How do surge protectors work?

A surge protector is an electronic device designed to protect your electronic devices from voltage spikes, surges, and other electrical disturbances. These electrical disturbances can occur due to lightning strikes, power outages, and other electrical problems in your home or office.
Surge protectors work by diverting excess voltage from the electrical circuit to a grounding wire. The surge protector typically has a metal oxide varistor (MOV) component, which is a device that can absorb excess voltage and redirect it to the grounding wire. When a surge occurs, the MOV component becomes conductive, allowing excess voltage to pass through and be safely discharged to the ground.
Surge protectors also have a built-in circuit breaker that can detect when the voltage exceeds a certain threshold and cuts off the electrical circuit to prevent damage to your devices. Some surge protectors also come with additional features like electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) filtering, which can further protect your devices from power fluctuations.
It's important to note that surge protectors are not foolproof and cannot protect against all types of electrical disturbances. They are designed to provide an extra layer of protection for your devices and should not be relied upon solely to prevent damage. It's also important to use surge protectors that are rated for the specific devices you are using to ensure maximum protection.