We have all heard about voltage spikes (also known as power surges) and we know they're no good for our computers and other sensitive electronics, but what in fact causes them and how can we overcome them? In electrical engineering, spikes are fast, short duration electrical transients in voltage, current or transferred energy in an electrical circuit.

Voltage spikes in the electric potential of a circuit are commonly caused by lightning strikes, power outages, tripped circuit breakers, short circuits, power transitions in other large equipment on the same power line, malfunctions caused by the power company, and these are just a few of them.

While generally referred to as a voltage spike, the phenomenon in question is actually an energy spike, in that it is measured not in volts but in joules; a transient response defined by a mathematical product of voltage, current, and time. However, some voltage spikes may be created by current sources, voltage would increase as necessary so that a constant current will flow.

The most sensitive to these would be notebooks and laptops and the easiest way to overcome these would be by using an uninterruptible power supply, commonly called a UPS. This provides emergency power and, depending on the topology, line regulation as well to connected equipment by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is not available.

That's swell for home if you know there are these kinds of problems in your area. But what about the case when you are traveling? Or just the case when you don't want to occupy more space in your tiny room with a UPS? Never fear, TRC NoteBook / Laptop Surge Protector is here.

I do know that I'd buy a couple of these if traveling to the country side. It protects laptop computers and other electronics that use C6 or C8 power cords from the damaging effects of current spikes.

Just connect it between your power cord and power brick and a surge active indicator lights lets you know you're computer is safe. In the eventuality of a destructive surge that would have normally killed your laptop, it will only destroy the ElectraShield. The single downside is that they're only over-rated fuses that, evidently, need replacing after a strong power spike.

They feature thermal overload protection, compact design, 110-230V voltage rating, 2.5A maximum current and a 2.5kA maximum current surge, less than 10nS response time and a maximum voltage surge of 5kV @ 2 - 5kA (voltage less than 900).

According to how much you care about your laptop when traveling, you can judge for yourself whether the $9.95 price tag is worth it or not.


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