Molly Ayala
Power surges are brief spikes in electrical voltage that can damage or destroy electronic devices. They can be caused by a variety of sources, both external and internal to a home. Surge protectors are electrical safety devices that prevent power surges from reaching and damaging equipment. They actively measure the flow of electricity into items and only allow a certain amount to pass through. When that amount is exceeded, the surge protection device redirects the electricity away from the equipment and into the ground. While whole-house surge protectors are designed to handle electrical issues, power strips with built-in surge protection are also available. However, chaining multiple power strips together is not recommended as it can cause issues such as incorrect voltage output, overheating, and even fire.
Characteristics and Values of Surge Protection
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Prevent power surges from reaching and damaging electrical equipment |
| Installation | Wall-mounted, entire property, or connected directly to the wall |
| Functionality | Surge protectors detect voltage levels and redirect excess voltage to the grounding wire of an outlet |
| Protection | Surge protectors sacrifice themselves to protect other electronics and appliances |
| Types | Power strips with surge protectors, wall-mount surge protectors, Ethernet surge protectors |
| Considerations | Not all power strips offer surge protection, some devices should not be plugged into a surge protector |
| Whole-home protection | Requires specific installation steps and considerations |
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What You'll Learn
Power strips with surge protection
Power strips with built-in surge protection can be a great way to power multiple devices while also keeping them safe from power surges. Power surges can occur due to various reasons, such as lightning strikes, downed power lines, or even internal factors like refrigerator motors turning on and off. These surges can damage sensitive devices like smartphones, computers, or televisions, sometimes beyond repair.
Surge protection power strips are available in various shapes and sizes and often cost less than $25. They actively measure the flow of electricity and only allow a certain amount to pass through. When a power surge occurs, the surge protector diverts the excess voltage to the grounding wire of your outlet, preventing damage to your equipment.
It is important to note that not all power strips offer surge protection. Some may look similar to surge protectors but lack the necessary features. When purchasing a power strip, pay attention to whether it provides surge protection or not. A power strip without surge protection will not protect your devices from power surges.
Additionally, surge protectors have a limited lifespan. They are rated in joules, indicating how much electricity they can absorb before becoming ineffective. Once their capacity is reached, they will continue to function as power strips but will no longer provide surge protection. To ensure your devices are always protected, consider choosing a surge protector with a higher joule rating, such as 1000 joules or more, and an indicator light that shows it is fully operational.
If you live in an area prone to power surges or have many electronic devices in your home, you may want to consider whole-home surge protection. This type of protection is installed between your main electrical panel and the electric utility's transformer, providing greater protection than individual power strips with surge protection. Consult with a professional electrician to determine the best surge protection solution for your needs.
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Internal and external power surges
Power surges can be classified into two categories based on their origin: internal and external. Internal power surges occur within a facility, building, or electrical system, while external power surges come from outside sources.
Internal Power Surges
Internal power surges are the most common type of electrical surge and occur when a motorized appliance, such as a refrigerator or air conditioner, shuts off temporarily. The sudden shutdown redirects the electricity it was using to other appliances on the same power grid. This can cause damage to the internal components of electronics, especially those with microprocessors, such as computers, TVs, and even large appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators. Internal power surges can also be caused by electrical overloads, where too much power is drawn from a single circuit, and faulty wiring.
External Power Surges
External power surges are typically caused by weather events, such as lightning strikes, or grid fluctuations. They usually carry higher voltages compared to internal surges and can fry circuits and damage electronic equipment. While large power surges are rare, smaller surges can occur dozens of times a day without being noticed, gradually degrading internal circuitry until it fails.
To protect against power surges, it is important to install surge protection devices (SPDs) and point-of-use surge protectors, which absorb excess power before it reaches susceptible appliances. Additionally, ensuring that large appliances do not share the same circuit or socket can help prevent internal power surges.
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The role of grounding wires
A grounding wire is a safety measure to prevent a house fire or electric shock if there is excess electricity in the wiring system. Ground wires run parallel to other wires to safely discharge excess electricity into the ground. The ground wire serves as a secure route for electrical currents in the event of a short circuit. If a short circuit occurs, the ground wire will trigger the circuit breaker or fuse, offering a safer alternative to a hazardous electrical shock.
