When you think of a surge protector, you likely think of a power bar. Surge protectors are commonly used when putting together a computer system. When you plug in multiple electronics into one power bar and then plug that into one outlet, a built-in surge protector can protect your electronics from surges in the electrical system.
You can also purchase surge protectors that allow just one item to be plugged into them. These are called point-of-use surge protectors. Bring this idea to a much larger scale and consider a surge protector that can protect the entire house from these surges. How do they work? Are they truly effective? How much do they cost?
Before going into how a surge protector works, it is important to know what surges are. A power surge in your electrical system can also be referred to as transient voltage. Basically, it’s a significant and often sudden increase in voltage that is above and beyond what your circuit was designed to handle. Let’s say an electrical system has a standard voltage of 120 volts.
If that voltage suddenly spikes above 120 volts, it can destroy or damage any electronics plugged into it. Think of it like a water hose that has too much water pressure. Eventually, it will burst. Your electrical system will react in a similar manner. Even if it doesn’t break your electronic, it will cause premature wear and tear on them.
infographic by: blog.renovationfind.com
