Better than a surge protector is a battery backup but not so much for surges.
A surge is a sudden boost in excess of normal. A direct hit from lightning, for example, will fry your stuff. In my area the risk of a direct hit is once every several years.
More common in my area is the opposite problem: low supply. I live in one of the fastest growing areas of the US. This area, segment of this large city, has been in the top 5 fastest growing areas every year for the past 20 years. As a result we get brown outs more frequently than we would like since regular demand can exceed regular capacity.
Electricity is measured as power (wattage) which is voltage (force) times amperage (speed), but is served according to a voltage rating. In the US the standard rating is 110 volts AC but in most of the world it is 220 AC. If you have dirty power the voltage you receive is lower than rated for your line.
Low supply (low voltage) means the amperage increases on your electronic devices in order to maintain the same wattage the electronic is designed for. Increased amperage means increased heat generation. It also shortens the life of impacted electronics. A battery backup is beneficial because if electric supply declines enough the backup switches to its local battery which ensures a more consistent supply of juice.
Comments
Better than a surge protector is a battery backup but not so much for surges.
A surge is a sudden boost in excess of normal. A direct hit from lightning, for example, will fry your stuff. In my area the risk of a direct hit is once every several years.
More common in my area is the opposite problem: low supply. I live in one of the fastest growing areas of the US. This area, segment of this large city, has been in the top 5 fastest growing areas every year for the past 20 years. As a result we get brown outs more frequently than we would like since regular demand can exceed regular capacity.
Electricity is measured as power (wattage) which is voltage (force) times amperage (speed), but is served according to a voltage rating. In the US the standard rating is 110 volts AC but in most of the world it is 220 AC. If you have dirty power the voltage you receive is lower than rated for your line.
Low supply (low voltage) means the amperage increases on your electronic devices in order to maintain the same wattage the electronic is designed for. Increased amperage means increased heat generation. It also shortens the life of impacted electronics. A battery backup is beneficial because if electric supply declines enough the backup switches to its local battery which ensures a more consistent supply of juice.