Can Surge Protectors Work Without Grounding?
Surge protection is a common electrical safety feature in many homes. Surge protectors can guard against transient voltage spikes that may affect electronics, appliances, lighting, and other electrical systems.
People occasionally make the mistake of believing that surge protection and grounding are different features, meaning that surge protectors will work fine without proper grounding. Here is a look at how surge protection works and why proper grounding is critical.
Types of Surge Protection
It is essential to recognize that there are various types of surge protectors. Some power strips have fuses that afford some degree of protection. A more advanced uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes voltage regulation and more thorough surge protection. There are also wall-mounted surge protectors that are more common in commercial settings. Likewise, you can install a whole-house surge protector that guards your electrical panel and every downstream circuit.
Specialty surge protectors are available, too. There are options that protect:
- Phone, cable, and network lines
- Audio and video equipment
- Specific kinds of appliances
How Surge Protection Works
The operating principle is the same regardless of the type of protector. The system detects a voltage spike. It switches from a high-impedance to a conductive state to redirect the transient voltage into a building’s grounding system. Effectively, it is similar to diverting flood waters away from a structure.
The big difference between different types of surge protection is the overall capacity. Whole-house and dedicated wall-mounted models can handle 20-40,000 joules of energy. Conversely, a high-quality power strip may only provide 600 joules of protection.
The Role of Grounding
The voltage from a transient overload has to go somewhere. If there isn’t a clear path to the ground, then the voltage will try to find one by any means necessary. Overvoltage current can jump between wires or even jump into structural metal in a building. Likewise, it can flood into appliances or electronics, frying:
- Motors
- Fans
- Compressors
- Circuit boards
- Capacitors
In the worst scenarios, the extra voltage can start fires inside walls or shock people.
The critical thing to understand is that the electricity from an overvoltage current wants to get to the Earth. If you’ve ever looked at a lightning strike, it is trying to find a path to the ground. Sometimes this means going through a high tree, a tall building, or even a structure on a hill. Whatever is the lowest-resistance path to the ground wins.
Adding a grounding system to your home ensures that there is a low-resistance path to the ground. If lightning hits in your neighborhood or the electrical grid experiences a surge, this allows much of the energy from a surge to bypass your home’s wiring, appliances, and electronics.
The Importance of Proper Grounding
Many people assume that if their home’s outlets have ground plugs, then their home is properly grounded. This may be true, but it isn’t always.
Foremost, the grounding system needs to be properly wired. If the wiring is bad, then the path to ground might not actually work.
Second, grounding systems do degrade. Wiring, grounding rods, and contact plates degrade due to corrosion. Also, the earth can shift, causing the ground point to lose contact and capacity.
Third, damage from previous events can wear out a grounding system. If your home has experienced a lightning strike or an electrical surge, ask one of our electricians to test whether the ground lines are still working properly.
What Happens to Surge Protection without Proper Grounding?
In the scenario where there is no grounding at all, surge protection is functionally ineffective. The energy from surges has nowhere to go, and this means internal components in electronics, fixtures, and appliances will overheat and fail.
Overheating can trigger fires, especially in a home’s wiring. There is also a shock risk. Effectively, a surge protector attached to an ungrounded system is just safety theater. Even the surge protector itself is at risk of failure and damage.
Poor or degraded grounding helps surge protectors a bit more than having nothing. However, the level of protection will be commensurate with how well the ground connects to your home’s electrical system. The discharge charge time for the surge will be longer, and this increases the risk that the overvoltage will backfeed into your electrical system.
Notably, this sort of system will usually handle small spikes. Most surges from the electrical grid will pass through without trouble. However, lightning strikes and other catastrophic events stand a good chance of damaging the whole electrical system.
False Security
The false sense of security that comes with having surge protection without proper grounding is a problem in itself. Damage from a typical lightning strike can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Worse, the damage from a transient surge isn’t always evident right away. Many appliances with damaged motors or control boards will operate less efficiently for months or even years.
Testing Is Easy
Most hardware stores sell testers that homeowners can attach to outlets. The important thing is to test every outlet. Even one missing or damaged ground wire is enough to put devices, people, and property at risk. If the tester indicates a problem, our electricians can visit and perform a more thorough check.
Layered Defense
The best defense is layered. Foremost, this means making sure your home’s grounding system is in good shape. Secondly, it means installing a whole-house surge protector, which usually runs several hundred dollars. The third layer is point-of-use protection in the form of power strips and UPS modules. A layered defense with good grounding significantly improves the odds that your household will weather a surge with no trouble.
Get Peace of Mind
Mister Sparky serves homeowners in Birmingham, AL, and the surrounding areas. People depend on us because we’re a fully licensed business that performs both residential and commercial electrical work. Our electricians are also available 24/7.
If you have questions about grounding or surge protectors, contact us right away. Don’t put up with any malarkey, call Mister Sparky.
