Protect your home from power surges
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DOWNTOWN JACKSON — The spring storm season has begun in West Tennessee, and with the threat of severe weather comes thunderstorms and the risk of lightning strikes. They can literally leave you powerless. When it storms, unplugging is always a good idea, but most rarely do it. “I would recommend surge protectors,” said Robert Mullins with Jackson Energy Authority. “Again, they aren’t 100 percent guarantee that it’s going to interrupt that surge from coming into your home, but those devices are good and they will prevent a lot of surges coming in.” Mullins says JEA, like most utilities, provide devices you can install to ground the current, adding an extra layer of protection. “The best preventative measure from power surges, which would be from lightning or storms that would come through, would be a good ground,” he said. Power surges happen when lightning strikes a power unit and causes a jolt of electricity to race down the line and into your home. A strike near your home can do damage too by pulling electricity from your home. “If the lightning hits further, say on our transmission system, you’ll see a dip in voltage that actually gets transferred through the whole system,” Mullins said. The power lines are equipped with measurement devices to detect strong currents, and these devices try to deter it before it reaches your home. Surge protectors for your entire house also are available but have to be installed by a licensed electrician.
