Mr. Electric is a professional electrical contractor in Duncan, SC providing a wide range of services, including surge protection installation. We have been around for over three decades and have built an excellent reputation for our professionalism, reliability, and safety-first approach. If you’re looking for a licensed electrician to install a surge protector in your home or business premises, look no further than Mr. Electric.

What Are Surge Protective Devices?

As the name implies, surge protective devices protect electronics, appliances, and other electrical equipment from power surges or spikes. In other words, these devices intercept and divert excess voltage to the ground wire, thereby preventing the power surge from causing damage. Think of surge protective devices as an insurance policy. You hope you never use it, but you’re incredibly grateful to have it when you need it. These devices are an integral part of your comprehensive electrical safety plan.

How Surge Protective Devices Work

A surge protective device is equipped with specialized components that continuously monitor the voltage flowing through circuits. When the voltage exceeds the acceptable level, the device diverts the excess current to the ground wire. Surge protection devices have a clamping voltage, also known as let-through voltage, which is the maximum voltage they allow to pass. Once the voltage surpasses the limit, the device activates to divert excess current and prevent it from reaching and damaging your connected devices.

Types of Surge Protective Devices

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the different types of surge protective devices and how they work so that you can make an informed decision. If you need help with choosing the right surge protection device for your home, consult with a reputable electrical service. Here are the three major types of surge protective devices:

• Type 1 surge protective devices

These are installed at the main service panel to provide a first line of defense against major surges, such as those caused by lightning strikes. Type 1 surge protectors provide protection for your entire electrical system and everything connected to it.

• Type 2 surge protective devices

These are installed at sub-panels or branch circuits to provide a secondary level of protection. They intercept and divert any remaining voltage spike that made it past the type 1 surge protective device. If your valuable equipment is located some distance from the main electrical panel, installing Type 2 SPDs closer to those areas can provide better protection.

• Type 3 surge protective devices

Also known as point-of-use devices, type 3 surge protective devices are plugged directly into electrical outlets or power strips. They are meant to protect sensitive electronics from voltage spikes. Point-of-use surge protective devices are recommended for situations where you need to provide the most localized protection for particularly sensitive electronic equipment. However, they provide limited protection, as they are not designed to handle large, high-energy surges like those caused by lightning strikes.

Call Mr. Electric for Surge Protection Installation

When you’re in need of professional surge protection installation service, get in touch with the team at Mr. Electric. We have the knowledge and experience to install all types of surge protectors and ensure they’re in good working condition. Our team also offers a wide range of electrical repairs, including surge protector repair, electrical panel repair, lighting repair, and more.