Question:
Surge Protectors and Extension Cords?
Eric H
2009-06-02 05:38:25 UTC
If I plug an extension cord into a surge protector is everything that is plugged into the extension cord protected? Also, if I plug a second extension cord into the first extension cord is everything plugged into the second extension cord protected also?
Four answers:
I dont know but...
2009-06-02 05:45:06 UTC
you doing way to much extending. the surge protector should protect it but wont stop the breaker from tripping or wire overheating from excessive load. if wire overheats on output side of protector, it wont trip.
monophoto
2009-06-02 10:23:28 UTC
Its usually a good bet that a load plugged into a surge protector will be protected by the surge protector.



However, that may not be true for loads served through long extension cords. This is a consequence of how traveling ways perform.



A "surge" (as that term is understood by engineers) is a traveling wave. That is, it is a sharp increase in voltage that has a rather short duration - typically measured in microseconds.



So-called "power surges" as that term is commonly used in the new media are not traveling waves but rather step changes in load on the power stem.



The behavior of traveling waves is governed by the surge impedance of a system. When a traveling wave encounters a high surge impedance, it will reflect and reverse direction. There will be a momentary instant of time when the incoming and reflected waves essentially collide with each other, and the result is that the instantaneous voltage at the interface with that high surge impedance will be the sum of the voltages of the incoming and reflected wave. So, in the absence of losses, we can say that the voltage will be twice the crest voltage of the incoming wave.



Now, a surge protector is a shunt-connected resistive device that has a low surge impedance. The effect of a surge protector is to limit the crest magnitude of a traveling wave to the voltage drop through the surge protector. So what happens is that when the traveling wave encounters the surge protector, it effective chops the top off the traveling wave, and allows a new traveling wave to proceed to the load having a crest value equal to the voltage drop through the surge protector.



Now, if the load is close to the surge protector, when the incoming and reflected waves add together, the crest magnitude of the sum of those voltages will be limited to the voltage drop through the surge protector. But if the load is far away (meaning that there is significant inductance between the surge protector and the load), it is possible for voltage that will appear at the load to be equal to twice the voltage drop through the surge protector.



Normally, the native inductance of a line cord of a computer, CD player or other electronic device is low enough that the load appears to be close to the surge protector it is plugged into. But if it is served through a long extension cord, that situation could change..
?
2016-12-24 14:09:03 UTC
Its frequently a sturdy guess that a load plugged right into a surge protector would be secure via the surge protector. in spite of if, that isn't be authentic for a lot served by using long extension cords. this may well be a results of ways travelling strategies carry out. A "surge" (as that factor era is known via engineers) is a travelling wave. it somewhat is, that's a pointy improve in voltage that has a touch short length - usually measured in microseconds. So-noted as "means surges" as that factor era is frequently used interior the hot media at the instant are not travelling waves yet quite step differences in load on the means stem. The habit of travelling waves is ruled via the surge impedance of a device. while a travelling wave encounters a intense surge impedance, it is going to mirror and opposite path. there will be a non everlasting prompt of time while the incoming and meditated waves surely collide with one yet another, and the result's that the instant voltage on the interface with that top surge impedance stands out as the sum of the voltages of the incoming and meditated wave. So, interior the absence of losses, we are able to declare that the voltage would be two times the crest voltage of the incoming wave. Now, a surge protector is a shunt-linked resistive gadget that has a low surge impedance. The results of a surge protector is to decrease the crest fee of a travelling wave to the voltage drop for the period of the surge protector. So what happens is that as quickly as the travelling wave encounters the surge protector, it useful chops the appropriate off the travelling wave, and facilitates a sparkling travelling wave to proceed to the load having a crest fee equivalent to the voltage drop for the period of the surge protector. Now, if the load is on the factor of the surge protector, while the incoming and meditated waves upload mutually, the crest fee of the sum of those voltages would be constrained to the voltage drop for the period of the surge protector. yet while the load is a strategies away (meaning that there is significant inductance between the surge protector and the load), that's accessible for voltage which will look on the load to be equivalent to 2 times the voltage drop for the period of the surge protector. often, the close by inductance of a line twine of a working laptop or pc, CD participant or different digital gadget is low sufficient that the load seems to be on the factor of the surge protector that's plugged into. yet while that's served by using a protracted extension twine, that difficulty could desire to alter..
anonymous
2009-06-02 06:00:42 UTC
Technically, Yes! The surge protector would protect all loads connected to it. But, the surge Protector too has a limit on the maximum number of loads that can be connected to it. If you exceed this limit, then there is a possibility that the surge protector itself might damage.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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