Do I Need a Surge Protector?

Most people have heard of surge protectors and have used them to shield appliances, electronic devices and computers from electrical power surges or the transient voltage that flows through the main power supply.  The standard voltage in Australia for home and commercial buildings is 240 volts; if the voltage rises above this range, it’s considered to be transient and can damage electrical appliances and electronic devices which are connected to any outlet.

While these power surges are brief & calculated in nanoseconds, they can easily cause a considerable amount of damage to appliances and equipment that might be connected to the power mains. We at Quick Connect Electrical have responded to many emergency electrical services requests and handled jobs where electrical surges have caused a lot of damage to electrical equipment in homes as well as in commercial establishments.

Surge protection- how it works

A surge protector channels the extra voltage into the grounding wire attached to the outlet, preventing it from flowing into the appliance or electronic equipment, while at the same time letting the normal voltage continue along its standard path. An electrical surge can particularly damage sensitive computer equipment as it “fries” the system’s internal components like the hard drive or the motherboard. Most people misunderstand the function of a surge protector and feel that the device will protect their expensive equipment from lightning (which is one of the most familiar sources of a power surge).

But the fact is that even a top quality surge protector cannot protect your equipment from a sudden increase in the electrical pressure of literally millions of volts that a lightning strike emits. The best way to prevent any damage to your electrical appliances and devices during a powerful electrical storm is to simply unplug the devices that can become severely damaged. Surge protectors commonly protect your equipment and appliances from the lower-voltage surges that occur very frequently in any modern electrical wiring system.

For instance, appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators need significant amounts of electricity to switch the compressors and motors on and off, creating larger surges in power which disrupt the regular voltage flow. In addition things like downed power lines, faulty equipment and faulty wiring at the main power source with the electricity provider can result in power surges too.

Which devices you should connect

However, this does not mean that you have to connect all the devices and appliances to surge protectors. It’s important that you connect media centres, entertainment devices like TVs and large home theatre systems, PCs etc. If there is any other sensitive equipment in your house, make it a point to connect that to a surge protector as well.

We at Quick Connect Electrical are one of the leading companies in this space and know what it takes to provide excellent, customised services to our customers at very cost-effective pricing. For any more information on surge protectors, how they work and where you need to install them, call us today. To check if we serve your area, just enter your pin code in the box on the right of the page. See what our customers are saying about our company & services. For an emergency electrician in Sydney, any time of the day or night, call us at this number- 1300 725 894.