Within the world of electrical service, one of the most common events is electrical surges. Have you ever wondered why your electronics suddenly stopped working for just a moment, then came right back on? The reason might often be a power surge.
At Whipple Service Champions, our electricians can help provide you and your family with any electrical services your home requires. Let’s find out the basics of electrical surges, and how you can protect yourself.
Power Surge Basics
A power surge refers to a sudden, major increase in the voltage of electricity flowing through circuits. Most appliances work on 120 volts in the United States, but during a surge, there’s a quick but large boost in that rate.
Power Surge Causes
There are many potential reasons for power surges, including weather issues, transformer problems, and a sudden return of power after a longer outage. Lightning can also be a primary cause in places where it’s common. Surges are often unpredictable and can be signaled by clocks that revert to 12:00 while flashing. Surge risk also rises when you have lots of electrical components working all at the same time.
What’s At Risk?
Anything driven by electricity is at risk during a surge. Electronics that need microprocessors – computers, TVs, microwaves, and DVD players – need a constant supply of energy at the right voltage to work in the right ways. Even larger in-home items like air conditioners, fridges, and laundry components can be put at risk by a power surge.
Protection
Surge protectors are the simplest way to prevent surges. They resemble basic power strips and work to change the direction of electricity in grounding wires to protect household components. These may not completely protect all items at all times, especially during lightning storms, and experts still recommend that expensive electronics be unplugged during these kinds of storms.
To find out what kind of surge protection is right for your home, or to learn about any of our electrical repair or installation services, speak to the experts at Whipple Service Champions today.
