Review of Square D HEPD80 Surge Protector – Is it Worth the Price?

Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80

Most homeowners are not aware that Square D HEPD80 is capable of protecting bulky and costly appliances at home that are otherwise NOT compatible and will not fit into the receptacles of standard surge protection power strips.

Depending on the type of wiring and plugs used, you might not be able to proactively protect your house lighting, washer & dryer, and stoves via typical surge protection strips.

Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device

This is where Square D HEPD80 steps in to save the day.

It is a Type 2 surge protection device (SPD) and can block powerful electrical surges of up to 80 kA.

I have written a detailed review below and have highlighted some great features of this whole house surge suppressor from Schneider Electric.

Schneider Electric Square D HEPD80 – What We Like

Core Features and Benefits

Square D™ HEPD80 is a popular surge protection device that is built for load centers at home or office.

Its job is to reduce huge power spikes (especially lightning bolts) that usually overpower standalone surge protection devices (SPD) and cause untold damage to all connected household electronics and home appliances.

It is also able to provide surge suppression for big household electrical components such as built-in ovens, water heaters, and lighting in the house, etc that may not come with any standard power plug.

Quick and Easy Installation

Even if you only possess basic electrical knowledge, Square D HEPD80 can be easily set up beside the load center without much hassle. Of course, if you or any of your friends do not have any electrical knowledge or skill, it is highly recommended to hire a licensed electrician to do the job for obvious safety reasons.

Lightweight and Compact

Having a small footprint and compact size means installation is fuss-free and it could mostly fit into main breaker panels of any size.

There is no need to worry that the bulky surge protection device you just bought could not fit into your circuit breaker panel.

Load Center Color Integration | Flush Mounting Kit

Fans of Schneider Electric’s Square D would be happy to know that HEPD80 units now have load center color integration as well as the inclusion of a flush mounting kit.

Ability to Withstand Harsh Conditions

Another great selling point is that the housing of this Type 2 SPD from Schneider Electric is made for withstanding harsh conditions and is rated for both outdoor and indoor use.

Superior Performance

Each MOV (metal-oxide varistor) is separately fused with both thermal and overcurrent fusing circuits and with 80kA surge current rating, its high-energy suppression circuitry is capable of protecting against internally and externally generated power surges.

Five Years of Product Warranty and More

HEPD80 comes with an awesome 5-year product warranty. And if a lightning strike came through the house and HEPD80 failed to kick in to suppress the powerful current spikes, you are covered up to $50,000 in claim amount for all your residential down-line electrical equipment and appliances that got fried.

Review of Square D HEPD80 from Schneider Electric

9 Total Score
Schneider Electric Square D HEPD80 Whole House Surge Protector

When it comes to performance, there is no many competitors in the industry that could match its 80kA surge protection and a whopping 80,000 amp surge current rating. We are impressed that HEPD80 has LED indicators (at the front of the unit) that is able to give us real time feedback. Like I mentioned earlier, if you have some electrical knowledge under your belt, or if you hired a qualified electrician, installing this device should be a 15 minutes job. If you happen to be staying in a lightning prone area like Florida, where lightning is a major cause of power current spikes, this surge protection device from Schneider Electric will be the savior of your home electronics and appliances.

PROS
  • Affordably priced
  • Safety assurance as it is UL1449 and CSA 3rd Edition Type 1 SPD approved
  • 80kA surge protection and 80,000 amp surge current rating
  • LED indicators provides real time feedback
CONS
  • Brightness of LED indicator too dim for the eye but from what we understood, this issue has been fixed in newer models
===
Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device

Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device

  • Equal protection to circuits and receptacles throughout home. Protects appliances/equipment that are not plugged into a surge strip
  • Includes an LED indicator
  • NEMA 4X rated for outdoor/indoor use, 80,000 amp Surge Current Rating, 25,000 amp SCCR. CSA and UL 1449 3rd Edition Type 1 SPD
Check Price

Existing Buyers Review

Most buyers who bought the Square D HEPD80 mentioned that installation was easy for the most part. Some recommended getting a second unit to take care of household appliance-generated surges for the main sub-panels inside the house.

Minor Flaws – What to Expect

Some buyers have had little concern about some units which are made in Mexico instead of the USA.

However, according to support from Schneider Electric, the manufacturing quality is very high due to strict quality assurance. Therefore it does not matter which country manufactures it.

Check out Why Square D HEPD80 Receives Great Reviews in Amazon

Who Should Buy it?

If you are a homeowner with a budget and have a little bit of electrical knowledge as well as having a real need to protect all bulky appliances in the house like A/C unit, washing machine, and dryer, built-in oven, then Square D HEPD80 should probably be in your shopping list.

Who Shouldn’t Buy it?

You are someone who only requires protection for electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, and small electrical items in the house, then getting a TLP808NETG from Tripp Lite would probably be your best bet.

Is the Price Reasonable?

At its current price point, it is very affordable compared to other brands in the market and so if you are on a tight budget but have a serious need to protect electrical appliances for the whole house, the pricing for this Square D surge protector unit should be your best choice in terms of installation-ease and performance.

Check Out The Latest Price Here

Additional Square D HEPD80 Information

Important Product information and Specifications

Part Number: HEPD80

Item Weight: 2.1 pounds

Product Dimensions: 2.7 x 3.8 x 3.6 inches

Item model number: HEPD80

Size: 1-(Pack)

Item Package Quantity: 1

Measurement System: English

Certification: CSA/NEMA/UL

Batteries Included?: No

Batteries Required?: No

Warranty Description: 5 year Product warranty

What Else to Know?

Besides using it for both whole house and office surge protection, HEPD80 can also be used for the following:

Electrical Protection, Control, and Monitoring Solutions
Solar for Residential
Temperature Control
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Electric Vehicle Charging
Load Centers/CSED/Metering

Things to Note During Installing of Square D HEPD80

Be sure to install this Square D device at the main breaker panel.

You will want to clamp the voltage coming into the house where there is good ground.

Do take note that this HEPD80 device comes with sacrificial components (technical term: Metal Oxide Varistor) and has a limited lifetime.

In the event of devastating over-voltages, your breaker panel and HEPD80 will most likely be fried but your wiring and electrical appliances should be well-protected.

Bottom Line – Should You Get It?

Square D HEPD80 is a must-buy for the whole house power surge protection if you already have standalone surge protection strips at home.

Surge protection devices for the whole house together with surge protection strips for all your electronic devices will provide all-rounded protection for your house.

You can finally bid goodbye to all nasty lightning strikes and frequent transient surges.

Unlike what most homeowners believe, transient surges triggered from within the house can cause more damage compared to power spikes from lightning bolts.

We hope this review of the Square D surge protection device is useful and can help you make a better buying decision in buying whole-house surge protection devices.

Marc Edwards
Marc Edwards

Marc Edwards is the co-founder of GagtheSurge and is actively involved in writing review and information articles for the site. He loves traveling and has been to most of the countries across the four major continents. Besides working and traveling, he also enjoys jungle explorations and deep sea diving.

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