People sometimes confuse surge protectors with ability strips, but they're two very different technologies. Information technology's important to acquire the departure, as just one of them will protect your devices from a power fasten!

Let's explore what a surge protector does and how information technology works.

What Does a Surge Protector Practice?

Before nosotros can define how a surge protector works, we need to define what information technology's protecting your electronics from---an electrical surge.

Think of the flow of electricity like water running through a pipe. Water moves from one terminate of a pipage to the other end due to water pressure---water moves from high pressure to depression pressure.

Electricity operates in a similar way, moving from areas of high electric potential free energy to areas of depression electric potential energy. In this case, it's from one finish of a wire to the other end.

Voltage is a measure out of this electric potential energy---more than specifically, the difference in electric potential free energy. When the voltage increases in a higher place the norm for at least 3 nanoseconds, it'south chosen a surge.

If the voltage of the wire is too great---meaning the difference in electric potential energy from one stop to the other is too high---then the electricity will surge through. This heats up the wire; if information technology gets hot enough, it tin burn the wire and render it useless.

The surge protector has one task: detect excess voltage and divert the extra electricity into the grounding wire. This is why all surge protectors will take a grounding pin (the third prong on a plug) and all surge protectors must be plugged into a properly grounded outlet for them to piece of work as intended.

What Is an Electric Surge?

So what causes an electric surge? Most people think that the biggest culprit of electrical surging is lightning, but that's not wholly true.

Lightning can and does cause electrical surges, but it'southward not equally common equally other causes. In fact, ownership a surge protector to save your electronics from a thunderstorm may not work in your favor.

While good surge protectors can accept on a surge caused past a distant thunderstorm, a virtually or straight hit from a lightning bolt will fry it. As such, the best protection against thunderstorms is to unplug your electronics.

The chief culprits of electrical surges are devices that crave lots of power to operate. Depending on the wiring of your domicile, y'all may find at times that your lights flicker when powerful devices turn on and off, such as your air conditioner.

If these devices are switched on, they demand a lot of electricity, which puts a lot of strain on the filigree and can cause surges.

Are Surge Protectors Necessary?

Given how surges can happen at any fourth dimension, you don't need to worry about when to utilise a protector; merely use it all the time. The real question is what y'all should plug into a surge protector.

You don't need a surge protector for your desk lamp or your continuing fan, but you practise want a surge protector for expensive devices that accept intricate microprocessors, similar computers, televisions, stereo systems, and media centers. In short, anything electronic and expensive benefits from a surge protector.

Think of information technology this mode: if at that place was an electrical surge that destroyed all of the devices connected to your outlets, which lost devices would hurting you lot the most? Plug those into a surge protector. It's better to be prophylactic than sorry.

On an offbeat note, surge protectors can be useful for reducing cable clutter and improving organization with your electronics. All of the cables stop up being directed to the same destination, making it much easier for y'all to handle them all neatly.

Choosing the Best Surge Protector For You

It can be difficult finding the correct surge protector for your needs at a good value. What makes a surge protector good? And why are some surge protectors much more expensive than others? Are there whatever features you should be looking out for?

Allow's break downwardly the nuts to wait out for when getting a surge protector.

Indicator Lights

Surge protectors only have a limited lifespan depending on how hard they piece of work. Even when the surge protector properly diverts a surge, the protector itself can suffer harm in the process.

Every bit such, one of the nearly important features is an indicator light. An indicator light will allow y'all know that your surge protector is working fine. Is the indicator light not working? Time to buy a new surge protector.

UL Rating

As for protection ability, expert surge protectors will come with a UL rating, a rating put out by the independent Underwriters Laboratories that test the safety of electronic devices.

Don't bother with a surge protector that doesn't have a UL rating. Likewise, make sure that the product is a "transient voltage surge suppressor" equally many UL-rated power strips nonetheless might not offer surge protection.

Clamping Voltage

The clamping voltage is the measurement that prompts the surge protector to start redirecting the excess electricity away from the plugged-in devices. In other words, a surge protector with a lower clamping voltage will trigger before, thus protecting your devices quicker.

Any surge protector with a clamping voltage beneath 400 volts should be good plenty for home utilize.

Joule Rating

This is the maximum amount of energy the surge protector can absorb. If the surge breaches this maximum, information technology renders the surge protector useless.

The higher the joule rating, the more energy can be captivated by the surge protector, so a higher joule rating will often point a longer lifespan for the production.

For all-time household protection, you'll want a surge protector with a joule rating of at least 600.

Response Time

The response time is how long it takes for the surge protector to detect a surge in electricity. A lower value means a faster response. This reduces the time that your plugged-in devices are exposed to the surge, thus protecting them better.

Ideally, you'll want a surge protector with a response time of 1 nanosecond or faster.

If you're even so stuck on which surge protector to buy, don't worry. We covered your best options in our article on the all-time surge protectors for every use case, from the budget-minded spender to someone protecting an expensive home movie house.

Defending Against the Surge

All electrical grids experience electric surges; some more than others. These surges can damage electronics and surge protectors are there to control them as much equally possible.

You'll want to use surge protectors for complex and valuable electronics, such as computers, appliances, and media centers. Continue in mind that information technology's not enough to take a surge protector; y'all need one that's properly suited to your needs.

Given how power-hungry devices cause surges, it's a practiced idea to learn how much energy your PC uses in case it'due south a prime culprit.

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About The Writer

Simon Batt (751 Articles Published)

A Computer science BSc graduate with a deep passion for all things security. Subsequently working for an indie game studio, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set up to write about all things tech.

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