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Outlet Strips & Battery Back Ups
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Do Surge Protectors Last Forever?
No, they do not. Each time a surge protector reroutes a power surge away from your connected equipment, the internal structure of the protector takes a little bit of damage. Over time the parts of the surge protector that keep your connected equipment safe simply stop working. How long this takes depends on the frequency and strength of power surges. Surge protectors cannot stop lightning (Its 5xs hotter than the sun). We also advise unplugging all connected equipment if a thunderstorm is coming.
What's a power surge?
A power surge is a spike in the electrical current flowing through the wires of your house. They can damage common appliances, sensitive AV electronics and computer equipment.
What causes power surges?
Most power surges stem from inside your home. Power surges are caused by many different factors, including severe weather, faulty or damaged electric wiring or the sudden turning on and off of a high power electrical device like an air conditioner or large electric motor.
Why should I worry?
Strong power surges can wipe out your home equipment in an instant. In addition to surges caused by storms, the average home can experience multiple "hidden" surges a day from other various sources. These smaller surges cause cumulative damage to electronics, shortening their life and eventually causing them to fail.
What's a surge protector do?
A surge protector safeguards electronics from the harmful effects of power surges and voltage spikes. Surge protectors can absorb and dissipate the power of a surge so that connected equipment is shielded from the surge.
What are joule ratings?
A joule measures energy, and a surge protector’s joule rating indicates how much energy it can absorb before it fails. The higher the number, the greater the protection provided. The type and value of the equipment to be protected are key factors in determining the amount of protection needed. The more expensive the item, the higher level (joules) of protection is recommended. For example: Good protection: 350-1000 JoulesProtects: lamps, mobile devices, chargers, small appliances and clocks Better protection: 1000-2000 JoulesProtects: printers, smartphones and tablets, laptops, routersBest protection:2000 & Above JoulesProtects: HDTV's, home theatres, desktop computers, sound systems, gaming consoles, DVD/Blu-Ray/Cable receivers
What's the difference between a surge protector and a power strip?
A power strip is simply an expansion of a single electrical outlet that provides numerous outlets. While this piece of equipment may look like a surge protector and provide similar benefits, such as extra outlets, only surge protectors safeguard your electronics from power surges and voltage fluctuations.
How do I know my surge protector is working?
Many surge protectors available today have a light indicator that show you when your devices are protected. Once the light comes on, your devices are being protected from power surges and spikes. If your indicator light is not “on” (illuminating), then it's time to replace your surge protector.Several of our surge protectors have a feature called auto-shutdown mode, this feature will automatically shut down your device when the Surge protector wears out.
Will I need to replace my surge protector?
Yes, even the highest quality surge protection device will someday have to be replaced. Because surge protectors take on unnoticeable power surges all the time, the equipment wears down. Over time the surge protective components will expire and no longer provide protection. At this time, the surge protectors "protected" indicator light will turn off, or the power will be permanently disconnected to the surge protector outlets. Consider replacing surge protectors if a storm knocks out your power, or every few storm seasons where this happens. Surge protector lifespans aren’t measured in years — they’re measured in joules. It’s all about how many joules your surge protector has absorbed. But, the older your surge protector is, the more it’s likely degraded.
What is a UPS?
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), offers guaranteed power protection for connected electronics. When power is interrupted, or fluctuates outside safe levels, a UPS will instantly provide clean battery backup power and surge protection for plugged-in, sensitive equipment.APC, a flagship brand of Schneider Electric, offers UPS options for Computers & Peripherals, Networks & Servers, as well as Data Centers & Facilities.
Check out the APC Product Selector
Also remember Farnsworth Electronics stocks replacement UPS batteries! Let us know your make & model # today.