The term transient surge refers to a sudden spike in electrical power that can surge through wiring and short circuit any electrical device connected to the electrical service panel. The most common source of transient surge is lighting. Lighting does not have to strike the home itself. A strike on a nearby transformer can spike the voltage throughout the neighborhood and destroy equipment in every home on the block. Because technology has so evolved that virtually every electronic device in todays home contains a printed circuit board like the type found in computers, professionally installed whole house surge suppression is the only reliable safeguard against catastrophic equipment failure. Whole house surge suppressors also safeguard against fluctuations of power in rural areas known as dirty power. These fluctuations occur due to long distances between small communities and service providers, and they will wreck havoc on systems, kitchen appliances, stereos, and of course, computers. Many people are unaware of these hazards and rely on retail power strips alone to protect the most sensitive electrical equipment.
This is a trust misplaced, because virtually every...