Power line disturbances occur on an average of four times a day, according to studies by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). These disturbances--increases in current that can damage electronic devices plugged into outlets--may be caused by lightning or other weather-related incidents; traffic accidents affecting power lines; the use of electrical products such as motors, compressors, and fluorescent lights (these all cause power-spikes); high-powered electrical equipment and voltage fluctuations initiated by a power company (both cause power surges) and high-frequency noise.

Such disturbances can interrupt or wipe out power service and damage electrical equipment. Both surges and spikes can be prevented by using a surge suppressor, an apparatus that serves to ground the interference or, in other words, run the interference into the ground rather than into the electrical equipment, and/or absorb the excess flow of current throughout an electrical system.

Spikes and...