Surge protection for a wall-mounted TV

On a TV stand, everything plugs into a surge strip on the floor. When the TV goes on the wall and plugs into an outlet behind it, that protection often quietly disappears. In a state with as many thunderstorms as Alabama, it's worth putting back.

What surges are

Brief voltage spikes on the power line. Big ones come from nearby lightning and utility switching; small ones happen daily when motors and compressors inside the house cycle. A large spike can kill a TV's power supply or HDMI ports outright. Small ones add up as wear.

No plug-in device stops a direct lightning strike. Surge protection is about everything short of that.

Four ways to protect a mounted TV

1. In-wall power kit fed from a surge protector. The kit's lower inlet plugs into a surge strip at floor level, so everything behind the TV is protected through it. This is the simplest method and one reason these kits are popular — see in-wall power kits. Ours is $119.

2. A surge-protecting receptacle. An electrician replaces the outlet behind the TV with one that has protection built in. It usually has an indicator light or alarm that shows when protection is used up.

3. A compact surge adapter behind the TV. Small single- or dual-outlet protectors plug straight into the wall outlet. Check the depth — it must fit in the gap behind the TV, which rules it out for many slim mounts unless the outlet is recessed.

4. Whole-home protection at the panel. An electrician installs a surge protective device at the breaker panel. It reduces large surges for every circuit in the house. Best used together with a point-of-use protector at the TV.

What to look for

• UL 1449 listing — the safety standard for surge protective devices.
• Joule rating: how much energy it can absorb over its life. Higher is better; for a TV, look for a four-figure number.
• Clamping voltage (VPR): lower is better; 330–400 V is typical for good units.
• An indicator light that tells you protection is still active. Surge parts wear out; a protector that has taken hits may still pass power while protecting nothing.

Don't forget the other wires

Surges also arrive on coax (cable TV, antennas, satellite) and Ethernet. A strike near a cable line can enter through the cable box's HDMI and take out the TV even if the power side is protected. Use a protector with coax and network jacks, or dedicated ones, and make sure the cable or satellite line is properly grounded where it enters the house.

Power strips are not surge protectors

A basic power strip only adds outlets. Look for the words "surge protector" and a joule rating.

Never inside the wall

A surge strip or adapter must not be buried in the wall cavity. Protection goes at an accessible outlet.

UPS units

A battery backup (UPS) also conditions power and rides through flickers. Useful for projectors and network gear; for a TV it's optional.

During storms

For a severe storm, unplugging is still the only complete protection — which is easier when the plug is reachable at floor level via an in-wall kit than hidden behind a mounted screen.

Replace after a big event

If a nearby strike trips breakers or the protector's light goes out, replace it.