Surge Protector

A surge protector is an extra line of defence for your electrical panel

Most often, the electrical panel will do a good job at maintaining safe voltage, but sometimes faltering during unexpected large surges in electricity (i.e. a lightning strike on a transformer). During surges, incoming electricity from the utility company quickly reaches extremely high voltage levels that may pass through the panel and onto your electrical devices throughout your home.

Surge protector devices efficiently absorb and redirect excess voltage to the ground, ensuring the safety of your home. The device safeguards your sensitive electronics items such as your computer, TV, home entertainment centre, and more in your home, office, or business.

For homes, offices, or businesses where voltage-sensitive loads and uninterrupted power are essential, it is advisable to invest in both surge protectors and UPS systems.

Adding an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) as an additional layer of protection. A UPS not only shields your sensitive devices from power surges but also provides temporary power during outages until regular power is restored.

What exactly is a UPS?

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or uninterruptible power source, represents a continuous power system designed to automatically supply backup electric power to a load in the event of a failure in the input power source or mains power. Distinguishing itself from traditional auxiliary or emergency power systems and standby generators, a UPS ensures nearly instantaneous protection against interruptions in input power by seamlessly switching to energy stored in battery packs, supercapacitors, or flywheels. Although the on-battery run-times of most UPSs are relatively brief, typically just a few minutes, they serve to “buy time” for the initiation of a standby power source or the proper shutdown of protected equipment. Additionally, virtually all UPSs feature integrated surge protection to safeguard connected appliances from voltage spikes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the expected cost of installing a surge protector?

What is a power surge?

What causes a power surge?

Is a power bar a sufficient power surge protector for my electronics?

Not all power bars provide surge protection, and older models may offer minimal or no defence against power surges. Power bars should be explicitly labelled as surge protectors and another way to distinguish between a surge protector and a standard power bar, is to check for the term “joules” on the packaging or the power bar itself.

Surge protectors consistently feature a joules rating, indicating the maximum voltage they can withstand during a power spike. In contrast, power bars primarily serve as extension cords, offering additional outlets but lacking a joules rating.

Uninterrupted, uncompromised power