Electronic protection is a big deal. The bigger the electronic device is, the more expensive it is. Your customers don’t want to watch their devices ruined in seconds from a power surge or faulty electricity. That’s where surge protectors and power conditioners come in. They can help keep devices safe, but what’s the difference? And what do your customers need in their homes and offices?
While both surge protectors and power conditioners offer electronic protection, they go about it in different ways. It’s important to know what each thing does and when it helps electronics.
Surge protectors do as the name suggests: they protect plugged in devices when there’s a surge of power. Power strips usually function as surge protectors, but not always. They can also be used as extension cords and will have several extra outlets. This allows users to expand the number of available outlets from the standard two, to as many as 12 or more. Make sure to double check if power strips have surge protection, to not be caught unaware when there’s a surge.
In the case of a surge of power due to electrical overload, faulty wiring, or lightning strikes, a surge protector will use one of two ways to diffuse unwanted voltage. Unfortunately, after they’ve done their job, their effectiveness is greatly decreased. It’s a good idea to replace the power strip after a surge. In addition, most surge protectors’ internal components can wear out over time, so even one that looks nearly new can provide lesser protection. It’s a good idea to replace surge protectors every few years or so. Some may even have a recommended lifetime set by the manufacturer.
A power conditioner, also called a line conditioner, on the other hand is designed to improve the quality of power that’s delivered to a device. This also protects electronics from damage due to power fluctuations and dirty power (electricity that causes distortions to appliances). But they’re not as effective against power surges. If your customers are using extremely sensitive equipment, a power conditioner can extend their effectiveness over its lifetime. While a power conditioner is great for sensitive electronics, it’s still useful for any device, from lamps to TVs. It will prevent flickering or distorted images.
Now that you know the difference between the two items, who should have what, and where? In short, everyone should have both wherever they use electronics. The longer answer is, it depends on where the person is and what they’re needing. If they’re in a location with a lot of electrical surges, especially if they’re in a spot known for lightning strikes, they’ll want surge protectors to minimize damage.
On the other hand, if they’re experiencing faulty and troublesome power fluctuations or worried about how well their electronics are functioning, they should get a power conditioner to help things run smoothly. If they have a lot of sensitive electronic equipment, such as in a podcast or recording studio, a power conditioner is great to improve the sound quality the microphones are picking up.
Offices, thanks to having more electronics in a smaller space than a full home, may need even more surge protection and conditioning than a home. It’s a good idea to have every device, such as computers or printers, connected to surge protectors to prevent a catastrophic loss of property.
Both surge protectors and power conditioners are essential for electronic protection, but they tackle different issues. Keep both on hand for customers to feel confident that their devices will stay working well and extend their lifetime. If you’re looking for surge protectors or power conditioners, look no further than Petra’s catalog and go to order.petra.com to view our full catalog of products.