Booklets
ARCAT Building Specifications WHITE Logo

Leviton’s electrical wiring devices are available in ARCAT’s construction specifications. These specifications are complete CSI 3-part and Canadian CSC architectural specs that can easily be downloaded, customized for your project, and included in your master spec for future use. Offering BIM objects, specifications, and the SpecWizard tool, ARCAT is your complete source for finding, selecting, detailing and specifying building projects.

Explore Device Specifications!

Resources

How can we help you?

Speak to one of our Surge Specialists.