Surge Protector: A Simple Mechanism Description
A surge protector [AKA surge suppressor] is an electrical plug-in device designed to distribute safe electrical voltages to other electrical or electronic devices. Surge protectors resemble power strips in appearance; however, they are more sophisticated and deliver a constant, continuous power supply. In addition to connecting multiple devices to a single power source, surge protectors provide protection from frequent problems that plague conventional utility power. The most common of these problems are surges (temporary increase of voltage) and brownouts (temporary decrease of voltage). These disturbances slowly degrade many power supply units and cause premature equipment failure. The rising demand on our nation's power grids is causing more brownouts than ever before (Gamble; Power Protect Your Computer). The Inside of a Surge Protector Toroidal Choke Coil: The toroidal choke coil is an electromagnet wrapped in wire. It filters out line noise as the hot wire passes through it. Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV's): An MOV has three parts: a piece of metal oxide material in the middle and two semiconductors joined to the hot and ground wire. As a protective connecting unit it shifts unsafe voltage levels to the ground wire. Neutral Wire: The neutral wire is common in modern wiring practices for safety. It is used in conjunction with the hot wire and the ground wire. Hot Wire: The hot wire holds the passing current which contains excess voltage. Fuse: A fuse is a resistor used to protect the wiring from getting too hot. Fuses "blow or burn out", thereby preventing the electrical current from traveling further. Ground Wire: The ground wire protects users from getting an electrical shock. It receives excess voltage from from the MOVs.
Most surge protectors contain a parallel circuit design whereby the extra voltage is fed away from the standard path to another circuit. Another design is a series circuit where the electrical current is slowed; moreover it detects high voltage, stores the electricity, and releases it gradually (Harris). The majority of the electrical currents diversion is done through the metal oxide varistor or MOV. The MOV acts as a pressure-sensitive valve: based on the level of voltage, the electrons in the semiconductors behave differently either creating lower or higher resistance. When the voltage is correct, an MOV doesn't do anything (Harris). Specifications and Quality Considerations Energy Absorption: Surge processors are measured in joules (the amount of energy they can absorb). The higher the number, the better the protection: 200 joules provides basic protection, 400 is good and 600 or high is superior protection. UL1449: Standard rated by Underwriters Laboratories as the minimum protection standards for surge protectors. It rates suppressors by the amount of voltage passage they allow. Protection Indicator: LED indicator as to metal-oxide varistors functioning. MOVs do not last forever ? one lightening strike can fry them out. Line Conditioning: Most surge protectors contain this feature. It filters out line noise using a toroidal choke coil to "condition" the current. Power Switch: There are manual on/off power switches as well as circuit switches. Circuit switches are useful for keeping some components running while others are shut off. Circuit Breaker or Fuse: A fuse is a resistor that can conduct current below a certain level. If the current is higher than acceptable, heat burns the fuse and cuts off the circuit. Breakers are more economical than fuses as they do not have to be replaced. Protection Guarantee: Read the terms and conditions carefully! It is important to understand your consumer rights in the event of damage to devices your surge protector neglects to protect (Kozierok). According to data published on Hewlett Packard's website, recent statistics reveal 63 percent of all electronics casualties are the result of a power related problem. Most affected are devices using computer chips and high-speed microprocessors. Unprotected computers can suffer hardware degradation and extensive damage when exposed to power surges (Power Protect Your Computer). The cost of a surge protector varies greatly depending on user needs. Basic models sell for as low as $10 but one should be cautious as to the capabilities these units offer. NOTE: It is important to connect all peripheral equipment to the surge protector for complete protection. This includes phone jacks, modems, cables, and any other external devices that will receive electrical current. All visuals have been removed from this article to comply with the publishing rules for this site. Additional Resources Gamble, T. "Storm Season" www.bestbuy.com 15 Sep. 2004
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat31600050019&type=category Harris, T. "How Surge Protectors Work"
www.computer.howstuffworks.com 15 Sep. 2004
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/surge-protector2.htm Kozierok, C.M. "External Power Problems" www.pcguide.com 15 Sep.
2004, http://www.pcguide.com/ref/power/ext/probs.htm Power Protect Your Computer, www.hp.com 15 Sep. 2004
http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/764-0-0-225-121.aspx T.L. McMullen
Equity Zip Financial
No More Fret - I'm Out of Debt!"
888-300-EZIP (3947)
http://www.equityzipfinancial.com - Guaranteed Credit Repair
http://www.equityzip.com - Brixdale Inverse Mortgage
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
High Definition DVD
High definition DVD, also known as HD-DVD (which actually stands for High Density
DVD), is one of two competing high definition storage format - the other being Blu-ray.
Cheap Ink Cartridge
A cheap ink cartridge is sometimes the only way that people can afford to keep all of their printers ready for use. Internet email addresses are constantly loaded with a number of offers from various online merchants, but one such email that a consumer might not want to ignore is any one that offers a great deal on ink cartridges. Some of these deals can offer the consumer a substantial amount of savings on their ink cartridges for just about any printer. Buying a cheap ink cartridge is the perfect opportunity to have quality ink for your printer while enjoying savings that can be quite significant on a printer cartridge.
