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Technician

—Fittings and installations

Surge protection at home

Surge protection limits brief voltage spikes. It protects electronics; it does not replace other protective devices.

Voltage surges can come from switching on the supply network, from large equipment starting and stopping, or from lightning nearby. They can damage sensitive electronics such as TVs, computers, routers and appliance control boards. A surge protective device at the distribution board diverts much of a surge before it reaches circuits; plug-in protectors add local protection for valuable equipment.

Installation guides cover what a fitting or appliance needs from the electrics before it goes on the wall or ceiling.

Surge protection does not prevent power cuts, protect against overloads or replace RCDs and breakers. It is most effective as part of a coordinated arrangement and needs a sound earth to function properly.

01In short

The points that matter most

  • Protects electronics

    Against brief voltage spikes.

  • Board and plug-in

    Board devices plus local protectors.

  • Not a cure-all

    It does not stop cuts or overloads.

02Detail

Options

  • Board-mounted SPD

    Installed at the distribution board to protect the whole installation.

  • Plug-in protectors

    For computers, TVs and network equipment.

  • Earthing

    A sound earth is necessary for surge devices to work.

  • Indicators

    Many devices show when they need replacing after a large surge.

03Checklist

Consider surge protection if

  • Electronics have failed

    After storms or power events.

  • You have valuable equipment

    Home offices or media rooms.

  • The board is being upgraded

    A good time to add protection.

04Questions

Questions people ask

Do I need a board SPD and plug-in protectors?
They work together; the board device handles most of a surge.
Does surge protection wear out?
Devices can degrade after large surges; indicators show status.
Will it protect against lightning?
It reduces risk from nearby strikes but cannot make equipment immune to a direct strike.
Is surge protection expensive?
Costs vary with the board and devices; it is usually modest compared with replacing electronics.

05Related

Related guides

This guide sits under installation. All topics are on the guides page.

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