Quick answer: have a licensed electrician install a UL 1449 listed Type 1 or Type 2 surge protective device (SPD) at your breaker panel, sized to your service. If your panel has room for a plug-in breaker-style unit made for it, that’s the simplest install.
Severe thunderstorms are Texas’s most common costly weather: they make up more than half of the 190 billion-dollar weather disasters NOAA has counted affecting the state since 1980 [1]. The National Weather Service says lightning can travel into a house through electrical, phone, plumbing and cable lines and damage electronics some distance from the strike [2]. Since September 1, 2023, Texas has used the 2023 National Electrical Code [3], which requires a surge protective device on services supplying homes, including when service equipment is replaced [4].
At a glance
How we chose
- UL 1449 listing as a Type 1 or Type 2 device, the types the code allows [4]. We give the UL 1449 edition when the maker states it.
- Nominal discharge current (In) and voltage protection rating (VPR) listed where the maker publishes them, since they’re easier to compare than headline surge numbers. Two picks below don’t publish them on the product page, and we say so.
- Status indicator, so you can see when the protection is used up.
- Recall check: we searched the CPSC recall database on November 2, 2026 [9]. A 2020 recall covered Schneider Electric’s Surgeloc devices, a different line from the Square D units here.
Our picks
Best for: Most homes, installed beside the breaker panel
Leviton B2120-B Type 2 Surge Protective Device
Strong ratings for a residential unit and a 20 kA nominal discharge rating, with lights and an audible alarm when protection is lost.
- UL 1449 5th Edition, cULus, Type 2 [5]
- 65 kA per mode, 130 kA per phase [5]
- 20 kA nominal discharge (In) [5]
- 200 kA short-circuit current rating [5]
- LED status and audible alarm [5]
Safety check: Listed to UL 1449 5th Edition per Leviton. No CPSC recall found for this model (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Needs an electrician and a breaker space. A 5-year limited warranty is shorter than some competitors offer.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Installing at the meter or ahead of the main breaker
Leviton P2120-B Type 1 Surge Protective Device
Type 1 rating means it can go on the line side of the service, useful when your main panel is crowded or outdoors. Polycarbonate NEMA 4X enclosure for outdoor mounting.
- UL 1449 5th Edition, cULus, Type 1 [6]
- 50 kA per mode and per phase [6]
- 20 kA nominal discharge (In) [6]
- NEMA 4X enclosure [6]
- LED status and audible alarm [6]
Safety check: Listed to UL 1449 5th Edition per Leviton. No CPSC recall found for this model (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Lower per-phase surge rating than the B2120-B. Line-side installation is a job for a licensed electrician.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Homes with a Square D panel
Square D HEPD80 Surge Protection Device
Externally mounted Type 1 device from Square D, with touch-safe terminals, if you'd rather match your panel's brand.
- Type 1 SPD, 120/240V single phase, 3 wire [7]
- 80 kA rating [7]
- Externally mounted [7]
Safety check: Schneider Electric says the product's characteristics are certified by UL. No CPSC recall found for the HEPD80 (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Schneider's product page doesn't list the nominal discharge rating, voltage protection rating or warranty; check the datasheet linked there before you buy.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Square D QO panels with an open two-pole space
Square D QO2175SB QO SurgeBreaker
Plugs straight onto the panel's bus like a breaker, so lead lengths are as short as possible and installation is simple for an electrician.
- Type 1, 120/240V single phase [8]
- 25 kA surge current [8]
- Complies with UL 1449 and CSA C22.2 [8]
- For QO load centers only [8]
Safety check: Complies with UL 1449 per Schneider Electric. No CPSC recall found for the QO2175SB (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Lowest surge rating on this page, and it only fits QO panels. Schneider's page doesn't list the nominal discharge rating.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Buying guide
- Match your panel. Plug-on units only fit their own panel brand. Look at the label inside your panel door.
- Type 1 or Type 2. Either satisfies the code [4]. Type 1 can go ahead of the main breaker; Type 2 goes after it.
- Compare nominal discharge (In) and voltage protection rating (VPR). Higher In and lower VPR are better. Peak kA numbers are the least useful figure.
- Hire a licensed electrician. TDLR licenses Texas electricians, and the code says the device must be part of or right next to the service equipment [3][4].
- Add plug-in strips for expensive electronics. A panel device and a point-of-use strip work in layers.
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, Texas summary
- National Weather Service: Lightning Safety Indoors
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Electricians Compliance Guide
- Leviton: NEC Code Requirements for Surge (NEC 230.67 text)
- Leviton: B2120-B Type 2 Surge Protective Device
- Leviton: P2120-B Type 1 Surge Protective Device
- Schneider Electric: Square D HEPD80
- Schneider Electric: Square D QO2175SB
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls database
Common questions
Does Texas require a whole-home surge protector?
Texas adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code, effective September 1, 2023. Its section 230.67 says services supplying dwelling units must have a Type 1 or Type 2 surge-protective device, and the rule applies when service equipment is replaced. Your electrician and local inspector apply it.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?
Type 1 devices can be installed on the line side of the service, ahead of the main breaker; Type 2 devices go on the load side, usually in or next to the breaker panel. The code accepts either for a home's service.
Will a surge protector save my electronics from lightning?
Not from a direct or nearby strike. The National Weather Service says typical surge protectors will not protect equipment from a lightning strike. A whole-home device helps with smaller surges; unplugging before a storm (never during one) is the only sure protection.