What is surge protection and what does it do?

Power strips with surge protection serve the crucial function of safeguarding electronic devices against voltage spikes, or surges, in electrical power. These surges can occur due to various reasons such as lightning strikes, power grid fluctuations, or the switching on and off of high-powered electrical devices within the vicinity.

The surge protection feature in a power strip works by diverting excess voltage away from connected devices, thus preventing damage to sensitive electronics. Here's how it typically works:

Surge Protection Components: Surge protection power strips contain components like metal oxide varistors (MOVs) or gas discharge arrestors. These components are designed to absorb excess voltage. When the voltage exceeds a certain threshold, these components conduct electricity, diverting the excess energy away from the connected devices.

Clamping Voltage: Surge protectors have a clamping voltage, which is the maximum voltage that the surge protector will allow to pass through to the connected devices. This clamping voltage is typically higher than the normal voltage of the electrical system but lower than the voltage that would damage the connected devices.

Response Time: Surge protectors also have a response time, which is the time it takes for the surge protection mechanism to activate once a surge is detected. Lower response times are generally better, as they mean the surge protector can react more quickly to protect connected devices.

Indicator Lights: Many surge protectors include indicator lights to show whether the surge protection components are functioning properly. These lights may indicate if the surge protector is grounded and if it's still providing surge protection.

Joule Rating: Surge protectors are often rated by the number of joules they can absorb. Joules measure the energy a surge protector can absorb before it fails. A higher joule rating generally indicates better protection.

Overall, power strips with surge protection play a critical role in protecting electronic devic.