What is a power surge? How much of a threat do they pose to your home? It’s important to learn about surge protectors, why your home needs them, and how they protect electrical devices.
Power surges are an excess of power blasting through an electrical system. Without surge protectors, your electrical devices are always at risk.
What is a power surge?
Power surges are exactly what the name suggests, an excess of power blasting through an electrical system. Surges can be external or internal.
What is an external power surge?
External surges are usually caused by lightning or broken power lines. They are not as common as internal surges. But can cause a huge amount of damage to your electronics, major appliances, and even the wiring in your home.
What is an internal power surge?
Internal surges are more common and can also harm your electronics. Ever notice your lights flickering when the compressor in your refrigerator or air conditioner turns on? That’s an internal surge happening.
When power surges happen, and they can happen at any time, they can cause massive damage to your electrical equipment. And as a result, can cost you a lot of money to replace them. Without surge protectors, your electrical devices are always at risk.
What do surge protectors do?
Surge protectors can come in the form of power strips (power boards) or SPDs (surge protective devices).
Power strips are cheap and convenient, as you can just purchase them yourself. But they don’t serve as adequate surge protectors beyond providing a break from the circuit through a switch. You don’t need power strips for every appliance, least of all small appliances like a fan or desk lamp. They are more ideal for devices with intricate microprocessors like computers, televisions, stereo systems, etc.
But big or small, a broken appliance is always inconvenient. Imagine a fan breaking in the middle of summer or your computer in the middle of work. If you want these devices protected at all times, it’s best to call a licensed electrician rather than DIY-ing with power strips.
SPDs are installed in the switchboard of a property and need to be installed by a licensed electrician. They block surges at the source and isolate them from the rest of your home’s electrical system, basically protecting your entire house. This is ideal so that all appliances and your home’s entire electrical work is protected 24/7.
Protect your home today
Call Beta Electrical Solutions today on 0450 091 815 to install a surge protector for your whole house. We are trusted and licensed professional electricians (Master Electricians certified) with a passion for superb service. Contact us today to request a service.