There is a reason why our home electronics just stop working out of the blue. It happens every so often; one minute you’re charging your phone and the next the charger isn’t working no matter which power outlet you connect it to. And the reason behind these unexplained, sudden damages to electronics and gadgets is because of power surges.
Sure there are ways for you to protect your home against these surges, but before we get into explaining what is the purpose of surge protector or any other means of protection against surges, you must first understand what exactly a power surge is and what can trigger it.
What Is a Power Surge?
Sometimes also referred to as an Electrical Surge, a Power Surge can be best described as the unexpected and sudden spike in electrical voltage, caused by numerous reasons which we will explain further.
Power surges, given that they are unexpected spikes can occur at basically any point of the day, and sometimes several times during a single day as well. They can go unnoticed, which is precisely what makes them potentially dangerous. Though the damage to electronic devices can even be harmless, it could also cause enough damage to need immediate repairs or in worst cases, replacing the electronic device entirely. It’s an unexpected, hefty expense might we add.
What Causes Power Surges
There are certain factors that can trigger a power surge, and here are some of the common occurrences that do so.
1. Lightning
Lightning is the number one, and the most obvious of factors that causes power surges within the whole electrical grid. A single lightning bolt carries over millions of volts, so there is no question in that. The voltage from lightning strikes can easily find its way through conductors, into cables and wires and enter your homes and buildings via these mediums. So if there is any electronic device plugged in, it’s best to unplug them – expensive ones especially, during storms.
2. Faulty or Old Wires
How can wiring trigger a power surge on its own? Well, any wire that is faulty or becomes quite old (like those of homes built over 30, 40 years ago) has a lesser electrical resistance. That essentially means that any contact with any conductor can trigger a surge.
So how would you know whether the wiring within the infrastructure of your home is faulty or needs replacement? There are some telltale signs; a burning odor from a power outlet while a device is plugged in, burn marks around an outlet, and sometimes when there is an audible buzzing sound you should know that it’s a problem with the wiring. If you spot any of these signs, it would be best to call in a professional electrician and have it checked out.
3. Overloaded Power Outlets
Yes, you read that right. Overloading a power outlet, whether it is by plugging in multiple devices with high voltage usage through a multi-plug or an extension cord can sometimes trigger a surge. Of course, these two are quite useful to have considering they allow you to plug in multiple devices at a time when there aren’t any more outlets nearby. However, every device has a different requirement when it comes to the voltage, and sometimes an overflow because of one of the few devices plugged in can result in a surge.
4. Power Breakdowns
Have you ever noticed a jump start to your home electricity once the power comes back on? That normally happens when the power to your area is restored after a breakdown, but what isn’t normal about it is the power surges that come with it. A massive influx of electricity let back into the grid can result in an intense supply into our wires and cables and eventually into our electronics – more than they require.
Surge Protectors to Protect Your Home Electronics
There isn’t exactly a solution to solving the problem of power surges once and for all – they are simply like a ‘side effect’ of electricity you can say. However, you can use Surge Protectors to protect your electronic devices from the sudden spikes in voltage or excessive voltage passing through an outlet.
Surge Protectors are similar to power extension cords, and also come in the form of multi-plug sockets that you can plug into a power outlet. It lets you connect multiple devices, or even just the one to a power outlet – only that surge protectors work differently from the usual extension cords or multi-plug sockets. Here’s what they can do: surge protectors unlike their regular counterparts come with built-in circuit breakers that is meant to ground the excess voltage instead of letting it pass through itself and onto your devices. It only lets on the required amount of voltage.
Are they long-lasting though? Well, surge protectors are not exactly the permanent solution to protecting your devices. They merely provide a temporary solution up until they run their course – and that depends entirely on how many times they have endured power surges. It could very well be anything between a couple of months or even 2 to 3 years.
Would we say that surge protectors are reliable? They are your best bet at protecting your home electronics from the damage that can otherwise be caused by power surges. Though they are pricier than a regular extension cord or multi-plug, it is worth the money given that in turn it saves you hundreds of dollars that you would have had to pay up otherwise should your electronics get damaged in the process.
