thisplace.com.au - Power Surge Protection

What is a power surge?

A power surge is a rapid increase in voltage, which can be caused by lightning strikes or major electricity users such as factories or shopping centres switching large loads on or off. Power surges can even be caused by switching certain appliances on or off in the home.

What damage can surges do?

A power surge can have a permanent detrimental effect on many electrical appliances, from a simple radio to an intricate and expensive VCR, TV, home computer, fax machine or microwave oven. Even the washing machine or refrigerator can be affected. While it is often impossible to insure against this kind of damage, safety measures can be taken.

Surge diverters

These units are installed at the switchboard by a licensed electrical contractor, and provide basic overall protection and can provide invaluable protection.

Portable surge protectors

Simply plug the units into the power point of your choice and then connect the appliance. These units provide 'portability', however some low-level portable power point filters can suffer damage after only one surge, and do not indicate that they are no longer protecting your equipment.

Power point protectors

These units replace normal power points and are installed by a licensed electrical contractor. They provide 'fine' protection in key areas of the home such as hi-fi systems, PC's, VCR's, TV's etc. Once installed in a particular power circuit, these units provide protection to all power outlets in that circuit. Incorporated in the surge outlet is a module that will give an audible alarm if the unit is not operational.

Caution: Surge protectors are not a substitute for safety switches. These devices play entirely different roles.

Surge protectors protect individual appliances. Safety switches protect you against electrocution.

Be wary of portable power boards (usually four sockets on one plug-in base), as these are not surge protectors, they have an overload cut out only.

Source: Queensland Electrical Education Council, Safety Switches and Surge Protection brochure