Different Types of Home Protection Devices
A surge protection | AllTech device is an electrical device or appliance meant to protect electronic equipment such as computers, appliances, and telecommunication lines from sudden voltage surges in alternating current (AC) circuits. A sudden voltage surge is generally a temporary event, usually lasting just 1 to 30 seconds, which can reach up to 1,000 volts per meter. This kind of surge is referred to as a “phosphorus surge” in the electric power industry. The resulting damage can result in a variety of detrimental effects, such as appliances malfunctioning, power surges from damaging electrical equipment, and even in some cases total blackout.
There are many different kinds of surge protection device available in the market today. All these are designed to efficiently handle surges and fluctuations in voltage levels in the system. Some of the common surge protection devices are circuit breakers, load cells, voltage detectors, surge suppression units, and fuse boards. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to application.
Circuit breakers are one of the most popular surge protection device categories. They are designed to prevent overloaded or underpowered input or output signals from being multiplied by the amount of incoming electricity. The basic design of a circuit breaker is a physical barrier such as a metal strip or a thick wire placed in between electrical circuits that are intended to block the flow of electricity when there is a voltage difference between the input and output terminals. Most of the circuit breakers in the market have an adjustable limit switch that allows the user to set a maximum current that the breaker can handle.
Another useful surge protection device is the overvoltage detector or sump pump. This is very useful for industrial and commercial settings, where power surges are common. The sump pump is an electrical device that removes the surplus power created by a power outage. It is usually placed outside because it is not very practical to install in a building. It works by taking in the surplus voltage from the main fuse and redirecting it to the sump. The advantage of using this type of surge protector is that it takes care of the overload safely, so there is no risk of damage to the appliances or equipment.
Last but not the least is the lightning protection system. Lightning commonly damages electrical equipment and appliances. The best way to prevent damage from lightning is by using a surge-protector and a lightning-proof enclosure. A surge-protector is simply a small cabinet or box that is designed to protect against surges and direct lightning. Some surge-protectors also have what is called an impulse current suppressor that prevents high impulse current from being distributed into the interior components of the unit.
Last, but not the least is the gas discharge tube. GDT is short for a ground fault current device and protects against a surge in either the household alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Most modern home security devices contain a GDT that is installed just below or between the circuit breaker and the surge protector, so there is a gap between the two.