Need for surge Protectors

By Scott Rodgers

Each one of us spend lavishly on our home appliances and electronic gadgets in order to facilitate our day to day life. But what if those electronic gadgets can't live even their service life. There are many ways by which you can save your appliances. One of these is to protect it against uncertain power surge. For that you have surge protectors.

Surge protectors are basically meant to regulate the voltage supply and avoid uncertain voltage spikes to hinder your gadget. Voltage regulation is done either by blocking the excess supply voltage or by shortening the ground voltage.

Power surging is a very common phenomenon and is majorly due to the below listed reasons. High energy devices such as refrigerators, computers, air conditioning systems demands for more power for their operation.. This causes power outrages and hence increase the risks for the device to break down.

Even a small fault in your home wiring can result into frequent voltage fluctuations and can permanently damage your gadget. Discharge released from lightning and thunderstorms can also burn out your appliances due to the voltage spikes caused by them.

Metal oxide varistor is one of the types of surge protectors. It is made up of a metal oxide material which is connected to both supply and ground using two semiconductors. Its main function is to divert the extra voltage and so prevents it going in the equipment. It makes a connection between a hot power line and the ground. Whenever the voltage fluctuates, the high current is passed into the earth thus preventing it going inside the equipment.

Gas discharge arrestor is also a kind of surge protector which contains an inert gas tube. It performs the function of making the link between the ground wire and power supply only when the voltage exceeds a specific level. The link or the connection remains unconnected for, if the voltage is stable.

Very sensitive and expensive equipments generally need surge protectors for their proper functioning. The devices that consumes a lot of energy for their effective functioning should be protected against high voltage shoot ups.

Surge protectors are very cost efficient since it would be costly to repair or replace the equipment itself rather than to replace the busted surge suppressor. - 29939

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