A few households have really experienced the real pain of not having a surge protector. I have lost expensive electronics to power surges before. It is not a fun experience. I remember one time, during a storm, our power went out and came back on really quickly. That caused a huge surge in our home’s electrical system that went through my computer’s power strip (which did not have surge protection) and ruined my computer’s power supply. I was not a happy camper.
Another time, we had a fire in our home and the firefighters had to cut through our electrical lines to get the fire under control. That created another surge that went through our home’s electrical system and ruined a few more electronics that were plugged into power strips without surge protection.
So, from my experience, I can tell you that surge protectors are absolutely necessary if you want to protect your expensive electronics from power surges. But what exactly is a power surge?
What Is a Power Surge?
A power surge, also called an electrical surge or voltage spike, is a sudden increase in voltage in an electrical circuit. Power surges can be caused by lightning strikes, downed power lines, faulty wiring, or simply when your power company makes sudden adjustments to the voltage it’s supplying to your home.
In most cases, a power surge is not a big deal and your electronics will be fine. But if the voltage spike is large enough, it can damage or destroy your electronic devices. That’s why it’s important to have surge protection for your most expensive electronics.
Benefits of Surge Protectors
Surge protectors provide a vital line of defense against power surges. They work by absorbing the excess voltage and redirecting it away from your electronics.
Surge protectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they have multiple outlets that allow you to plug in multiple devices. Some surge protectors also come with USB ports so you can charge your phones and other devices.
The best surge protector for your needs will depend on how many devices you need to protect and what type of devices they are. For example, if you have a lot of devices that need to be plugged in, you’ll want to get a surge protector with a high number of outlets. And if you have sensitive electronics, like computers or TVs, you’ll want to make sure the surge protector you get can handle those devices.
Drawbacks of Surge Protectors
Surge protectors are not perfect.
- They can only absorb so much voltage before they are overwhelmed and stop working. That’s why it’s important to get a surge protector that is rated for more than the highest voltage spike you’re likely to experience.
- Another drawback of surge protectors is that they don’t last forever. The components inside them can wear out over time, so it’s important to replace your surge protector every few years to make sure it’s still working properly.
Safety Precautions When Using Surge Protectors
Surge protectors are a great way to protect your electronics, but there are a few safety precautions you should take when using them.
- First, make sure you plug the surge protector into a wall outlet that is not overloaded. Overloaded outlets are a fire hazard, so it’s important to make sure you’re not adding more devices than the outlet can handle.
- Second, don’t plug surge protectors into each other. This can cause a fire.
- And finally, make sure you replace your surge protector every few years to make sure it’s still working properly.
Is a surge protector necessary?
As someone who has had firsthand experience with the damage that can be caused by power surges, I can tell you that surge protectors are absolutely necessary if you want to protect your expensive electronics. But what exactly is a power surge?
A power surge, also called an electrical surge or voltage spike, is a sudden increase in voltage in an electrical circuit. Power surges can be caused by lightning strikes, downed power lines, faulty wiring, or simply when your power company makes sudden adjustments to the voltage it’s supplying to your home.
In most cases, a power surge is not a big deal and your electronics will be fine. But if the voltage spike is large enough, it can damage or destroy your electronic devices. That’s why it’s important to have surge protection for your most expensive electronics.