Surge Protectors

 

It is rather topical that as I write about surge protectors there is a severe thunderstorm warning for the Portland Metro area. If you’ve been hearing those menacing booms and crashes in the distance (or really, really close as was the case here), perhaps you’ve given some thought to whether your electronics are protected.

Most people are familiar with the standard $5 surge protector- the power strip most people plug their computers into. Honestly, a cheap surge protector is not going to do much in the way of protecting.

But first things first-

What is a power surge?

A surge is a sudden increase in voltage significantly above the designated level for a given electrical system. The standard voltage for most home/office systems is 120 volts. When the voltage surges above 120, it can result in significant damage to your computer and electronics. The effect of a power surge is similar to too much water pressure in a hose- eventually the hose will burst. An electrical wire “bursts” when too much voltage is forced through, but the burst takes the form of overheating and burning.

What causes a surge?

A surge can be caused by many things-

• Lightning. It is uncommon, but if lightning strikes near a power line it can happen. During a lightning storm you cannot rely on a surge protector, no matter how strong. Your best bet is to unplug your computer entirely.

• High-power electrical devices. Devices like elevators, air conditioners and  refrigerators require a lot of power to turn on because of components like motors and compressors. A sudden, brief demand for power can disrupt steady voltage flow. The damage caused by this kind of surge can be gradual, so you may not realize that something is wrong until it’s too late to fix it.

• Other possible causes include faulty wiring, fault equipment, and downed power lines.

Where do you most need a surge protector?

Small home appliances, electronics, and computers all contain microprocessors, which are delicate and require steady voltage in order to function. The wiring of items with microprocessors will be damaged much more quickly if a surge occurs. A surge protector will extend the life of your computer, high-end electronic equipment (like entertainment centers) etc.

And now, Safety Dog will wrap it up for us!

Good afternoon, citizens. Here’s the deal: you need a surge protector! I was in the middle of some important business on my very fancy and expensive dogputer last week when my cuteness caused the power to surge! If I hadn’t had a surge protector with an indicator light letting me know that it was functional, evil would be running rampant!

Just kidding. Dogs don’t have computers, silly person. But if we DID, we would definitely use a surge protector. And you should, too!