How is the capacity of a quality modern consumer surge protector to absorb energy in a single event quantified?
Answer
Joule rating
The capacity of a surge protector to absorb a burst of transient energy before failing is measured using the Joule rating. This rating indicates the total amount of energy the internal protective components, typically MOVs, can absorb during a single, specific electrical event. For instance, a protector rated for 2,000 joules has used up a portion of its protective lifespan if it has recently been subjected to a major surge, even if equipment wasn't completely destroyed. This contrasts with the Clamping Voltage, which measures the voltage threshold at which the device *starts* diverting energy, not how much energy it can safely dissipate over time or in one hit.
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