What Is Surge Protection and Why Does It Matter?
Ask yourself this: how much of your life revolves around electronic devices? If you look around your home, your answer will probably be “A lot”—from phones and laptops to Wi-Fi routers and smart home devices. But what happens when a power surge strikes, and all power is lost? The power in your home is constantly fluctuating, and at any moment, a power surge can cause you to lose all electricity. The wrong equipment—or no equipment at all—can leave your appliances vulnerable.
So, what can you do to protect your electronics and important files from damage? We break down power surges, what causes them, and what you can do to protect your home and devices from harm.
What Is a Surge and What Causes Them
A surge is a sudden spike in the voltage of the electricity within your home. This surge can happen at any time, and in the blink of an eye. Typically, your home electricity system sends 120 volts to your sockets and appliances, but a surge occurs when it exceeds 169 volts.
At this point, a surge can cause serious damage to your electronics and even start fires. They can occur during a lightning strike, an outage, or due to faulty wiring. Another common culprit is homeowners plugging in too many appliances at once into one adapter and overloading the socket. Other causes include outages during peak demand hours or power supply switches by your electric provider.
Why Surge Protection Matters for Your Devices and Data
Whatever the cause, power surges strike fast and without warning, and if you’re not prepared, your most prized appliances could meet their death in a flash. The sharp jump in voltage causes arcing, damaging the delicate components of everything from your TV to your laptop and gaming systems. In some cases, it may even cause them to catch fire.
When a spike in voltage is detected, a plug-in surge protector absorbs and diverts the surge. The extra power is then sent to the outlet’s ground wire and is stopped from reaching any devices plugged into your socket. You can also install whole-house surge protectors. These connect to your home via the main electrical panel and monitor the voltage coming in, offering a higher level of security for your whole home. While neither of these can guarantee protection during a lightning strike, they do safeguard your valuable electronics from other power surge offenders.
Surge protection is crucial for anyone serious about protecting their devices and sensitive data from harm. If you work from home, power surge protection is a must—don’t leave yourself vulnerable to losing important data or file corruption. Protect your electronics now, or you could face a costly mistake later.
Surge Protection and Portable Power: Extending Safety Anywhere
Whether it’s a freak storm or a grid surge, your devices and your home are always subject to the possibility of an outage. But investing in a reliable surge protection plug isn’t always enough to guarantee full protection. For ultimate safety against power surges, many homeowners pair their surge protection plug with a portable power station—either a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) or an EPS (emergency power station)—for uninterrupted power. It’s important to understand the differences between UPS and EPS if you’re considering upgrading your home backup system.
UPS: Provides seamless power continuity in the case of an outage, and transfers power instantly, so you won’t even notice there’s been an outage. It’s best for smaller electronics, such as your laptop and Wi-Fi router.
EPS: Offers the same power continuity as UPS, but it’s able to handle larger capacities. It’s ideal for powering through emergency situations, supporting critical appliances like emergency lighting, alarms and security. EPS is not as commonly used in homes.
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is the ideal solution for anyone seeking to protect their home and appliances. It provides instant power transfer so you never have to worry about losing important data or files, even if the grid drops. It’s portable, meaning you can take it with you on the go and sustain power even when off-grid.
With 600W continuous output and 1200W surge capacity, it’s built to handle your everyday appliances with ease. That said, if you’re connecting high-value gear, using a surge protector rated to match the power station’s output won’t hurt, but it’s not strictly necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should You Never Plug Into a Surge Protector?
You shouldn’t plug in large appliances that require a lot of power, such as refrigerators, freezers, toasters, kettles, hair dryers, or portable heaters. These can cause the surge protector to overload and overheat. You should also avoid “daisy-chaining”, that is, plugging one surge protector into another.
How Do I Know if I Need a Surge Protector?
If you have a number of electronics that you value, whether it's an impressive gaming system, a pricey laptop, or a smart TV, you need a surge protector. It’ll give you peace of mind that your appliances are protected from damage during an unexpected outage or storm.
Surge Protection Shields Electronics, Prevents Damage, and Ensures Power Stability
Surge protection is essential for anyone who wants to safeguard their electronics and home from power outages and fire hazards. Power surges can happen at any time, but surge protection plays a vital role in keeping your files and data safe.
With surge protection built into modern portable power stations and smart energy systems, you can have peace of mind no matter where you are—whether you’re working from home, on an off-grid adventure, or just charging up your devices. Combine it with a UPS or EPS backup plan, or try the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power Station for safe, reliable power when you need it most.