Surge Protection Facts For The Homeowner

Power surges are electrical spikes caused by different factors such as lightning strikes, power interruptions, line transfers and short circuits. These spikes can cause damage to our expensive electronic equipment, as well place our homes and our family in the risk of fire and electrocution, as these excesses can damage the wiring and voltage-sensitive parts of the machine, causing them to overheat and even to break down. Some surge protection measures can be placed in our homes, thereby minimizing if not totally eliminating the potential risk of losing our expensive equipment at the least and personal injury or even death at most.



Surge suppressors are circuits designed to redirect or even totally stop the electrical spike from damaging the electronic equipment by responding to the current or voltage hike, directing it into the ground or neutral terminals. Their characteristics are determined by their let-through voltage, surge capacity and response time. The let-through voltage is the voltage at which the components will start to direct the energy. The amount of energy that can be absorbed by the circuit without sacrificing itself is called the surge capacity, and the amount of time it takes for the circuit to act in response to this energy is called response time, measured in fractions of a second.



Other than the specifications, it is also important to know what type of surge suppressor has to be installed in your home. Primary surge suppressors are installed in the main electrical line entering a building, so electrical lines connected to it as well as the electronic equipment attached will benefit from its protection. They usually have large surge capacities so they could protect the line from bigger surges.

One could also choose to install the suppressors into a designated line, bay, or to protect a particularly sensitive electronic equipment, using a suppressor of smaller capacity than the primary surge suppressor. These are called secondary surge suppressors, and are classified either as shunt or series mode protectors. Shunt mode suppressors are more commonly available and less expensive, but they risk damaging other unprotected components since they act to direct the excess voltage into the common ground. Series mode suppressors, on the other hand, stops the excess voltage by directing it to the neutral terminal, limiting the possible connection of other outlet to the spike.

What are the considerations for installing surge suppressors?

For a surge suppression strategy to be effective, the location has to be considered, as some areas in the country are more prone to storms than the others. In New Jersey, for example, it would be a wise investment to have a primary NJ surge suppressor installed that would protect the entire house from power spikes caused by lightning strikes, electric pole accidents and such. The addition of secondary suppressors depends on how much sensitive equipment one has in one's home, since more suppressors mean more monetary input. True, having surge suppression systems may cost a considerable amount of money, but it's still a small price to pay for the safety of one's home.