Get Surge Protection for Your Trenton Home
Power surges, or transient voltages, occur if voltage significantly rises above the appropriate level, which is generally 120 volts. Surge protection keeps your Trenton home’s electrical system safe, and Parham Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric, LLC, your local electrical service and HVAC contractor, can help you purchase and install a surge protector that addresses your household’s needs and concerns. With the help of surge protectors installed by a qualified electrical service and HVAC contractor, you can plug in multiple electrical devices and appliances in one power outlet without creating a safety hazard.
Preventing Damage with Surge Protection
Voltage measures a difference in electric potential energy as an electric current flows from one end of a wire to the other. Power surges are increases of voltage that last at least three nanoseconds, and power spikes are increases of voltage that last less than three nanoseconds. Surges can be caused by downed power lines, damaged wiring, the use of high-power electrical devices and appliances, lightning strikes, and complications with your utility company’s equipment.
If a surge occurs in your home, wires can burn up and cause extreme stress on the internal components of your electrical devices and appliances, reducing their longevity. If you’re concerned about surge protection for your Trenton home, discuss your surge protection options with the skilled team at Parham Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric, LLC, your local electrical service and HVAC contractor. Surge protectors installed by an experienced technician limit damage to your devices by redirecting the excess electricity to the outlet’s grounding wire.
Common surge protectors include the following:- Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) – activated by excessive voltage levels and divert surges while allowing the standard current to power electrical devices plugged into the surge protector’s outlet
- Gas Discharge Arrestors – gas tubes that use inert gas as a conductor between the hot line and the ground line to redirect electricity
What to Look for on Listed Surge Protectors
- Response Time – Because surge protectors have slight delays before they redirect power surges, a short response time is desired so that your electronic devices are exposed to surges for only a short time. Your electrical service and HVAC contractor will probably recommend that you purchase and install a surge protector with a response time of less than one nanosecond.
- Clamping Voltage – Lower clamping voltages indicate better surge protection. Three levels of protection include 330 V, 400 V, and 500 V, but a clamping voltage that exceeds 400 V is usually too high.
- Indicator Light – Indicator lights let you know if the surge protection components are functioning properly.
- Energy Absorption/Dissipation – This rating lets homeowners know how much energy the surge protector can absorb. Higher numbers indicate greater protection, so look for a surge protector that is rated at 400 to 600 joules.
