Should i surge protect my tv

When lightning strikes there are usually fires, power outages, and extreme home damage, meaning there is nothing on earth that can withstand that kind of energy especially a small surge protector. August 17, Prime Staff. Because we associate power with surges it is natural to think that if I turn off my power strip or surge protector that my appliances are now safe from the big bad surges of power.

So long as the plug is connected to the wall where the power is constantly flowing your devices are at risk. The power from the wall is constantly flowing and if a surge of power flows it will push into the surge protector or power strip via the conducting wires and into the appliances connected to them thus damaging them.

If you are concerned about a particular device, you should be using a surge protector that is joules or higher Prime sells up to joules , or for the truly worried, the best way to truly protect against a power surge is to unplug everything from the wall outlet.

Added to your cart:. A power surge occurs when the current of electricity is interrupted and then resumes. A power surge can range from five or ten volts when you turn on your hair dryer to thousands of volts if lightning strikes a transformer. There are two different types of power surges: internal and external. Internal power surge : The majority of household power surges occur internally.

These internal power surges occur dozens of times per day and are often unnoticed. They occur when motors start or stop and divert electricity to and from appliances, such as an air-conditioning unit or refrigerator. External power surge : Surges that stem from an occurrence outside of the home are external power surges. A broken power line, a lightning strike on utility equipment, or a blown transformer can cause an external power surge.

Both internal and external power surges can impact the performance of electronic devices in your home. Anything containing a microprocessor is at risk of being damaged by a strong fluctuation in voltage.

This is how much flow you can get through the pipe, so to speak. You'll want at least 2 amps for quicker charging. Most modern phones have the ability to fast-charge, but you'll need to use their wall warts for that.

If you don't need to quickly charge them, though, these lower power ports will work just fine. Most hotels and hostels have few accessible outlets, yet everyone has multiple devices that need recharging. Most portable power strips add two to three additional outlets, plus offer direct USB charging see no. Remember the joule rating we discussed earlier? Well, it means that over time, a surge protector is going to wear out.

Some will give you a warning or shut off when their protection drops below a safe level. Many will just keep working, without protection, and you won't know it until a power spike damages your gear.

If you know you've had a serious electrical event like lightning blew out a transformer down the street , it's probably worth replacing your surge protector just in case. Most companies that sell surge protectors say they need to be replaced every three to five years. There is no reason not to get a surge protector. How much you might need it will vary. If you live in an area with lots of thunderstorms, your gear is probably more likely to experience power surges.

One thing that's beyond the scope of this article, but worth mentioning, are UPSs, or uninterruptible power supplies. These are like surge protectors, but have built-in batteries so the device never loses power. At least, not until the battery runs down. They're not crucial for most people and most equipment, but if there's something in your house that would cause serious issues if it lost power CPAP machines, perhaps , they're worth looking into.

Surge protectors are only important where devices with sensitive and expensive electronics are concerned. This is where your TV enters the picture. For instance, desk lamps and standing fans can get by without surge protection. Surges and spikes are normally attributed to external factors such as a power grid failure, loose wiring, and lightning strikes.

This is the reason why many professional electricians encourage homeowners to use whole-house surge protection and suppression devices. By installing one in your home, you can protect every single device that is plugged into an outlet on your property. A visit to Safe Electricity will show you that surges and spikes can also occur because of powerful appliances like freezers and vacuum cleaners that draw a lot of currents, particularly during their startup cycles. The only way to protect your TV set is to plug it into a surge protector.

Surge protectors are important because surges and spikes can occur at any time and for various reasons. Even if your home has never experienced a surge, a surge protector will give you peace of mind.

In modern communities where surges and spikes are a rarity, a surge protector is a cautionary tool. Buying one gives you confidence that your TV will most likely survive if a surge or spike occurs.

Admittedly, surge protectors do not always work. Some surges and spikes are powerful enough to destroy your surge protector and all the appliances attached to it. The practice is not associated with any consequences or side effects.

Thus, you can plug your tv into a surge protector. The average homeowner requires anywhere between 1, and 2, joules for their TVs. The joules reveal the amount of energy a surge protector can absorb before it stops working. Naturally, the higher the joule rating, the better. You cannot trust your Television set to any random and inexpensive surge protector you find on the market.

The best surge protector for TV should be reliable and long-lasting. Some suitable options include:. This surge protector has 11 outlets. They have shutters that enhance the safety of the device. The surge protector also includes 6 outlets that are spacious enough to accommodate large adapters.

The product has protective mechanisms for telephone lines, data lines, and coaxial cables.