Knowledge is power: Is your tech protected?

Electric surges and spikes are everywhere. You might think they originate outside during lightning storms. But the truth is that most of these damaging episodes begin right inside your home or office.

Anytime a device connected to the electrical system of a building cycles on or off , the potential for a surge or spike exists.

All devices with a microprocessor are ripe for damage from a surge or spike. And almost any electrical device you can think of now has a microprocessor built in.

GET A SURGE PROTECTOR

Connecting your devices to a good surge protector is the answer. Here’s what you should look for in a quality protector:

• Has the words “surge suppressor” or “surge protector” on its name tag. “If you see only the words ‘power strip,’ the device provides no protection,” says Walton EMC Member Services Director Jeff Paul.
• Offers a warranty and connected device protection – both on the protector itself and the item that’s connected to it.
• Has an adequate joule rating. The protector’s joule rating measures how much stray energy the device can absorb. The higher joule ratings for consumer surge protectors are around 5,000 joules. “Get a protector with at least a 1,000-joule rating,” says Paul.
• Provides a good let-through rating. Let-through is the amount of voltage the protector will let through to the connected equipment after a surge. 330V is the lowest and 600V is the highest, with lower being the better.
• Includes noise filtering. Some devices are worse at generating electrical noise than others. Filters help limit that “hash” if different devices are using the same protector.
• Has an indicator light to assure users that the unit’s protection components are working.

LET US HELP YOU

The experts at Walton EMC are eager to help you protect your home and appliances from surges and spikes. We can provide both whole-house and individual device protection.

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