Surge protectors are everywhere, but many people don’t fully understand what they do. These handy devices protect your electronics from harmful power surges and spikes. Here’s how they work and why they matter.
The Basics of Surge Protectors
Surge protectors prevent power surges from damaging your devices and appliances. Too much voltage can overheat wires and shorten the lifespan of electronics, even if there’s no immediate failure. If surges are bad enough, they can cause damage to the electrical system in your home, as they can fry wires and lead to electrical fires.
These surges and spikes are much more common than you’d think. A surge protector takes the excess voltage of these surges and sends it to a ground wire rather than let it damage whatever is plugged in. This can also help prevent electrical fires by ensuring the wires don’t heat enough to ignite anything nearby.
How Surge Protectors Work
Your average plug-in surge protector you can find at the store will likely use metal oxide varistors (MOVs). MOVs help absorb the surge and direct the excess to the ground wire instead of letting it harm your devices. Most quality surge protectors will also include other mechanisms to help keep voltage at a safe level.
Surge protectors that are plugged into the outlet can handle the typical surges and spikes during daily use. They typically can’t handle very large spikes like a lightning strike. If you want to protect your electrical items in the event of a major event like a lightning strike, you’ll need a whole home surge protector.
Picking a Surge Protector
Point-of-use surge protectors are the most common, and they come in both single-outlet and power strip formats. You can buy them in many sizes, but always make sure you buy one that can handle all the devices you want to plug in. If you need to protect large appliances like a fridge, there are single outlet surge protectors or a special outlet installed by an electrician.
You can also opt for a surge protector that covers your whole home. These are installed by an electrician and help protect everything plugged into your home. Because there are several options available, you will want to consult with an electrician to choose the one that will be best for your household.
Even if you avoid a dramatic surge like a lightning strike, minor surges can still damage your appliances and electronics. If you’re ready to get surge protection for your home, trust the local expert electricians of Rush Electric, located here in Memphis, TN.
