Many electronics like computers, DVR's, and digital answering machines are sensitive to fluctuations in electrical current. These electrical surges or spikes are caused by many things including lightening storms, faulty wiring, or an issue with the power delivery lines. A common surge or spike protector is a great defense against these issues as it will divert any excess electricity to a grounding wire instead of passing it along to the connected devices.

This ensures the devices plugged into the protector will receive a steady supply of power. Another option to protect these devices is to simply unplug them. However, many of these items will be left plugged in when a person is not home and things like spikes from the transformer lines cannot be predicted or anticipated.

Therefore a great investment for a family with a whole house surge protector of expensive electronic equipment is a whole house surge protector.A whole house surge protector is wired directly to the electric panel of the house and will automatically siphon off any electrical surges before they even enter the wiring of the home. This is extremely convenient as the individual protectors will no longer be required.

Even sensitive equipment can be plugged directly into an electrical outlet without fear that it will be damaged during storms or other issues. Most of these protectors will require installation by a professional electrician. Whole house surge protector is rarely sold to the public and must usually be purchased through a supplier or the electric company.

A spike protector can come in many forms with various purposes. They are designed in general to suppress excess current going to the homeowners electric devices by diverting it safely into the ground. Typical off the shelf models, called "point of use" protectors are the most common and are designed to safely protect only a few devices at a time.

However there are devices called whole house surge protectors that provide more of a blanket of whole house surge protection for all of a home's electronic devices. These units are connected at a home's main electrical panel or at the point where current enters the house. Installation of these devices is typically performed by a licensed electrician or contractor. They make sure all grounding connections are made inorder to channel surging current safely into the ground.

Before purchasing a total home surge arrestor, the homeowner must consider a few things in order to make a suitable purchase. First, make sure the device is properly rated. Second, make sure the joule rating is high enough to provide adequate protection. This number is typically located on the side of the package, or if purchasing through the internet, assure that this information is provided in the advertisement. This number should be in the range of one thousand to four thousand joules for a decent surge protector.