What is a power surge protector? Is it really needed, and in which particular conditions?

When you purchase an expensive appliance, you expect it to reach and even exceed its service “lifespan”, thus being worth the price you paid. You will observe that one of the ways to prolong their lifespan is that you must avoid pulling the plug without first carefully shutting down the device. This is because the internal operating systems could get damaged. But there are always factors beyond your control, such as a sudden power outage.
Another factor that could be equally damaging, and similarly beyond your control, is an unpredictable power surge. A power surge, or transient voltage, is an abrupt increase in voltage above the designated electricity flow. The usual standard voltage is 120 volts. If there is a rise above 120 volts, this may cause damage to certain devices. A power surge may happen as a result of the immense amount of electrical energy used to keep your electronic appliances running optimally. The flow of electrical current is often disturbed. It can also be due to faulty electrical wiring. It may even be a force of nature at work, such as lightning near a power line.

Such unavoidable little disasters do make the filament of your machine heat up and burn. It probably won’t conk out immediately, but it will certainly wear it out, and the long-term effects may be irreversible.

There is one factor within your control, however, and that is to use a power surge protector.

A power surge protector, also known as a surge suppressor, protects an electrical device by regulating the supplied voltage. This is done by blocking the voltages that go beyond the secure threshold.

Surge protectors were not the trend in past years, because they were not necessary for all electronic devices. However, the changing of the times brought with it a myriad array of gadgets with hypersensitive microprocessors, such as computers.

Not all devices need a surge protector. There are some that are able to handle such power and current fluctuations, and if your appliance is one of those, you don’t have to attach it to a surge protector. However, if it is very sensitive and especially if it overtly performs badly during such fluctuations, a surge protector is a necessity. You don’t want to have to replace your computer’s hard drive after a very short period of ownership, just because of an unexpected voltage spike.

So, how would you know when or when not to use a surge protector? Simple. If you feel that the repair or replacement of the appliance is more affordable than the actual surge protector, such as a simple light bulb, then it may not be necessary. On the other hand, if the gadget in question is too expensive to replace, or you have too much valuable data stored in it to risk an unexpected breakdown, then it’s time to introduce it to its little hero- the power surge protector.