A surge of power in electrical systems and installations is never a good thing especially not in domestic settings. These surges may occur for different reasons but no matter the reason protecting electrical equipment is as important as finding out the reason behind them.
This is where surge protectors are needed, small devices mounted in panel boards to help keep devices and appliances safe. When a spike in voltage occurs, a surge protection device helps divert the excess voltage to the ground in a safe manner. What's left over is sent to the device/ appliance that needs the power. But not everything is that simple.
How to Choose a Surge Protector
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Outlets
The first thing you should consider with a surge protector is the number of outlets you want to protect from a surge of current. The higher that number is the higher the number of surge protectors you need or you can get one to accommodate them all. You should also consider the number of USB ports you'll have on your outlets, if any so that the new surge arrestor is able to keep the devices connected to them safe as well.
Placement
This depends on the type of arrestor(s) you want to get as not every type can be placed anywhere. Surge arrestors that can accommodate multiple outlets at once can be placed in different areas in your home but those that go in the panel board, stay there.
Rating
You should check the number of joules the arrestor offers for the device you want to keep safe. For instance, a surge protection device with a rating of 1,000 joules is ideal if you want to protect small electronics used in the kitchen. Surge protectors with a rating ranging between 1,000 and 2,000 joules means you can keep office equipment such as copiers and printers as well as workshop tools safe. With a rating higher than 2,000 joules, a surge protector is good for any household appliance or device.
Added Features
Modern surge protection requires the use of additional safety precautions and these come in the form of PoE surge protection, data line and a 3-line protection. PoE or power over ethernet protection helps protect devices that power each other over an ethernet connection. A data line protection feature is able to protect the wider ethernet connections and a 3-line protection feature keeps the hot, neutral and ground lines safe from power surges. You can also have individual outlet control offer enhanced protection for outlets and plugs.
Types of Surge Protectors
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Wall-Mounted
A wall-mounted surge protector is easy to access and it has no cord. This type of protector typically offers between 2 and 6 outlets and they also come with a built-in plug that allows it to connect to a wall outlet. This is a compact solution that can even have a folding wall plug.
Whole-House
With whole-house protectors, you have a connection that goes directly to the panel board. Because of this, you have to work with a cord but you do get better protection even for high current and voltage levels that can affect the whole system. The kind that comes from lighting, damaged wiring, blackouts and the cycling power of large appliances.
Power Strip
A power strip surge protection unit is one that looks much like an extension cord. This solution is the most flexible since you can have it anywhere you want and move it at any time with ease. A power strip typically comes with anywhere from 6 to 12 outlets. Again, like wall-mounted protectors, power strip protectors aren't as good at protecting your household's appliances and devices from extreme surges.
Categories of Surge Protectors
Type 1
Type 1 surge protectors are also known as service entrance surge arrestors which are installed at the main distribution panel and can take surges from lightning and blackouts. Type 1 arrestors are the most widespread as they are tried and true units that can handle most high-impact power surges.
Type 2
A type 2 surge arrestor is used as a second line of defence to a type 1 arrestor. It acts as a backup arrestor in case secondary effects of a power surge get through a type 1 arrestor. Keep in mind though, a type 2 arrestor can only handle small power surges which is why it's only added in both commercial and residential buildings.
Type 3
Type 3 or point-of-use protectors are found placed close to the equipment or device they need to protect. They are used directly on the device they need to keep safe from power surges. Type 3 arrestors can also handle transient voltages which is why they are placed close to TVs washing machines or computers. They too can be used together with type 1 and even type 2 arrestors. All three can work extremely well together if configured properly.
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