(11-26-2013, 12:50 AM)justMongo Wrote: The basic component of a surge protector is a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV.) They look like a ceramic capacitor. They clamp voltage spikes by changing their resistance when over-volted.
All electronics have surge protection. Protectors (MOVs) are not always used to provide that protection.
How good is that protection? Some lesser protected devices include dimmer switches, clocks, and GFCIs. How often are you replacing them every day? A problem with so many protection recommendations. Fundamental facts are ignored or unknown including existing protection already inside electronics and how often a destructive surge really occurs.
If a surge exists, then it is incoming to everything including devices connected to power strip protectors. Surges are electricity. If that current is incoming to a power strip, then simultaneously, same current is also outgoing into attached appliances. A surge too tiny to harm attaches appliances can easily damage an undersized protector. Protection inside appliances is often so good that a surge is only noise. But a protector may be so tiny as to be damaged by that same noise. Causing naive consumers speculate that an undersized protector "sacrificed itself".
Any protector that is damaged does not provide effective protection.
Other, less expensive, and well proven solutions exist which means that surge current is not incoming to any appliance. But again, how often are the furnace, GFCIs, smoke detectors, and clock radios replaced? A destructive surge means other unprotected appliances must be replaced.