Whу is it really necessary to replace your surge protector?

Computers have become our irreplaceable companions, and we owe it to our devices to take better care of the system that holds everything in place. After all, our devices are there for us 24/7. It’s very important to keep all of your gadgets updated at all times and make sure that all parts of your PC are functioning well. Sometimes, however, we don’t have a great interior plan when designing our workplaces, and details get overlooked. For example, if you want to have a table in the center of the room but there is no outlet in sight – what can you do?

In this article we will touch upon the question when you should replace your surge protector

Unfortunately, all devices have a life expectancy plan, and your surge protector will not live forever. But as you can imagine, for some users, they become absolutely irreplaceable. Here we will list all the perks of having a surge protector and how it can affect the speed of your computer. If you are experiencing a loss of speed, then you should consider investing in a special tool like Auslogics BoostSpeed to make your device open up the possibilities for better performance.

In its essence, the surge protector is a complicated piece of equipment that serves as a mediator between the power socket and your device. The power surges happen all the time, and they are highly harmful to your computer. Being the complex gadget that it is, your PC can be affected by these surges and become corrupted as a result. The surge protector is there to make sure that your device is protected from the voltage spikes and the expensive equipment is not damaged.

A typical power surge looks like a power strip that you can plug numerous devices into

All of them will be protected from power spikes because of the surge and as a bonus you will get extension cord privileges. Make sure you know the difference between a power surge protector and a casual extension cord for several devices to be plugged in. It makes sense to choose the better option, especially because they cost the same.

If your home is prone to power surges, you should replace the surge protectors on a schedule. Because each time the power spikes, the metal oxide component inside the protector shields your device and takes in the extra voltage. This way, the energy that was overproduced stays in the protector and doesn’t damage your drive. However, there is still a limit – either if it’s a collection of small power spikes or a couple of big power surges – it doesn’t really matter, you should know that your surge protector should be replaced in a timely manner.

So, how often should one replace a surge protector?

It’s a great question, and you need to know a little about the surge protector’s lifespan to answer that. First of all, it’s measured in joules; you can read this information in the manual for the surge protector. Usually, you are getting a 1000-joule surge protector. This is the total amount of the energy that can be absorbed before the surge protector is no longer protecting your device from sudden power spikes. In other words, the cumulative ‘amount’ of energy is 1000 joules but it cannot be converted into minutes, hours, days, months etc. So there is no way of knowing when the ‘best before’ date is for a power surge adaptor. It can come in a couple of years, or a couple of months, depending on the character of the power surges you are having. If you are still using a power surge protector from the good old days, chances are it’s already outdated and does nothing to protect your device.

The most annoying part is that you can hardly tell when the protector is outdated. Some of the new generation power surge protectors have an indicating light that will tell you that they are no longer fulfilling their destiny. So, the best way to tell is to get a new power surge protector and keep an eye on the ones that you already have. If you are experiencing a lot of power surges, you are more likely to change the protectors often.