What is surge?
To fully understand what a surge protector
is, you need to know what a surge is. A surge is an electronic term
that means a sudden power increasing to a stable voltage peak that
surpasses the normal voltage. The surge of power supply system may be
caused by external factor like lightening or internal factor like start
and stop of electronic equipment or electronic breakdown, etc. Compared
with power surge, a power spike is a brief increase of voltage
intensifies that endures a bit shorter than a surge does. While both of
the two can lead to a continuous voltage increase generally enduring for
about a second, which will give rise to a fluctuation of power, sudden
breakdown of electronic equipment, and even fire, etc.
A
surge protector device can prevent these hidden risks and protect your
devices from getting damaged. Shaped in the form of a strip or a box,
the surge protector can be used with other electronics. The surge
protector commonly has many plugs of its own. Other equipment can be
plugged into its receptacles and surge protector will be plugged into a
standard outlet. While a surge protector can also work solely as a power
strip. No matter how it is used, a surge protector is mainly going to
provide protection service for home and business if a surge or a spike
occurs.
How Does a Surge Protector Work?
Electronic
surges or spikes can cause damages to electronic equipment like
computer by burning its wires or wearing down its internal components
gradually, and even wiping out data stored in computers. The core
internal component is a non-linear component. According the difference
of non-linear components, surge protectors can be divided into two types
– switch type and voltage limiting type. When a surge or a spike
occurs, the surge protector can works by routing the peak of voltage
into the outlet’s grounding wires so that the normal 120V voltage can
continue to flow to the components plugged into the surge protector.
This kind of surge protectors are voltage limited types.
Some surge protectors like switch types are built in fuses. When a surge or a spike occurs, the surge protector can work as a circuit breaker that will terminate the power if the voltage is too high that will flow the fuse and power to the components. Though the power is suddenly stopped by a surge protector, electronics or appliances are protected from damages and avoid electronic shock or fires at home of office to ensure personal safety. Also, the fuse is replaceable so that it can back to work normally after replacing a new fuse. But normally, it will also work to route the increased voltage to the grounded wires within the surge protector.
Multilevel Protection of a Surge Protector
A surge protector device
has four protection levels. The class one level can be directly used to
control the highest voltage more than ten thousand vote to be limited
within 2500V~3000V. Class one protector is a switch-type surge protector
that should be connected between each phase of power supply system and
grounded wires. In this case, the current should have a high surge
capacity of over 100KA. These surge protectors are specially designed to
bear the lightning and appeal high surges or spikes. The class two
level is designed to limited the voltage within 1500V~2000V.
These
surge protectors are voltage limiting types that require more than 20KA
lightning current. They are installed in power distribution systems
that supply power for important or sensitive equipment. These surge
protectors can take in the rest surge voltage in the power supply
entrance and can well limit the transient overvoltage. The third level
is set for the final goal of protecting electronic devices. By using
such surge protectors, the remaining voltage can be limited under 1000V
to prevent your devices from damages. The last level can limit the
voltage less than 5KA. Sometimes the first two levels can control
voltage within the withstand voltage of each equipment. If the voltage
withstand skill is too poor, then the last protection can be adopted.
A
surge protector can shield your computers and other electronics from
damages probably caused by a surge or a spike. A surge protectors can
also called power strips. There are multiple power strips with prices
ranging from $10 to $100. Choose one suitable power strip for your home
or working place to live a safe life.