Surge Protection

Firstly, you need to recognize the complexity of the grid that supplies our electricity. The grid is an engineering monster, consisting of hundreds of thousands of different lines, branches, connections and devices, linking points of electricity demand and points of electricity supply. With such inherent complexity it is not surprise that electricity fluctuations can occur expectantly at times. This is why we need to have adequate surge protection measures installed in our houses.

A.C electricity is supposed to be supplied to US homes at a consistent frequency and voltage. However, sometimes unexpected events in one part of the grid (such as a fallen power line or a faulty connection) can have knock-on effects on other parts of the system. This can cause unpredictable power surges' in the cables leading to the devices in our homes.

You might wonder, what is the problem with this. Well, many of the high-tech, microprocessor installed devices that we take for granted today (such as phones, laptops and tablets) are not designed to handle large amounts of power. Therefore, such transients can damage the circuitry and cause some very expensive collateral damage. But if we are simply at the whim of great unknown forces and events in the grid, then how can we protect against power surges?

That's a very valid question.

Many people try to address the issue themselves by installing power surge adapters at their electricity outlets. These are very simple devices that simply plug into the wall, much like a extension lead. They serve a very simple purpose. In the event of a power surge, the device will detect the rise and will act like a switch, cutting off the power to the device which is plugged into it. This cheap and easily installed piece of kit could therefore save your expensive computer from a nasty shock.

However, plug in power surge protectors are not necessarily the best (or only) way of protecting against fluctuations in the power supply. The trained electricians at Bray Electrical Services can bring your defense to the next level and complete surge protection installation. That's because a qualified electrician will be able to install a surge protector at the interface between your home's cables and the outside grid. This goes right to the root of the problem. This means that if the device registers a rise in power, it will limit the power supply to your house, to protect any plugged in devices from damage.