Why surge protector

If this hits your home or the power lines connected to your home, it is strong enough to immediately fry any electronic device, shatter glass or brick with its immense shock wave, and even start a fire with its terrific heat. Certainly, using a surge protector won't stop lightning from striking.

However, when it inevitably does strike, your electronics will be protected from the massive electric surge lightning produces. Surge protectors basically act as a buffer between your devices and the live current coming out of your wall. They monitor the flow of electricity and any time there is a surge or spike in the electrical charge, they divert that extra electricity through a built-in grounding wire. This prevents the extra charge from reaching your devices and bringing them to an untimely death.

When choosing a surge protector, make sure you select one that has a low response time, high energy absorption rating, and a low clamping voltage. This reduces the time that your plugged-in devices are exposed to the surge, thus protecting them better.

Ideally, you'll want a surge protector with a response time of 1 nanosecond or faster. If you're still stuck on which surge protector to buy, don't worry. We covered your best options in our article on the best surge protectors for every use case, from the budget-minded spender to someone protecting an expensive home cinema. All electrical grids experience electrical surges; some more than others. These surges can damage electronics and surge protectors are there to control them as much as possible.

You'll want to use surge protectors for complex and valuable electronics, such as computers, appliances, and media centers. Keep in mind that it's not enough to have a surge protector; you need one that's properly suited to your needs. Given how power-hungry devices cause surges, it's a good idea to learn how much energy your PC uses in case it's a prime culprit.

Learn how to set up your home network securely, keeping your devices and data safe at all times. A Computer Science BSc graduate with a deep passion for all things security. After working for an indie game studio, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Let's explore what a surge protector does and how it works. What Does a Surge Protector Do? How to Set Up a Secure Home Network Learn how to set up your home network securely, keeping your devices and data safe at all times.

Share Share Tweet Email. Simon Batt Articles Published. Subscribe to our newsletter Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals! In the situation of electrical excesses, however, rather than bursting, electrical lines and appliances burn up, or at the very least wear down over time. To accomplish this, they need the help of special components. How is all that pressure, or excess electrical energy, diverted?

When voltage reaches a certain point, surge protectors simply re-route that extra energy with the help of what is essentially a pressure-sensitive valve. With the correct voltage, current flows through as normal, but with a spike or surge, the device kicks-in immediately and redirects the excess.

Commonly used devices for managing this pressure in surge protectors include metal oxide varistors MOV and gas discharge arrestors, which allow electrical devices to continue operation while diverting excess energy to grounding wires. Due to the nature of surge protection devices, all three of the following surge protection types - or at least Type 2 and Type 3 devices - are needed for adequate protection:. By: Satish Balakrishnan. Dictionary Dictionary Term of the Day.

Gorilla Glass. Techopedia Terms. Connect with us. Sign up. Term of the Day. Best of Techopedia weekly. News and Special Offers occasional. Surge Protector.