If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance you own one or more power strip-style surge protectors. You probably know that they prevent electrical voltage spikes from frying anything plugged into them. But do you know how they do that? And are you aware that there is more than one kind of surge protector? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about surge protectors and how they keep your electronics safe.

How Do Surge Protectors Work?

The average plug-in surge protector holds a handful of components to protect connected devices. Varistors are the most critical part. Varistors are interesting devices typically made of metal oxide. The material is a conductor that exhibits nonlinear electrical resistance. That means its behavior changes depending on the amount of voltage passing through it.

In short, when the voltage exceeds a varistor’s rated capacity, its resistance drops. That creates a path for excess voltage to return to ground rather than enter a plugged-in device. It’s important to note, however, that varistors degrade with each surge they experience. That’s why surge protectors have status lights to let you know if they need replacement.

Choosing the Right Surge Protector

You may not know it, but not all plug-in surge protectors are created equally. They come in varying capacities depending on your needs. If you look at their packaging, you will see that capacity expressed in joules. One watt of electricity is equal to 1 J per second.

In other words, the rating lets you know how many watts of excess voltage a surge protector can handle and for how long. In general, you want a higher joule rating for more sensitive connected equipment. Some common examples include:

• 500 to 1,000 J for small chargers and mobile devices
• 1,000 to 2,000 J for small computer equipment like routers, smartphones and tablets
• Over 2,000 J for AV equipment, PCs, laptops and printers

What Is Whole-Home Surge Protection?

Whole-home surge protectors are devices that you can have installed either between your power meter and electrical panel or inside your home’s electrical panel. A whole-home surge protector installed between your power meter and electrical panel provides maximum protection against major external surges. If you’re most concerned about direct lightning strikes to your home, they’re the best option.

A whole-home surge protector installed in your electrical panel protects your home from both internal and external surges. It can blunt the impact of lightning strikes and guard against surges from large motors starting in your home. That includes appliances like your AC, refrigerator, and washer and dryer. Those produce surges that can slowly degrade all your home’s electrical devices.

Surge protectors are a valuable tool in your home’s electrical protection arsenal. Both power strip-style and whole-home surge protectors can work together to provide maximum protection. If you live in Lethbridge, Alberta or a surrounding area and need surge protection services, make your first call to Charlton & Hill.