How do I protect a device from a power surge?

5 Ways to Protect Your Home from a Power Surge
  1. Plug electric devices into surge protectors. …
  2. Consider a whole-home surge protection system. …
  3. Unplug your sensitive electronics and important appliances during a storm. …
  4. Check your home’s wiring. …
  5. Use your outlets strategically.

What appliances should be on a surge protector?

The most important products to plug into a surge protector are expensive electronic devices with microprocessors. Desktop computers, laptops, televisions, gaming systems, and charging phones should all be plugged into a surge protector, so they aren’t damaged in a storm.

Do power surge protectors really work?

The short answer is NO. At least not any surge protector that you can buy for the inside of your house. Even a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) with surge protection will not be able to handle a lighting strike that is close by.

Should my refrigerator be on a surge protector?

We do not recommend connecting a refrigerator or freezer to a surge protector. The compressor is sensitive to temperature and current overloads, and will shut itself down with a surge. … A surge protector will override this system, and if there is a power surge, your refrigerator may not restart.

Do kitchen appliances need surge protector?

However, surge protectors are a good idea if you have an off-grid power system or use a generator. These are much more prone to sudden surges, so surge protectors are needed, especially with appliances that are more sensitive to surges, such as computers and medical equipment like CPAP machines.

Should a TV be plugged into a surge protector?

You don’t need a surge protector for your desk lamp or your standing fan, but you do want a surge protector for expensive devices that have intricate microprocessors, like computers, televisions, stereo systems, and media centers. … Plug those into a surge protector. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

What should you not plug into a surge protector?

NEVER PLUG THESE THINGS INTO A POWER STRIP
  • Large Kitchen Appliances (Refrigerator, Dishwasher, etc.) These appliances are so high-powered that they’ll easily overload a poor, little power strip. …
  • Small Kitchen Appliances. …
  • Hair Styling Tools. …
  • Extension Cords and Other Power Strips.

Do surge protectors work both ways?

2 Answers. Well, it’s not really a glorified capacitor, but yes, it will work both ways. Of course, so would recycling the crappy fridge and getting one that isn’t turning on every 15 minutes and doesn’t make a huge spike when it does turn on. That can’t be helping your power bill much.

What makes a good surge protector?

Choose a surge protector with a joule rating at the very least in the 200 to 400 range. Sensitive or costly equipment, such as computers, displays and audio/video equipment, warrants a joule rating of at least 1000. A joule rating over 2000 indicates maximum protection.

Do surge protectors wear out?

Yes, a surge protector isn’t designed to last forever and will eventually wear out. The bad news is that it’s almost impossible to tell when a surge protector wears out.

Should I turn off my surge protector at night?

However, it’s the best solution. Surge protectors are for dealing with normally fluctuating energy levels — not lightning strikes. If a bad storm hits nearby, your best chance is to turn off all of your gadgets and then unplug the surge protector completely.

How do surge protective devices work?

A surge protector guards against the damage that sudden power surges can cause. It works by pulling the current from one outlet and passing it through to the devices you have plugged into the surge protector.

Do surge protectors work without ground?

Grounding is a critical element required for proper surge protection. In regard to the question about whether surge protectors work on ungrounded outlets, the answer is “no.” Surge protection equipment typically uses components called metal oxide varistors (MOVs) to divert excess current into the ground line.

Is it bad to turn electronics on and off?

The more you turned it on and off, in other words, the sooner it would fail. This effect is much less of a problem with LCD or plasma TVs, mostly because they’re so much more efficient that the amount of heating/cooling is greatly reduced.

How long should you keep a surge protector?

Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. And if your home is subject to frequent brownouts or blackouts, you might want to replace your surge protectors as often as every two years.

Should you unplug your TV when not in use?

Although the risk of an electrical fire is fairly low when your devices are still relatively new and in good working order, as they (and the cables that lead to them) get older, this risk increases. The only way to cut this risk to zero is to keep these devices unplugged when you’re not using them.

How safe are power strips?

Never Overload a Power Strip

Every power strip has a load capacity, which means it can only move so much power through its circuits at any given time. Overloading the strip can create a fire hazard, melting the plastic and damaging your home or business as well as any surrounding equipment.

Should you turn off your computer or put it to sleep?

Some say leaving a computer on all the time saves wear and tear on the components. While frequent restarts do cause more wear on components, it’s fine to shut your machine down daily. From a maintenance standpoint, shut down at least once a week.

Should you keep your toaster unplugged?

Sometimes, toasters can catch fire with no warning, so it’s best if you don’t leave it alone while it’s in use. Also, it’s a good rule to unplug your toaster when you’re not using it, even it it’s brand new, just to be on the safe side. If your toaster ever does flare up, unplug it right away.

Are surge protectors safer than extension cords?

Surge protectors are best for surges! When it comes to plugging your appliances into power strips, a surge protector is safer than an extension cord. Surges can occur for any number of reasons, including lightning strikes and faulty wiring.