Should Surge Protection Be Used In The Home

The question whether or not to protect your home appliances with surge protection

devices is a personal one, but it is something you should take seriously, especially if you use sensitive or expensive equipment. The cost of basic surge protection or surge suppression is minimal compared to the price of replacing equipment such as audio or video equipment.

When it comes to Surge Protection, I am of the opinion that a large percentage of the Public are unaware of the dangers of not providing surge protection for expensive electronic devices such as TVs, Home Entertainment Systems, Computers and Hi-Fi Systems.

A device designed to protect against voltage spikes will have a rated clamping voltage,

sometimes know as the let-through voltage. This is the voltage level at which the device will divert the unwanted voltage away from the line. The clamping voltage should be a little more than the required voltage for the devices being protected. Most surge suppression devices will have a clamping voltage somewhere in the region of 275 - 500 Volts, with 275 Volts being very common.

The time it takes for the protection device to respond to the increase in voltage is known as the response time. If the response time is too long then the damage may already be done, so look for devices with response times of around 1 nanosecond, which should ensure adequate protection.

On a final note, surge protection devices that commonly use MOVs, have a limited lifespan depending on how many voltage spikes they experience and the severity of them. Good surge suppression products will have an indicator light to provide a visual indication that surge protection is being given or it has a built in disconnect mechanism. If those visual indicators suggest that the device is faulty or worn out, then it is time to replace the device. No real time period can be put on the life expectancy of a surge strip, because it is really down to the quality and reliability of the mains power supply itself. If you are not using surge protection, then I would seriously recommend that you consider It soon.

We do a full range of products that cater for your needs.

If you currently have no surge protection or are contemplating buying new computer or video equipment then it would be wise to invest in a relatively inexpensive surge protector device to protect your investment.

by: Eugene Van Der Walt

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