Licensed Electricians Houston

Transient Surge Suppressors & Voltage Surge Protection

Almost everything these days in your home requires surge suppressor protection. This is not because surge suppressor companies or Houston residential electrical contractors are trying to sell you their products and deck your home out with technology. It is simply a matter of simple reality that the way appliances and electronics are built today requires a special line of defense.

Think of how sensitive computers are for a moment and you will understand why. The sensitivity of a computer is due to the delicate nature of the printed circuit board. The invention of the printed circuit board revolutionized computers and took them from room-sized megaliths powered by vacuum tubes to desktop companions that are now indispensable to both our personal and professional lives. Yet these same printed circuit boards made computers very vulnerable to electrical overload and transient voltage spikes. Miniaturizing a room full of equipment on a chip the size of a fingernail creates a great deal of vulnerability to even the slightest surge in voltage. This is why we began using surge suppressors almost as soon as we started using desktop computers back in the 1980s and 1990s.

With the desktop revolution, another revolution occurred that many people didn’t notice because they were so excited about new opportunities to balance their checkbooks that somehow quickly became new opportunities to play video games. Appliance manufacturers began to make everything from microwaves to toasters to coffee pots with printed circuit boards that were based on the same concept as computer circuit boards. Of course, these were far more primitive than computer microprocessors, but basic subroutines of functionality were embedded in these cards to the degree that the core functionality of the device now became reliant on the circuit board.

Of course, this makes an appliance far more vulnerable now to excess current. Today, everything from computers, home theater systems, televisions, audio video systems, phones, fax machines, and even coax cable lines requires the protection of commercial-grade surge suppressors to safeguard against the damage that can and often does result from voltage spikes. Of course, you can use retail surge suppressors for some of these devices and take your chances, but we do not recommend this.

This is because there simply is no way for retail surge suppressors to handle the force of many excess current spikes. There are two sources of excess current that we need to concern ourselves with: lighting, and transient power surge. People often think that the only danger that lighting poses is that of a direct strike. In reality, there is more danger from lighting striking a nearby transformer and creating transient power surge.

Surges of this nature can blow every appliance in the home. Retail surge suppressor systems may not with stand the force of this voltage. Other forms of transient power surge exist besides TPS caused by lightning. These can simply be fluctuations in the power grid. They can also be generated by mechanical devices in the home or garage. Motors draw energy from the grid, and if they draw too much, they can pull current into the home wiring system that will actually affect other devices.

This is what makes commercial grade surge suppressors such a necessity. The ability to detect these sudden spikes in voltage is called excess current detection, and it provides a first line of defense against high voltage that can damage home equipment. While this does not provide an absolute guarantee against catastrophic failure, it is certainly the best anyone can hope for in a thunderstorm or Texas tropical storm.

The Takeaway

If you’re not sure about your home’s electrical condition, it’s best to have an electrical contractor evaluate any issue you’re having. Maybe you’re not even having a problem and just want to be sure? After all, potential fire hazards may exist in your home.

Illuminations Lighting Design in Houston can help to determine if you’re having a minor issue or need a major upgrade. We serve Houston and surrounding areas in the great big state of Texas, including Bellaire, River Oaks, West University, Memorial, Royal Oaks, and more!

Our residential electrical contractors have the expertise you need to determine what your home requires so that you and your family are safe. When you want an electrical job done right, call us at 713-863-1133 or 800-863-1184 to schedule a consultation.