Joules and Surge Protection

[cadpoint]

I understand that Joules can be part of ?power? equations; I also realize I?m being lazy within the in Internet age, I didn't even search here... Duh

I?ve always tried to buy protection for various electronic components that are around the house using "combination" power strip-plugs. (IE surge and spike protection)

The level of Joule protection is what seems a little crazy, it can be from 5, to 8 about to 40 Joules in plug strips and into the hundreds of Joule's on a rack surge protection. The count of receptacles that can be on a rack are not any more than a power strip, why such a higher count on a rack verses a strip?!

Besides the fact that they can offer a strip plug and can have any combination of surge and spike protection what is going on here?
Granted you pay more for the higher Joule count and some protection is always better than none.

Are all the same variables available on whole house protection, whats the math on whole house? Granted they sell an amperage rating to get some level of Joule count/protection but what am I really looking at?

Anyone got a rule of thumb? Anyone care to shed some light on things Joule ? :roll:

 

[charlie b]

I understand that Joules can be part of ?power? equations. . . .

To be specific, they are this part of a power equation: "watts equals joules per second." A 100 watt light bulb that burns at that power level for two secondswill have expended 200 Joules. So in terms of surge protection, the longer a surge is allowed to continue, before the event is terminated by the protection scheme, the more joules of energy will be inflicted upon the equipment. More joules means a higher likelihood of damage. On the other side of the equation, the more joules that the protection device itself can handle, before it gets destroyed by the event, the more you are going to have to pay to buy the device.