What is a Surge Protector?
Surge protector offer protection in power circuits by sacrificing themselves. The energy that might have damaged your equipment is absorbed or reduced by the protector instead.
What should I look for in a surge protector?
• Energy absorption/dissipation
Represented in Joules, this rating tells you how much energy the surge protector can absorb before it fails. A higher number indicates greater protection. For entry level protectors, looks for minimum ratings of 200 to 400 Joules, and for better protection look for ratings above 1,500 Joules.
• Response Time
There is a very slight delay before a surge protector responds to a power surge. Look for a surge protector that responds in less than twenty nanoseconds. The lower the number, the quicker the board responds. High end protectors can respond in one nanosecond.
• Indicator Light
All surge protectors will fail after repeated surges. Higher end alternatives utilise an indicator light, which will be illuminated when the board is protected.