A summer storm rolls through Brisbane, the power flickers off for a second, comes back on and everything seems fine.
Then the modem is dead.
Or the TV will not turn on.
Or the air conditioner suddenly has a fault.
Power surges can happen for several reasons, including lightning strikes, faults or damage affecting the electricity network. Sensitive electronics such as computers, televisions and home entertainment equipment can be particularly vulnerable.
With South East Queensland heading towards another storm season, it is worth understanding what surge protection actually does, what it does not do and whether your home has any protection beyond the power board under your desk.
What Is a Power Surge?
Most electrical equipment in your home is designed to operate within a relatively narrow voltage range.
A power surge is a sudden increase in voltage travelling through the electrical system.
Some surges are relatively small. Others can be much larger and may be associated with events such as:
- Lightning activity
- Damage to powerlines or poles
- Electricity network faults
- Switching events within the electricity network
- Power being interrupted and restored
Sometimes the damage is obvious because something stops working immediately.
Other times, electrical and electronic components can be stressed without immediately failing.
That makes surge protection particularly relevant in modern homes where almost everything contains electronics.
Think beyond the television and computer.
Your home may now contain electronics inside your:
- Air conditioner
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Induction cooktop
- Oven
- Garage door opener
- Solar inverter
- Pool equipment
- Security system
- Smart home equipment
- Internet and networking equipment
The value of the electronics connected to an average household electrical system has increased enormously.
Isn’t My Surge-Protected Power Board Enough?
It can help, but it is not necessarily the whole solution.
A surge-protected power board provides local protection to the appliances plugged into it.
That makes sense for equipment such as computers, televisions and entertainment systems.
But what about everything that is hardwired into the house?
Your air conditioner cannot simply be plugged into a surge-protected power board.
Neither can many ovens, hot water systems, pool systems, solar systems or other permanently connected equipment.
That is where switchboard surge protection becomes worth discussing with an electrician.
A surge protective device installed at the switchboard can provide another layer of protection for the home’s electrical installation and connected equipment.
It is important, however, not to treat any surge protection device as an invisible force field around the house.
Lightning contains an enormous amount of energy. Surge protection can reduce the risk from electrical surges, but it should never be marketed as a guarantee that a direct or extremely close lightning strike cannot cause damage.
Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office recommends switching off and unplugging electrical equipment when a storm approaches.
Surge Protection and Safety Switches Are NOT the Same Thing
This is one of the most important distinctions homeowners should understand.
A safety switch is primarily there to protect people.
It detects current leaking from an electrical circuit and disconnects the electricity extremely quickly to reduce the risk of electric shock.
A circuit breaker protects electrical wiring from excessive current.
A surge protective device is designed to help protect electrical equipment from voltage surges.
They perform different jobs.
Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office specifically warns homeowners not to confuse safety switches, circuit breakers and surge protection. Safety switches protect people from electric shock, while surge protection is intended to protect equipment.
Having one does not mean you automatically have the others.
“But My House Has Never Had a Problem During a Storm”
That is common.
Until it isn’t.
Electrical protection is one of those things that often becomes interesting immediately after someone loses a $2,000 television, computer, modem or air-conditioning control board.
It is similar to safety switches in that respect.
You hope the protection never needs to do anything.
That does not make it unnecessary.
For homeowners around Narangba, North Lakes, Burpengary, Mango Hill, Griffin, Morayfield and the wider Moreton Bay region, storm preparation normally means cleaning gutters, checking drainage and securing things outside.
The switchboard is rarely part of the checklist.
It probably should be.
Should You Unplug Electronics During a Thunderstorm?
If a significant electrical storm is approaching and it is safe to do so beforehand, unplugging sensitive equipment gives you another layer of protection.
Computers, televisions, gaming consoles, networking equipment and other expensive electronics are obvious candidates.
Do this before the storm reaches you, rather than standing around power points once lightning is already nearby.
Queensland electrical safety guidance recommends switching off and unplugging electrical equipment when a storm approaches. It also advises staying away from damaged electrical equipment and switchboards following severe weather.
What About the NBN and Internet Equipment?
Your modem and networking equipment are often some of the forgotten electronics in the house.
They’re also inconvenient to lose.
A household might have:
- An NBN connection box
- Modem
- Wi-Fi router
- Mesh Wi-Fi nodes
- Network switch
- Security camera recorder
- Smart-home hub
Suddenly a relatively small communications cabinet contains hundreds or even thousands of dollars of equipment.
Protecting modern homes is no longer just about preventing the television from getting fried.
Is Whole-Home Surge Protection Worth Considering?
For many homes, it is at least worth having the conversation.
Particularly if your property contains expensive hardwired electrical equipment, solar, air conditioning, pool equipment or a significant amount of sensitive electronics.
An electrician can inspect the existing switchboard and determine what surge protection is already installed, if any, and what options are suitable for the property.
It can also be a useful opportunity to identify something many homeowners misunderstand:
Having circuit breakers does not automatically mean you have surge protection.
And having surge protection does not mean you have safety switches protecting every appropriate circuit.
They are separate parts of the electrical protection system.
Before the First Big Storm Arrives
You do not need to become an expert on switchboards.
You just need to know what questions to ask.
Take a look at your home.
How much would it cost to replace the television, computers, networking equipment, air-conditioning electronics and other appliances connected to your electrical system?
Then ask a simpler question:
What is currently protecting them from a power surge?
If the answer is “I’m not actually sure”, that is something Power Bolt Electrical can check.
Need Your Switchboard or Surge Protection Checked?
Power Bolt Electrical can assess your existing switchboard, safety switches and surge protection and explain what protection your home currently has.
We service Narangba, Burpengary, North Lakes, Mango Hill, Griffin, Morayfield, Caboolture and surrounding Moreton Bay areas.
If you want to get the electrical side of your home ready before the summer storms arrive, get in touch with Power Bolt Electrical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need surge protection for my Brisbane home?
Surge protection can be worth considering if your home contains expensive electronics, air conditioning, solar equipment, pool equipment or other sensitive electrical devices. A licensed electrician can inspect your switchboard and determine what surge protection is already installed and what options may suit your property.
Does a safety switch protect my appliances from power surges?
No. Safety switches are primarily designed to protect people from electric shock by detecting electrical leakage and quickly disconnecting the circuit. Surge protective devices are designed to help protect electrical equipment from voltage surges. Circuit breakers, safety switches and surge protection all perform different jobs.
Is a surge-protected power board enough to protect my whole house?
A surge-protected power board can help protect the appliances connected directly to it, such as computers, televisions and entertainment equipment. It does not provide the same protection for hardwired equipment such as air conditioners, ovens, pool equipment or other permanently connected appliances. Switchboard surge protection can provide an additional layer of protection for the home's electrical installation.
Should I unplug electronics during a thunderstorm?
If a storm is approaching and it is safe to do so beforehand, unplugging sensitive electronics such as televisions, computers, gaming consoles, modems and networking equipment can provide another layer of protection. Electrical equipment should be unplugged before the storm arrives rather than while lightning is already nearby.
Can whole-home surge protection stop lightning damage?
Surge protection can help reduce the risk of damage caused by electrical surges, but it cannot guarantee that equipment will survive every lightning event, particularly a direct or very close lightning strike. It should be considered as one layer of electrical protection rather than a guarantee against all storm damage.