Safeguard Your Equipment with a Surge Protector

Posted by ttblogger on 03/28 at 04:03 PM Discuss in Forums • Permalink
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Electricity is a funny thing. When it’s flowing normally through the power lines and into our homes and electronic devices, it’s wonderful. But, sometimes, that electricity can turn against us.

How? A lightning storm, a bird or animal hitting a power line or transformer, or a freak accident. Any of those incidents, and many others, can cause a power surge, which is a spike in the amount of electricity that’s moving through the power lines into your home. A surge can bring with it anywhere from five to 10 times the normal amount of electricity.

As you’ve probably guessed, a power surge can play havoc with electronics like desktop computers, printers, televisions and audio systems. So much so that the surge can damage or destroy the delicate insides of those devices.

You can, however, prevent or minimize the damage done by power surges using a surge protector.

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    Posted by Peter Roberts  on  03/28  at  12:44 PM

  1. You might want to add that some power companies offer surge protection at the electrical service entrance to your home. In my area, the Connecticut Light and Power Company will install a surge protector as part of its metering equipment for a nominal monthly charge.  This provides whole-house protection.

    Also, don’t forget that telephone lines are subject to power surges and a line protector is a good idea. And if you use VOIP, a line protector on your cable line might be wise.

    2. Posted by tom42  on  03/28  at  01:23 PM

  2. What about those big heavy transformer-like things they used to sell for voltage stabilization-did they do any good? What about having a good sized ups in the line. Does that offer any protection?
    my own opinion of MOVs is that they’re too slow.

    3. Posted by HLBerg  on  03/28  at  01:52 PM

  3. Hi-
    One comment on surge suppressors:  why does one need this device at all when the active MOV devices cost ~$1, are small in size (about the size of a ceramic disc capacitor), and can be easily incorporated into the sensitive electronic devices one is trying to protect.  In fact, properly designed and engineered power supplies that reside within your computers, dvd players, home theater components, etc contain all the surge suppression one is likely to need.  If these MOV devices are not present, why?  Is there a conspiracy to sell power strips with these cheap devices inside so that the prices of the strips can be doubled or tripled?  Is one merely buying insurance based on a carefully manipulated fear?

    4. Posted by Howard  on  03/28  at  02:00 PM

  4. I still do not know of ANYBODY who has ever successfully filed and been paid on a claim for a surge protector.  While they do protect somewhat… and are good to have… when your line gets a serious large hit, you’re just hosed.  Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups, and carry low deductible homeowners insurance… for the microwave, tv, audio system, computer(s), alarm clocks, and all the other goodies that DO get fried.  Been there, done that.

    5. Posted by John McFarlane  on  03/28  at  02:02 PM

  5. There is a major error in tech tip 261 which may lead someone to buy a device that offers no protection! Many devices that are sold as power strips have no surge suppression devices in them.
    One must make sure that the package or the device states the it is in fact a surge suppressor!

    6. Posted by davin  on  03/28  at  02:31 PM

  6. these tech-tips are freakin’ awesome, you guys totally friggin ROCK

    they are always well-written, to-the-point, and fun to read

    hope they keep coming for a long, long time

    GEEKS.COM IS THE BEST !!

    7. Posted by Steve  on  03/28  at  06:33 PM

  7. Good article but it didn’t address a common question that I have which is: Does a surge protector ever wear out?  After protecting you from a number of surges, does the protection level degrade significantly?

    8. Posted by Paul Archibald  on  03/28  at  07:31 PM

  8. Your article was good reading; however, I think you missed the largest point facing readers.  I am sure thousands of us have surge protectors already installed that may have a problem we don’t even suspect, IS THIS TRUE? 

    I am referring to the rumor I heard years ago that the clamping device is destroyed when it does battle with a big surge, succeeds in that job, (and is destroyed), but the user never knows it.  Ergo, we all think we are protected, but we are not.  How about that?

    9. Posted by dave k  on  03/29  at  02:13 AM

  9. If power surges, have been such a long known problem. Why don’t the electronic manufacturers have built in surge protection?

    10. Posted by Dan  on  03/29  at  05:44 AM

  10. I have to disagree with this articule. A few years back, I did some research into this very topic to try and resolve some hospital equipment failures. Some of the problems with the common surge protectors are: 1)they use MOVs 2)they shunt the surges to the gound line AND the nuetral line 3)the MOVs have a limit on the number of strikes it can handle before it will fail 4)there are conditions that do occur when this type of surge protector will cause the electronic failures 5)there is no way of knowning as to when this type of surge protector needs to be replace unless it goes snap, crackle, pop, and smoke. As a side note, every PC power supply as well as TVs already have MOVs in them. My research lead me to a product called the “Brickwall” We installed the “Brickwall” and it stopped the equipment failures. Just go to their web site to get the full details as to why it works better than any of the common ones sold at your local store, or, you can ask me for a summary. Side note: I have a small PC service only business (no sales of products), therefore, I am not a representative of the Brickwall, nor do I work for them, but I do have 35 years of electronic hardware service experience at the component level.

