0
When the voltage from the wall is many times higher than normal. Like if lightning were to hit the power line outside your computer would not see 120 volts, it would be more like 2000-5000+ volts.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoA power surge is a momentary increase in the voltage of the power line resulting in increased current through anything connected. Voltage times current equals power, so that's why it's called a power surge. It can be caused by lightning, maintenance by the power company, switches and breakers, etc. Depending on the circumstances the line voltage can increase to many thousands of volts, even if only for a millisecond or two. Many modern electronic devices can be damaged instantly by overvoltages of only a hundred volts or so, and if not destroyed, may be degraded in performance--and you might never know why. Your power company probably has a specific policy statement in your user agreement that you never read taking no responsibility.
Good quality surge protection is very important. The number of electronic devices in many modern households make point of use protection impractical, so whole house protection is becoming more and more common.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoA power surge is a boost in an electrical current flowing through a device such as a computer. A computer system has a maximum amount of power that it can accept through its circuit boards, and when a power surge happens, the circuit boards are stressed beyond these limits. Because the voltage limits were breached, the circuit boards will be fried and the computer system will ultimately be destroyed.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is the definaition of Power surge?
A sudden burst of power in a computer
How does a surge protector help maintain a computer system?
I dont think it protects the system, it just keeps your computer for blowing up when there is a power surge. What the surge protector does is it takes "the hit" from the surge and that fries instead of the computer.
Which component is designed to remove high voltage spikes and surges from a power line so that they don't damage a computer system?
Which component is designed to remove high-voltage spikes and surges from a power line so that they do not damage a computer system?
Why are surge protectors recommended with the use of a computer?
If the computer operates in an environment prone to fluctuating current/voltage, a surge protector will reduce or eliminate (most of) the variations and protect the sensitive electronics in the equipment. Failure to protect from voltage spikes could result in damage to hardware and/or loss of data.
What should they buy to protect their computer during future lightning storms power surge circuit board ground wiresurge protector?
A surge protector
What problems can a faulty power supply cause on a computer system?
1: It can cause the computer to not have power, at all, so that when you press power, absolutely nothing happens. 2: If it's surge protecting feature is down, it could let a surge through and damage components.
What effect does a power spike have on a computer?
A power spike - also known as a power surge - could harm a computer if the computer's power supply has a low joule (unit of energy) rating. A power spike, a sudden increase in energy, can overwhelm a computer's power supply and cause too much electricity to flow to sensitive chips and processors and destroy them. To safeguard against power spikes a surge protector should be bought. A computer power supply with a high joule resistance rating would work as well.
What if surge protector had high resistance?
If a surge protector had a very high resistance at all voltages, the wires in the surge protector would short out. It would kick off the protector and make it useless. A new surge protector would need to be purchased.
Two devices that can be used to protect computer from fluctuations in electricity?
You need a good power surge strip or a UPS. Make sure the computer plugs into the surge strip or the UPS, and then plug the strip or UPS into the wall. Some good UPS devices actually do power conditioning which is better, but more expensive.
How do you stop a power surge?
You need to plug in big electrical items, such as a computer, you need to plug it into a surge protector, available at your local electronics store, i.e., Best Buy.
Another name for power surge?
Staying power is another term that can be used in place of power surge.
What is the present tense of the word surge?
'Surge' is the present tense. 'There is a power surge!' Past tense 'Surged'. 'The power surged and caused a black-out.' future tense 'will surge.'
