Surge Protector Vs. GFCI: Which Outlet is Safer and Better?

The electrical wiring in your home, despite not being able to see it, is one of the most complex installations there is. But even when done properly, there is no guarantee that there will be no surges or spikes in energy.

That is why it is important to have protection in place for your appliances and other items that you plug in. You can avoid the issue through two paths: a surge protector or GFCI. The former is something you plug directly into and it absorbs the impact of that surge. They are often in longer strips that have multiple plugs. A GFCI is a grounding path, shutting off electrical power to appliances to keep you safe.

Even with properly installed electrical wiring, electricity presents a danger. There can be surges in voltage from time to time, potentially creating danger for yourself and your appliances. Because electricity is somewhat unpredictable, there is not a whole lot that can be done to stop them from happening.

But there are protective measures that can be implemented to keep both you and your appliances safe. That is where surge protectors and GFCI comes into play. Think of them as stopgaps between that electrical current and you.

A surge protector helps you to avoid the damages that can come with sudden power surges. Most of the electronic equipment in your home – television, computer, etc. – are rated to handle a certain level of power.

From time to time, there can and will be electrical surges into your home. The surge protector works to absorb the blow of those surges, keeping your appliances from feeling the blow. They aren’t absolute; a surge large enough could fry both the surge protector and your electronic equipment.

Surges that large are a rarity, though. So for the most part, a surge protector will keep your electronics safe for whatever the rated period is. The more blows the surge protector takes, the quicker it wears down.

Though it sounds like something of a complicated endeavor, the process is actually kind of simple. Surge protectors regulate the current and voltage within those electrical appliances and equipment. This is done through either blocking or grounding, bringing that current to a safe level by the time it hits the equipment.

It works to extend the life of that equipment and those appliances. They are not rated to handle repeated spikes and surges, so the protector steps in to take the brunt for them. Surge protectors are rated to handle a lot more abuse, making them great for extending the life of your electronic equipment and appliances.

When there is a break in the low-resistance grounding path that runs from an electrical system or a tool, what is known as a ground fault takes place. When situations like these arise, that electrical current moves through another route to get to the ground. That can result in serious injuries and even death.

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are used to help avoid situations like that. They act fast, something to the effect of a circuit breaker. When a ground fault happens, the GFCI works to shut off electrical powers. That means securing both the appliance and protecting you as well.

A shock is not the only thing that can happen when there is a surge of power. When there is an electrical current surge near loose or exposed wiring, it can potentially start a fire in the walls of your home.

It should go without saying that you do not want fire within your walls. The GFCI outlet keeps that current from reaching those wires. Having a GFCI is important for both fire safety and prevention regardless of the type of home that you live in. Older homes, where electrical oddities are more likely, would greatly benefit from a GFCI.

The primary purpose of a GFCI is to prevent electrical shocks. The GFCI outlet monitors the flow of electricity through its sensors. If there is a current that tries to pass through at an unexpected course, the GFCI will divert it to the ground.

This is important for a few reasons. The least of which is that, if that ground fault manages to come into contact with someone, it can have extremely dangerous consequences. These outlets shut off the power to that outlet as soon as it senses the inconsistency. That can be a potentially life-saving benefit.

Power surges can do serious damage to equipment and devices that are plugged into your outlets. They are not rated to face repeated surges in electrical current. All it takes is the right one to render your devices or equipment completely useless.

When you use a surge protector, you reduce the risk of that happening. By minimizing the electrical current differences that your equipment faces, you can prolong their life. That means less of a possibility of dealing with having to repair or replace them, too.