Four Things You Should Know About Protecting Your Devices from Power Surges

Industries invest thousands of dollars annually in the latest technology and electronics. Yet without one element which is often overlooked, the entire investment can be damaged or destroyed in just seconds. Although prevention is both easy and inexpensive, many people don't realize they need protection from power surges until it's too late. 

Here are four things you need to know about surge protectors that may help you think more proactively when installing new technology. 

Surge Protectors Help with Power Surges or Spikes 

There are two types of situations where a surge protection device is necessary for protecting your equipment. The first is a power spike where the electrical voltage and/or current rises for a short period of time - often less than a thousandth of a second. There is still potential for damage, but it isn't nearly as severe as a power surge. 

A surge can occur due to faulty wiring, lightning strikes or sudden changes in electrical current, such as devices being turned on or off - and they can badly damage the electrical system. Surge protectors reduce the excess voltage and current coming into your devices so they continue working without interruption. 

Power Strips Aren't Always Surge Protectors

We often see both consumers and businesses who do not realize that the two products are very different. A power strip is what most people have in their homes that allows them to plug multiple items into one outlet. It is nothing more than an extension cord and can overwhelm the system when the strip is fully utilized. If you have multiple items with high voltage, the power strip can stop working without you realizing it. 

A surge protector prevents the surges from damaging equipment by diverting the electricity into a grounding wire. They often look exactly like power strips, making it difficult to tell the difference. Yet if you use the wrong one to protect your products, this confusion could cost you thousands of dollars. 

Size Matters

In this case, your surge protector's surge current rating makes all the difference in effectiveness. Simply having a surge protector doesn't guarantee that your equipment is safe. The surge protector needs to deliver the right level of electrical absorption to handle regular spikes and surges. 

A general rule is the bigger, the better, but a good provider will typically be able to tell you how to properly size the surge protector for each piece of equipment. 

They Provide Great ROI 

It might seem strange to think about the ROI from making sure something doesn't happen, but given the risks unprotected equipment creates, think again. We've seen numerous instances where a power surge destroys valuable equipment, which is expensive to replace.

If that equipment is your fire alarm system, you may have to evacuate the entire facility, losing valuable work time. If it's your access control system, you may have to hire guard personnel, incurring additional costs. 

Another problematic situation occurs when the product isn't working and goes unnoticed. We refer to this as "downtime." For instance, if a camera misses important footage, such as a security breach, the evidence that could have been used to find and prosecute the suspect is gone, causing an immense security headache. In this sense, surge protection helps prevent gaps in footage due to a power strike or surge and helps deter the costs of replacing expensive equipment.

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