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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

Surge Protector

A power strip or device that diverts voltage spikes away from connected equipment.

Definition

Surge protectors use components such as metal oxide varistors (MOVs) to clamp transient voltage spikes. They are rated in joules and by clamping voltage. They do not protect against outages or sags, which require a UPS. MOVs degrade with each surge.

Example

A 2,000-joule surge protector with a 'protected' LED protects a home office PC.

Exam tip

A plain power strip is not a surge protector; a surge protector is not a UPS.

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