In this installment of a two-part series, we want to give you some information about surge protectors. Surge protectors can be a lifesaver for your electronics. Power surges and spikes (the difference between the two is basically timing -nanoseconds at that – so we’ll just refer to surges from here on out) can happen for a wide variety of reasons. Lightning strikes are the most commonly known, but surges can also come from faulty utility company equipment, downed power lines, or even the sudden power usage of a high-voltage appliance.
Surge protectors prevent damage to your electronics by diverting increases in voltage above a specific level into the outlet’s grounding wire. If you have a surge protector that indicates its’ current effectiveness, keep an eye on it. With each power surge, the surge protector’s effectiveness is reduced. For that reason, you may need to replace your surge protectors every year or two.
