Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased a house in Florida last year with some new Samsung appliances and have been meaning to get a whole house surge protector. The amount of storms here are nothing like where I moved from in Virginia. Finally bit the bullet after researching whole house surge protectors and decided to go with this one. Highest protection ratings for the price, and it can take a few hits unlike the under $100 ones that are toast once they are used. Of course this isn't a direct lightning strike device but from what I've researched it will safely dump surges both from the supply and service side. Big surges are bad, but little ones you don't notice over time are just as bad to devices. The unit is a lot larger than I thought it would be. I was thinking it was the size of a metal one gang outlet box you commonly see outside, but this thing is like one of those that Hulked up. It also is extremely well built feeling and looks like it's worth the money. I'm no professional electrician but I can run lines for new breakers and do minor electric work no problem. If you have no issues opening a breaker panel and yanking the dead front off, this is a DIY job. It was a little interesting trying to find a clear answer on the best way to install these as it's not very clear, but the consensus I've read is "as close the main disconnect breaker, and before any other ones, if possible" and "the shortest lead wires to live-neutral-ground as possible". The length of the wires from the device to the breaker/neutral/ground is the most important item though, as the longer they are, the slower (by nanoseconds) the device handles surges. The device has about 3-4 feet of 10 gauge wire with it and anyone not doing the research would think installing it with that is fine when you'd actually be degrading your protection. Anything under 12 inches is ideal, with no longer than 18 inches. This is alluded to in the installation instructions but not specified. I relocated my A/C compressor breaker below this as I have only that in the outside panel. Everything else runs off a feeder panel inside. My installation has this at the top most breaker position so that it is the absolute first thing from the supply side that would be hit. I also installed it so that all the lead wires are less than 4 inches long. That being said, this is more of a peace of mind and insurance policy against electrical surges. You hook it up and it just sits there waiting to protect. The lack of any type of feedback that it's doing anything when it protects against a surge that doesn't overload it, as well as the price, is probably why people won't get one. I see the benefit in one, and coupled with high insurance deductibles if a surge did take out my 'smart' appliances and devices, I'd much rather dump the $250 now and know that I'm protected. Others have noted the bright LED lights on this unit but I didn't see any pictures so attached my installation showing it at night. They definitely are bright. Overall, happy to know my whole house is protected now!