Electrical Safety For Your Home Electronics

We think of electrical safety as protecting ourselves and our families from electricity-related accidents. But there’s another type of safety you should consider, too: the safety of your investment in expensive electronic equipment.

Computers, modems, fax machines, home theater systems and other equipment can be damaged by power interference caused by a variety of factors from inside or outside your home. A power surge can literally destroy computers and other equipment.

Ordinary power strips don’t provide adequate protection. You need a true surge suppressor, which looks very much like a power strip but provides much greater protection. Suppressors can cost from $20 to $150; the best ones can handle high voltage surges and react instantly, an important factor considering that many power surges last just fractions of a second.

To make sure you’re getting the right kind of protection, look for the Underwriters Laboratories 1449 rating on a surge suppressor; this is the "gold standard." Also make sure your suppressor has an internal fuse to cut the circuit in the event of a longer surge. And buy a suppressor with a good warranty that obligates the manufacturer to reimburse you for the costs of repairing damage or replacing equipment if the suppressor fails. You may also want to consider a suppressor equipped with special features to protect modems, faxes or coaxial cables, since these are common points of entry for power surges.

Do you have questions about electrical safety in your home or office? Call your electric cooperative for assistance. Your co-op is always glad to help – afterall it’s a consumer-owned utility.

Source: Today’s Homeowner web site