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Some call it a
blip. Others a surge.
Owners of
electronic equipment have another name for it: trouble.
The sudden
voltage reduction Ontario experienced Tuesday morning had
immediate consequences across the GTA. Traffic links blinked out,
some clocks went off, the subways slowed, and many of us ran to
our computers, satellites and other sensitive electronic equipment
to make sure they were still working.
Power bumps,
which are often associated with lightning strikes during summer
thunderstorms, happen all year long.
According to
Toronto Hydro, they can be caused by a major electrical grid
interruption or fault, the restoration of power after a blackout
or even when a heavy use electrical appliance in your home - like
an air conditioner or your furnace - kicks in.
A surge can
range from 100 volts to thousands. And while the blip temporarily
turns out the power for you, it can be lights out for your
equipment.
Strong surges
can fry electronics in a heartbeat, damaging or completely
destroying unprotected computers or other gear with sensitive
components.
And even if
your gadgets still work, experts claim repeated surge exposure can
take years off their performance lifetime.
In an age where
electronics have increasingly taken centre stage, that's one
reason why officials suggest you have reliable
surge protectors in
your home.
Hydro claims
you should look for protection that not only safeguards where you
plug in the devices but one that stops the spike where electricity
actually enters your home.
One is fairly
expensive. The others are available at stores across the city.
The first is
called a whole home surge suppressor. It's installed between your
hydro meter and your electrical panel to keep any errant voltage
from heading up your power, cable or phone lines.
They're usually
available from an electrical contractor although some stores carry
them as well. You should probably let a professional do the
installation if you're not sure about what you're doing.
The other type
is far more common and there's really no excuse not to use one -
or several. Power surge protectors offer multiple outlets, much
like an extension cord, where you can plug in everything and
anything from a PC, a monitor and a TV to a satellite receiver.
The sensitive
components in some of the devices can be fried when a current
suddenly spikes, causing them to either malfunction or simply burn
out. That can leave you with a big repair bill or no machine at
all.
Surge
protectors are supposed to be able to stop the charge and keep the
equipment safe. But don't buy a cheap one.
Different
strips provide different levels of protection from electricity,
and that $1.98 model may not do you much good in the kind of
incident that happened Tuesday morning.
They range in
price from about $10 to hundreds of dollars. Somewhere in between
is the one you want.
So what should
you look for in a surge protector?
Here's what
Toronto Hydro suggests:
LED
indicator lights
They should be
telling you not only that the protector is working but that it's
properly grounded.
UL 1449
rating
UL stands for
"Underwriters Laboratories," which developed a standard for the
devices. Each one specifies how much juice an individual unit will
let through in the event of a surge. Yours should have a rating of
at least 330 volts.
Response time
Not all surge
protectors are built to kick in right away, although that's a
relative term. We're talking nanoseconds here. Yours should list
its response time on the box.
Is
there a guarantee?
Some surge
protectors come with an offer to replace any gear that gets
damaged in the event of a power bump. But look at them carefully.
A lot depends on the power of the voltage they pledge to safeguard
you from. So make sure you read the label before you buy anything.
Toronto Transformer
Fire Causes Province-wide Voltage Dip
IEEE Recommended
Practice for Powering and Grounding Electronic Equipment
When Do You Need
Transient Voltage Surge Suppression (TVSS)?
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