Last week, we looked at the causes of electric power failures and surges, and how bad these events can be for our sensitive electronic devices like computers, TVs, etc.
Contrary to popular thinking, power outages caused by direct lightning strikes are rare, accounting for only two percent of power surge damage. However, the number of lightning strikes that occur every year is staggering, and lightning does not need to directly strike an object to cause problems. Electromagnetic fields induced in wiring, caused indirectly by nearby lightning strikes, creating powerful surges are more common, accounting for 20-30% of outages. These surges can travel for miles down cable TV, telephone and antenna lines, as well as electric utility wires.
With electricity blackouts costing U.S. businesses $150 billion every year, and, with the U.S. electric grid being “antiquated and vulnerable to outages,” the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2013 gave the system a D+ grade in its regular assessment of major U.S. infrastructure. And in a recent survey, senior utility executives rated aging infrastructure as the top issue facing the industry.
What are we, the hapless end users, supposed to do? Some folks unplug all their sensitive electronics during major weather events, but they can’t stay unplugged all the time. The next line of defense is surge protectors, but please, don’t waste your money on cheap power strip-styled devices. Pay a little extra and get something good. While there are formulas for calculating what you need, a good rule of thumb is to get something with a high “Joules” rating, which basically means how much of a bad power surge can the device protect you from. I like one with at least a 2000 Joules rating, and the more, the merrier.
Not all surge protectors are created equal, though, and one top-rated unit, the Tripp Lite TLP1008TEL, provides 2395 Joules worth of protection, 10 outlets and an 8-foot cord, and is available on Amazon for a mere $28.64. That’s a great deal all day long. Get one. Get a couple. I have six surge protectors like this in my house, protecting all of my expensive electronics. I call it cheap insurance.
Surge protection alone may not be enough, however, especially for devices that don’t appreciate the power simply stopping, such as backup hard drives, medical equipment and first-responder communications gear. For these, you need a battery-backup device called an Uninterruptible Power Supply. These devices contain a large battery which will continue powering your equipment after the normal electricity fails, allowing you to do an orderly shutdown, rather than simply letting things “crash.” Good ones start at around $60, and one rated at 400VA (Volt-Amps) or so should be sufficient for most normal-sized computer systems; more powerful systems require higher VA ratings. Keep in mind that items like laser printers, space heaters, copiers, paper shredders, vacuum cleaners and curling irons should not be plugged into battery-backup UPS devices.
Know also that surge protectors wear out. The internal components that make them work are only designed to protect against a limited number of power surges, so they should be replaced periodically; otherwise, while they may still pass electricity through to power your devices, they may actually be providing no protection at all. One nice thing about the above-mentioned Tripp Lite TLP1008TEL is that when the internal surge components wear out, it shuts down all power, letting you know it’s time to buy a new one.
Finally, be aware that no surge protector will guard your equipment against a direct lightning strike; direct strikes are simply too powerful. Fortunately, direct lightning strikes are rare, so go ahead and load up on good-quality surge protectors. Then, you’ll know you’ve done your best.