The Three P’s of Surge Protection

No matter where you live, your home will experience power surges, and surprisingly, they are a common occurrence. Power surges can damage valuable electronics like TVs and computers, along with smaller, more sensitive devices like smartphones and tablets. To protect the devices you care about most, investing in a surge protector is vital.

Protection is important

Surge protectors come in handy during summer storms, and help protect your devices from sudden power surges. A surge protector detects and diverts excess voltage to the ground wire before a surge can reach and harm your electronics. They often come in the shape of a power strip and offer outlets for multiple devices.

Power events are a frequent occurrence

Many people naturally think of lightning strikes when naming something that causes a power surge. However, the most common electrical surges are caused by sudden increases in power when large appliances are turned on. The most typical culprits to cause power surges are large appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners, but that doesn’t mean small devices like hairdryers and power tools can’t do as much harm over time. Low-level power surges won’t blow fuses or trip circuit breakers, but they can cause gradual degrading of internal circuitry until it eventually ruins your electronics.

Purchase the right surge protection

There are many options for surge protectors. Three important factors to keep consider when shopping are: 

• The number of outlets
• Joule rating
• Clamping voltage

The joule rating is the amount of energy that can be absorbed, and the clamping voltage is the amount of voltage that redirects excess electricity. The options are endless, with a variety of features from being fireproof, including USB chargers, wide-spaced outlets, safe-fall protection, and energy-saving features.