Are Surge Protectors Really Worth It?
There are two types of surge protectors – whole-house surge protectors defend the entire property against electrical overload, while power strips with built-in surge protectors prevent damage to connected appliances.
Surge protection devices are a worthwhile investment for ensuring electrical safety of a home. However, are they truly necessary? As electricians, this is a question that comes up a lot. Let’s breakdown how important surge protection is for your home.
How Do Surge Protectors Work?
Surge protectors act as a safety net against electrical surges for connected electrical systems and devices.
An electrical surge is a sudden spike in voltage in a power line or circuit. Surges can come from lightning hitting an open power line, faults in the power line, or internal issues in the home’s electrical system. When a device is exposed to a voltage higher than its rated capacity, it can become damaged beyond repair.
Surge protection devices either block or short the power current in the event of a surge, preventing electrical damage to connected devices. The excess current flow is either diverted into the ground (for whole-house surge protectors) or dissipated as heat.
Most modern appliances and devices include built-in surge protectors in line with modern electrical safety standards. A built-in surge protector stops the appliance from overheating or catching fire – but once it activates, the appliance will no longer work. External surge protection devices stop electrical surges from damaging appliances.
Types of Surge Protectors
Whole-House Surge Protectors
Whole-house surge protectors are installed at the point of connection between the electrical system and the main power supply, typically within the switchboard. Whole-house surge protectors stop the home’s electrical systems from being damaged by blocking power surges from the main line. Whole-house surge protectors have a high capacity to handle larger electrical surges and must be installed by an electrician.
Power Boards With Surge Protection
Power boards with surge protection protect devices and appliances that are plugged into the circuit. No professional installation is required – plug the power board into a household socket and use it like any other power strip. Power boards with surge protection have a lower capacity than whole-house surge protectors and offer limited protection.
How Long Do Surge Protectors Last?
The lifespan of a surge protection device depends on the number of surges it is designed to withstand over its lifetime. A cheap surge protector is usually single-use; after absorbing a surge, it will need to be replaced. Higher-quality surge protection devices are designed to defend against multiple surges over a few years, automatically resetting after a surge has passed.
Quality surge protectors have a visual indicator, like an LED light, that shows whether it’s still working or has expired. A cheaper surge protector may not have the light indicator, which makes it difficult to know whether it’s still working or not.
With no surges, the devices can work for up to 3-5 years and then will need to be replaced.
Should You Install Surge Protectors In the Home?
Yes, surge protectors should be installed in the home. Surge protectors will protect your appliances, devices and the overall electrical system of your home from a power surge. It’s much cheaper and easier to replace a surge protection device than to replace a damaged appliance or rewire your home.
Homes with overhead power lines are more at risk of external surges from power line disruptions or lightning strikes. A 2023 study in the International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems found that lightning strikes on high voltage power lines had a higher probability of causing electrical surges and damage to homes in the surrounding area.
Get comprehensive electrical safety for your home with Radiance Electrical – we are a team of local electricians in Sydney servicing homes in the Northern Beaches and the North Shore. We offer a range of electrical services to keep your home surge protected including home electrical inspections, switchboard upgrades and repairs and emergency electrical services in the event of a power outage due to a surge.
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