… or, to put it another way, “Aren’t power strips surge protectors?”
Yes, power strips offer some protection for precision appliances such as computers and HD televisions from damage in case of a voltage surge. We encourage people to use power strips rather than attempting to overload a circuit with an octopus plug, and any important electronic device should be plugged into a power strip.
But these power strips are not whole-house surge protection. They only serve as one layer against the expensive problems voltage surges can create. We recommend you arrange for whole-house surge protection installation with one of our licensed electricians.
This is a question homeowners often ask when they either have electrical wiring repairs that need to be done or when they’re contemplating a new installation, such as new lighting, a ceiling fan installation, or when wiring for an add-on room. It’s smart to look for places to save money in home improvement projects. But it’s much smarter to know when doing the work as a “do-it-yourself” project poses potential safety hazards.
The circuit breaker panel (a.k.a. the electrical panel) is the central “switching station” for electricity in your house. Its breakers are designed to trip and cut off electrical flow to individual circuits in situations where there is excessive voltage. This protects the electrical system from damage, and in turn helps keep your home safer.