The ground wire is an electrical wire that extends into the ground below a building. The solid mass of earth below a building has a negative electrical charge, which means positive electrical charges are naturally attracted to it. A ground wire helps those positive charges get to the ground in a safe, direct and controlled way, where they can be discharged without the risk of electrical shock or fire.
Grounding offers excess electricity the safest and most effective route from an appliance back to the ground by way of an electrical panel. It is a backup pathway, only used if there are faults in the wiring system. A grounding pathway is formed by a system of bare copper wires connected to every device and metal electrical box in a building. In standard sheathed NM, or non-metallic cable, this bare copper wire is present alongside the insulated hot and neutral wires inside the cable. The grounding wires terminate in a grounding bar in the main service panel, which is connected to a rod deep underground outside the building.
The metal plumbing pipes in a building may also be connected to the grounding pathway, and are typically protected by a grounding wire clamped to a metal water pipe near the water heater or where the public water line enters the building. High-power appliances such as power tools and vacuums are much safer when they have a third prong on the plug, which is shaped to fit the round grounding slot on an outlet receptacle. The presence of this third prong shows an appliance has a grounding system, and it's essential to only plug these into grounded outlets.
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The importance of joule ratings
Joule ratings are a crucial factor in determining the effectiveness of a surge protector. A joule is a unit of energy that measures the amount of energy in a power surge in your electrical current. The joule rating of a surge protector indicates how much energy it can absorb during a power surge before it fails. This is often labelled as the surge suppression or surge energy rating in the product specifications.
The higher the joule rating, the more energy the surge protector can absorb, and the better the protection it provides for your devices. For instance, a power strip with a 1,000-joule rating can absorb more surges than one with a 500-joule rating. This makes it ideal for devices that need stronger protection, such as gaming consoles or office equipment. Similarly, a surge protector rated at 2,000 joules will last longer and offer better protection than one rated at 500 joules.
The number of devices connected to a surge protector also influences the required joule rating. As the number of devices increases, a higher joule rating is generally needed to protect against power surges impacting multiple devices simultaneously. High-value electronics like computers, TVs, and gaming consoles typically require higher joule ratings due to their sensitivity and replacement cost.
Additionally, the frequency of power surges in your area should be considered when choosing a joule rating. If you live in a place with frequent storms or unstable electricity, a higher joule rating is recommended. This is because surge protectors with higher joule ratings can absorb more energy and provide better protection against power surges.
In summary, the joule rating of a surge protector is essential as it indicates the level of protection it provides for your devices. By considering the number and type of devices, as well as the frequency of power surges in your area, you can choose a suitable joule rating to ensure effective protection for your valuable electronics.
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Whole-house surge protectors
Unlike standard power strips, which offer minimal protection and only allow you to plug in multiple devices, whole-house surge protectors are designed to handle electrical issues arising from everything from lightning strikes to the wear-and-tear of large appliances cycling on and off. These protectors have a metal oxide varistor (MOV), which detects voltage levels. If high levels of electricity are detected, the MOV will reduce resistance and redirect excess voltage as needed.
When choosing a whole-house surge protector, look for one with a joule rating of at least 1000 joules, as this indicates a higher capacity to absorb surges over time and provides better protection against larger power surges. Additionally, look for devices that meet UL Standard 1449 for the most up-to-date protection and ensure proper grounding to prevent diverted electricity from finding alternative paths and potentially damaging connected devices.
To install a whole-house surge protector, follow these steps: shut off the power to your electricity supply, remove the cover from the electrical supply, check for electricity flow with a voltage tester, find an appropriate area for installation, connect the ground and neutral wires from the protector to your electricity panel, install a double-pole breaker, connect the live wires to the terminals, shorten and strip the wires, and finally, follow the manufacturer's instructions for any additional steps.
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Frequently asked questions
A power surge is when the voltage or electrical current flowing through an electrical system exceeds that system’s maximum capacity.
Surge protection is a preventative measure against the damage caused to your electrical items when a power surge occurs. It works by diverting the excess voltage from the equipment you are attempting to protect.
A surge protector is a piece of electrical safety equipment that prevents power surges from reaching your equipment and damaging it. It does this by passing electricity from your outlet to all of the items plugged into the protector.
There are various types of surge protectors, each designed for a different purpose. The most common type is a power strip with surge protection built-in. Other types include wall-mounted surge protectors, whole-house surge protectors, and Ethernet surge protectors.