Power and Your PC
The power coming into a computer is the most critical component, and it may be one of the most overlooked. It is just taken for granted that it will always be there and working properly. A top of the line processor and ultra powerful video card do nothing if a system does not receive the ample, stable power it demands. Having quality components providing and regulating the power supplied to a computer is critical, and this brief overview looks at a few areas worth consideration.
Throw Away The Fax Machine ? A Guide To Online Fax
Have you ever felt like throwing the fax machine out the window? Well you may not know it but you can, but not literally please.
Computer Parts Online
In today's age, building computers on yourself is often chosen as the safest and choicest option by a sizeable part of the market for computers. There are various advantages and disadvantages for doing so.
What is ESR Meter?
All capacitors have a certain amount of resistance to the passage of AC current. ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) is the sum of all internal resistances of a capacitor measured in Ohms. An ideal capacitor has ZERO ohms ESR. From the diagram below you can see a resistor in series
with a "PERFECT CAPACITOR". The value of the resistor is called ESR.
Electrolytic Capacitors have a tendency to increase its ESR overtime due to drying or corrosion. High ESR is a frequent problem in today's electronic circuit. Even a 1 or 2 ohms rise in ESR can cause complicated problems. Under normal conditions the ESR has a very low value, which stays that way
for many years unless the rubber seal is defective, in which case the electrolyte's water component gradually dries out and the ESR creeps up with time. The increase in ESR increases both voltage drops within the capacitor and the heat, produced in the capacitors due to resistive heating. If you don't check for ESR, you may be in for a "TOUGH DOG" repair. High ESR is the first sign of a capacitor failure. High ESR will cause complete circuit failure, over heating of capacitor, loading
of the circuit, overstressing of other circuit components and other undesirable effects.
Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop
Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out there? Does getting a used laptop seem like a better choice to you? Refurbished laptops are everywhere these days, and the word itself seems like a "buzz word" of the industry. But do these used machines actually hold up to the strict standard of the word "refurbished"?
How To Purchase A Quality Laptop Computers Case
So you finally have that new laptop you have been drooling over for the past 3 months, only there is one problem ?- You don't have a case for it. You've probably already laid down over a grand for the notebook and you're telling yourself that you don't want to spend another $70 for a case. Trust me, this isn't the time to be cheap.
An Introduction to Tape Backup
If you run a small business, chances are you're saving important files to a server. But what happens when disaster strikes? How are you ensuring that your files won't be lost? Many people fail to realize that the loss of files could cripple their business. You can insure your office and equipment, but you can't insure files. You can't repair or buy back lost files. Ipso facto, they are lost!
Buying Laser Toner Cartridges
Compatible Laser Toner Cartridges
An Introduction to HD-DVD
High density digital versatile disc is a digital optical media format which is being developed. HD DVD is similar to the competing Blu-ray Disc. It is currently in a format war with the Blu ray disc proposed by the Blu ray disc association.
How To Choose a Computer Mouse
Computer Mice
The Importance Of Current Sense Resistor In Switch Mode Power Supply
Current sense resistor is usually located in the switch mode power
supply section. Newer version of monitor-the b+ (boost) circuit
also have this current sense resistor. If you repair electronic
equipment especially the switch mode power supplies, the current
sensing resistor is connected to the source pin of power FET (field
effect transistor) and the other end to HOT GROUND. The value of
current sense resistor is in the range of 0.1 ohm to about 1 ohm.
The values are depends on the design of each power supply.
How To Choose The Best Gaming Laptop
The gaming laptop is coming of age! It is steadily
increasing in popularity as performance quality goes
up. Gamers now regularly consider laptops or notebooks
when searching for that perfect gaming machine.
How To Upgrade Your PC
Before you upgrade your PC hardware it's best to search all options and ask for advice. Only after this you can go and buy a new component. It's also useful to check if you really need an upgrade.
Blu-ray: A Primer
Blu-ray is an optical disc format which is set to rival HD-DVDin the race to be the
de-facto standard storage medium for HDTV. The HD-DVD vs Blu-ray battle resembles
that between Betamax and VHS and DVD+RW and DVD-RW.
Getting The Proper Laptop Screen Size
Are you sick of viewing everything on that small screen that your current notebook comes with? Do you want your next laptop to have screen size that you are more comfortable with? Well read on.
Thumb Drives - Great New Technology!
The ability to easily move data from PC to PC with minimal inconvenience is just another benefit computers have brought to the current business world.
To Upgrade or Not?
To upgrade or not? That is the question. At least, since the release of the new Athlon 64 FX-57, that is the question I have been pondering. Even though the FX-55, (which I am currently running), was everything I had hoped it would be, is the new FX-57 that much better? Well let's take a look.
Printer Cartridge Economics -- Four Ways To Make Your Ink Last Longer
Printer cartridge overheads can be a major expense for any busy office -- and even if you're working at home, it's important to factor in the amount you spend on your printer ink when assessing the cost of running a home-based business. And what you spent on that bargain-priced printer may turn out to be only a fraction of what you pay annually in printer supplies.
|