    11. Posted by Technical Consultant  on  03/29  at  11:20 AM

  11. Money well spent but understand that if lighting wants it, it will. There are more expensive protectors that will work better and actual have an insurance policies to cover equipment down the line from it. (I think the insurance is part of the the reason they are more expensive, but I have disasembled them and they do have lot more robust components). Understand I do this for a living. In install church organs and pa systems and I have seen equipment costing thousands of dollars be replaced or repaired by having a good insured suppressor/protector. Also property insurance sometimes have lighting/surge clauses. Remember to read the “fine Print” and know what you buy. Oh, one other thing, you can verify lighting strikes by referring to services availible. Insurance companies require all the evidence they can aquire.
    on the net.

    12. Posted by Carlos  on  03/29  at  02:37 PM

  12. How oftern should I replace a surge protector? Does the protection last forever?

    13. Posted by Jim  on  03/29  at  03:31 PM

  13. Use the term “power strip” cautiously… most power strips are NOT surge suppressors, even though they look pretty much the same. A power strip is, typically, the electrical equivalent of an extension cord with a switch (and extra outlets). It does nothing to protect your computer or electronics

    It is also important to note that the outlets in a surge suppressor are not isolated from one another (usually). I have seen vaccuum cleaners and even a percolator type coffee pot plugged into a surge suppressor that damaged the computer that was supposed to be protected.

    Finally, do not assume that you have a good ground at the wall outlet. You MUST have a good ground for a surge suppresor to be of any use AT ALL. Do not use a two-prong adapter. Buy a cheap tester from Harbor Freight, Home Depot, or Lowes. It will tell you if your outlet is wired and grounded properly. These are usually under $15.

    Bad grounding is, in my experience, the most common reason for ‘fried’ electronics.

    14. Posted by Javier  on  04/01  at  05:58 AM

  14. This is a good blog. Thanks…

    15. Posted by Net Nanny 6.5  on  04/01  at  10:45 AM

  15. how much it costs to buy it?

    16. Posted by Net Nanny 6.5  on  04/02  at  06:57 AM

  16. how much does a surge protector cost?

    17. Posted by Computer Repair Services in Okemos Michigan  on  04/14  at  11:42 AM

  17. When we install networks of computers in businesses, we always get the top of the line surge protectors because if you run your own company, you can’t afford one second without power in our opinions. Great article, keep it up!

    18. Posted by peddu  on  04/21  at  03:55 PM

  18. A few dollars spent now preventing your home business office electrical equipment being destroyed could save you thousands if this should ever happen to you.

    Here in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, we have been having some tropical storms with the usual thunder and lightning. During one storm I discovered that my power connector for all my home office plugs did not have a power surge function.

    For those of you who aren’t sure what a power surge protector is; an electrical power surge protector is a device that stops electricity surges from damaging the electric circuitry in your home and electric appliances. It acts by absorbing unusually large amounts of electric power before they reach your appliances.

    I was not sure what to use and did some research online first.Internet sites varied in formation, from the “just pull out all the plugs in a storm”, to “get an electrician in to put a power surge device on the main breaker box”. On reflection I realised that we were covered for contents insurance so if the electrical equipment in the house became damaged in a storm they could be replaced. The only problem to worry about was that if my home business office equipment became damaged then I was effectively out of business. One power surge and all would be lost. It was really a “no-brainer”!

    I decided to go out and purchase an individual power surge device for my home business office electrical equipment. This consists of two laptops, one printer/copier, a router, a wireless connector and one telephone. This seemed the simplest option.

    It didn’t take me long to connect it up with all my plugs under my office desk.

    Check you are covered, because a few dollars spent now can insure your home business techie gear. One simple device, a power surge protector, connected up now, really is a simple and economical method of keeping your home business office equipment safe from serious electrical damage.

    Peddu
    hostcats.com

    19. Posted by church website design  on  10/13  at  02:32 AM

  19. thank you for sharing this informative .. info .. nice

    church website design

    20. Posted by Appliance Repairs, Appliance Spare parts  on  11/28  at  03:52 AM

  20. Nice blog.keep up the good work.
    Appliance Repairs, Appliance Spare parts

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