Both ways, depending on the circumstances… A violent electrical storm can induce enough surge energy into power lines to destroy your computer in an instant, if left improperly protected. Smaller, internally generated surges can, over time, “wear out” delicate circuits, causing intermittent problems, and slowing down the operation of a system. Series Mode surge suppression technology, as designed by ZERO SURGE Inc., employs a surge reactor that serves as a power line filter, much like the oil filter in your car. The surge reactor filters out damaging energy, just as your oil filter removes impurities that can destroy your engine over time. The result with a good oil filter or a good power line filter is longer, trouble-free operation.

Any equipment with microprocessors would be considered sensitive and vulnerable to surge damage. Computers, standby uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), audio components, TVs, digital signage, laboratory equipment, controllers, medical devices, fire alarm and security systems are all examples.

Unlike power line surges, neither cable, data, nor telephone line surges are generated inside the building. They are only externally generated so the best place to stop these types of surges is where they enter the building. Proper grounding at the service entrance by the service provider is key. Putting cable, data, and telephone line surge protection at the point of use is counterproductive as it provides a path inside and causes ground line contamination when it diverts the surge.

MOV based surge protectors that have data protection are there to protect your devices from the MOV itself as an MOV will send energy to the ground line.  The ground line is shared with communication lines.

Yes, surges occur during both events. Typical surge protectors must reach a fixed clamping level before they recognize the surge. Zero Surge’s wide voltage range dynamic filter in comparison, actively senses surges and operates over a range of 85V-175V, compatible with today’s fixed mode power supplies. This is especially beneficial during brownouts and when standby generators are used.

Standby generators often output variable power (a/k/a dirty power). This is where Zero Surge’s wide voltage range technology is particularly beneficial due to its capability to sense and filter surges over a range of 85V-175V.

There are basically two types of powerline surge technology, patented Series Mode and the older Shunt Mode (so-called hybrids are usually Shunt Mode). The Shunt Mode technology was developed over thirty years ago to protect standalone equipment, but this older technology is no longer suitable for modern sensitive interconnected equipment.

Shunt Mode protectors are still very common because this older technology is inexpensive to manufacture with high profit margins, and as long as people can be seduced by the low prices, these products will continue to be sold. They generally divert powerline surges to the safety ground wire, using circuits described as “All Three Modes of Protection”. The resulting surges diverted to the ground wire can exceed 1000 volts, exposing sensitive motherboards and data boards to surge disruption, degradation and damage.

This surge voltage on the ground wire varies along the length of the wire. When equipment such as modems, printers and other computers are interconnected, the interconnecting cable creates a “ground loop”. If the surge induced on the safety ground wire of one computer is 1000 volts and the surge induced on the safety ground wire at another location is 600 volts, then the difference of 400 volts is fed into the interconnecting cables causing the disruption, degradation, or damage.

While large surges will cause damage, small surges can result in data problems such as lock-ups, data errors, and “mysterious problems.” It is better to avoid Shunt Mode surge protectors that claim “All Three Modes of Suppression” than to try and live with the problems they cause when they divert surges to the ground wire.

Any cord adds impedance to a circuit.  That impedance is a resistance that causes the cord to release energy in the form of heat.  The longer the cord, the more heat is released.  That is why the building code required electrical receptacles to be placed a certain maximum distances allowing for proper coverage.  In most rooms, the code requires receptacles spaces at maximum of 12 feet.  That is why most cords are 6 feet long.  Kitchens require receptacles at 6 feet spacing so that is why your toaster or coffee maker has a 3 foot cord.  If you need more receptacles or one closer to your devices, it is better to have an electrician add a receptacle.  Extension cords are only to be for temporary use and are not to be run between rooms, through windows, doors or walls.

Since the 1980s, most electronic devices are powered by switch mode power supplies as opposed to older linear power supplies.  Linear power supplies are less efficient but are not sensitive to changes in current.  Switch mode power supplies are more efficient but are more sensitive to changes in current.  MOV based surge protection cannot protection against surges in current so even when you think your surge protector is working, it may not stop the types of surges that damage today’s power supplies.

Additionally, more devices are made to consume less power, so their power supplies have become smaller.  A smaller power supply is less able to resist the damage from everyday surges.

According to industry standards, power surges inside a building can reach up to 6,000 Volts, and 3,000 amperes, and deliver up to 90 joules of energy.  90 Joules is not a lot of energy.  To put that in perspective, it would raise the temperature of a bottle of water about one degree F.  But since the surge energy is delivered in less than 100 microseconds, the amount of power exceeds 18,000,000 watts of power!