A surge is an increase in the voltage flow to your wall outlet. It’s a common problem that can cause damage to your electronics, but it’s not always caused by lightning.
The most common causes of electrical surges are power-hungry appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators. They put extra pressure on the power lines when they turn on and off.
Surge protectors work by managing this pressure. They redirect the excess electricity by using a pressure-sensitive valve to divert energy to grounding wires. When you require advice from a Cheltenham Electrician, go to a site like www.dpalmerelectrical.co.uk/electrician-near-me/electrician-cheltenham/
How does a surge protector do this?
Surge protection devices use metal oxide varistors or MOVs. These small, cylindrical resistors are placed inside the machine to absorb unwanted voltage and diffuse it into the outlet.
Some protectors include a fuse to cut off the circuit when extra current is present. This means that even if the central surge protection system doesn’t stop the surge, the fuse will protect your equipment from it.
UL ratings are essential for determining how effective a surge protector is. The ratings show how high the clamping voltage is, how much energy it can absorb/dissipate, and how long the surge protector’s response time is.
The higher the clamping voltage, the better the protection. A UL rating of 330 V is considered average, and a UL rating of 400 V is considered better.
Some protectors even have a temperature fuse that will shut off the circuit when the temperature rises too high. If you have many devices plugged into your surge protector, consider getting one with a built-in fuse.
