Surge Protection Safety
These point-of-use surge protectors protect your valuable electronics from smaller, internal fluctuations in power. They are not, however, designed to absorb high-voltage surges caused by an external force-like nearby lightning strikes or damaged power lines.
Important note: Not all power strips have surge protection abilities. Make sure your power strip actually has the ability to protect your equipment from surges.
Whole house power surge protection
Whole-house (built-in) surge protector outlets are hard-wired into your main electrical panel. They will protect all of the devices located in your home from outside the home surges. These include devices located in your home office, appliances and expensive electronics everywhere else. This is the most reliable way to preserve these important and often expensive assets, especially if you have an additional sub-panel.
What is a power surge?
A power surge is a sudden increase in voltage that substantially exceeds the standard 120 volts. It can cause wiring inside devices to overheat and start to burn. This occurrence can affect devices with microprocessors (small computer chips) in them.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), power surges are “one of the most severe, common and immediate dangers to modern, sensitive electronic equipment.” Power surges can put a strain on a device, affect its performance and over time even destroy it. For instance:
- Computers
- Phones
- Stereos
- Televisions
- Receivers and other audio equipment
- High-tech kitchen appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, coffeemaker)
- Air conditioner/heat pump
- Electric furnace
Larger power surges
Operating appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, clothes dryers, and other heavy-duty electrical devices can cause power surges. Why? Because they require a large amount of electricity to toggle on and off. This demand can disrupt the constant flow of voltage in a normal electrical system.
In addition, other factors can cause power surges, such as:
- Downed power lines
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Lightening
- Power plant problems
You need both power strip and whole-house surge protectors to protect your sensitive devices, valuable electronics, and home appliances from electrical surge damage generated from in-home and outside surges.