Last updated on August 30th, 2022 at 01:37 pm
A washing machine is a kind of household appliance that you can’t easily replace due to its price. People often feel that connecting it to a single outlet socket is safer.
Therefore, they prefer it until a power surge renders the washer useless, thus making people wonder if they can plug a washing machine into a surge protector.
You can plug a washing machine into a surge protector. This defends it from dangerously high currents and electrical surges, destroying the washer by melting its elements and frying circuits. Also, plugging a washer into a surge protector can ensure durability and prolong the washing machine’s lifespan.
Should I Use a Surge Protector For My Washing Machine?
A device plugged straight into an outlet is vulnerable to power surges and can put appliances at risk.
Therefore, there is a need for surge protectors, even for washing machines, among other appliances, as it defends them from electrical outbreaks.
Surge Protectors protect electronic devices like the Washing Machine. It is vital to use household appliances to prevent surges from moving downstream to the devices plugged into the protector.
It absorbs surplus voltage and diverts it safely to the ground wire so that electronics don’t get zapped with too much voltage. Washing machines are expensive and ought to be dealt with great care. Its repair costs a great deal, which is why the use of surge protectors is required.
The surge protectors prevent the need for costly repairs to the washer due to damages caused by surges.
Damages caused by these surges render electronic appliances completely inoperable, resulting in the need for replacements. Using a surge protector saves money, and the washer’s life span is prolonged.
How Does A Surge Protector Work?
Surge protectors work by passing electrical currents from one outlet through the devices plugged into the protector. It redirects the additional voltage to the ground wire to guarantee devices receive a consistent power level.
Basic knowledge of a power surge and a surge protector is vital to understanding how a surge protector works.
A power surge is a sudden increment in voltage above the appointed level in a flow of electricity that can harm or annihilate electronic devices. A surge protector protects electrical devices from these surges.
In a surge protector, the central power line has an extra connection that feeds to the ground wire, sometimes called the earth wire; the protective wire in electric circuits transmits undesirable current securely into the earth.
In most surge protectors, an element known as a varistor for metal oxide or MOV uses a surge protector; it saves money and redirects the extra voltage. It creates a linkage from the hot power line to a ground line.
A MOV consists of three components: a substance consisting of metal oxide within the center, connected to the power line, and a grounding line by a pair of semiconductors.
A semiconductor is ordinarily a bad conductor of electricity, but when an abundance of voltage occurs, the semiconductor becomes a good conductor of electricity and begins to carry electricity normally.
The semiconductor directs a destructive current to the ground for as long as a surge remains. Once things return to normal, the semiconductor switches back again.
The ground outlet is essential as surge protectors don’t work on ungrounded outlets.
This is because ungrounded outlets do not have a ground wire; therefore, there is no place for diverting surplus current.
What Surge Protector Is Good For Washing Machines?
Generally, people go for any type of surge protector in the belief that they work the same. However, all surge protectors are not similar; some work better than others.
Therefore, for a washing machine, a surge protector with a high joule rating, among other things, is recommended. The Tripp Lite Isobar surge protector is considered the best overall.
Other recommended factors include its safety rating, clamping voltage, and diagnostic LEDs.
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Last update on 2023-01-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Safety Rating
A safety rating is only shown in a surge protector that has been tried and certified by the UL-1449. Their standards guarantee that a product is safe for use and works effectively.
When looking for a suitable washing machine surge protector, it is best to go for one endorsed by the UL, and this is one of the reasons why the Tripp Lite Surge protector is considered the best.
2. Joule Rating
Joule rating pertains to how much energy a washing machine surge protector can handle. A higher joule rating equals much better protection. For washing machine surge protectors, a joule rating between 1000 to 2000 is suitable.
The Tripp Lite Isobar surge protectors have joule ratings of 1410 to 3840. You can use the surge protector of 1410 joules for washing machines and the surge protector above 2000 for other larger appliances.
3. Clamping Voltage
This is the acceptable number of volts that goes through your surge protector right before it prevents more electricity from going into the appliance it serves to protect.
This means that a surge protector with a clamping voltage only allows the needed voltage for a device to pass through it and diverts the rest to the ground wire.
If a clamping voltage becomes excess, the surge protector won’t permit uncontrolled amounts of electricity to flow into your washing machine because it’ll break it.
The clamping voltage best for your surge protector is below 400 volts; this voltage for a washing machine must be less than 700 volts.
The Isobar surge protector fits well into both categories as its clamping voltage is 320 volts. The lower, the better.
4. Diagnostic LEDs
Since the lifespan of a surge protector is not guaranteed, it is good to know when it has stopped working, protecting the device plugged into it, or is faulty; this is the need for LED light.
The LED light in a Tripp Lite surge signifies that it works, or a replacement is needed.
A green light indicates it is ready to defend against surges. A red light is generally a control light that indicates it has been plugged into an active outlet.
The lifespan of a surge protector isn’t guaranteed. The more surges it absorbs reduces the number of its joules.
If the number of its joules is decreased to an insignificant level, it is imperative to change it as it can’t protect appliances anymore.
Conclusion
Power surges can destroy large appliances like washing machines, thus requiring surge protectors. There are recommended surge protectors for washing machines, and you should use them for them.
They protect these washers by diverting excess power, which could cause damage to the ground wire. It is essential to change these surge protectors often.