It’s common these days for homes to have dozens of electronic devices. Surge protection can help alleviate fluctuations that can happen within your home’s electrical system. You may be asking what a surge protector does — Arnold Electrical Services can help answer that.
What Is A Surge Protector?
You may think that a surge protector is just an add-on with extra plugs for more electronics, which is true in a way. Surge protectors and power strips are one in the same. However, a surge protector recognizes spikes in voltage and is designed to protect the electrical components connected to the outlet.
It’s best to use a surge protector when you know you need to plug in multiple electronics and you want to protect them from a power surge. They differ from power strips by having a switch that tells you whether it is on or off. There is also whole home surge protection, which protects the entire house instead of just one area.
When it comes to inclement weather that may threaten power, it’s best to unplug your surge protectors to keep them and any connected electronics from being ruined. To understand the workings of a surge protector, let’s break it down.
Understanding Surges
To understand how a surge protector works, let’s go back to science class for a second. A surge is an increase in voltage that goes above the standard voltage in an electrical current. These surges can be extremely fast at a speed of less than a thousandth of a second — that’s fast!
The standard voltage in the flow of electricity here in the United States is 120 volts. If that number gets any higher, your electronics are in danger of becoming damaged. In order to keep your laptop, phone and other valuable electronics safe, investing in a surge protector or two is a wise decision.
Understanding Voltages
When talking about voltage, it is the different charge of two points from one end to another. Like an uneven balance, there is usually more energy on one side than the other. This leads to an increase in energy known as a surge.
If the voltage becomes too high to handle because of a surge, electronics and wires can be destroyed in the process, costing you a lot of money in the long run.
Power Dynamics
The way your electronics operate is dependent on the circulation of voltage. If it surges above the standard 120 volt flow, burnout within electronics will happen.
Think of it like lightning striking. When a lightning bolt strikes a power line, a sudden jolt of power increases the potential energy and can become so powerful that it leads to electricity going out in your home. In that case, you want to be prepared ahead of time and unplug electronics if a storm is predicted.
Contact Your Chicagoland Experts For Electrical Services
Even when there are no storms in the forecast, you don’t want to harm your electronics with sudden surges. If you’re looking for a team to inspect your electrical system, Arnold Electrical Services is here to service you. Our trusted Chicago electricians can help you decide if whole home surge protectors are right for you.
Contact us today to set up electrical services!
