Joules - surge protector question

[JoeH]

I see surge protectors with differing values for joules.... but it doesn't say what is better ... is higher better than lower values ?

thanks

[Mandalay_Parr]

Progressive Industries has some excellent units. Get the best you can afford. The consequences can be very great.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Good spike protection is not dirt cheap. The best kind chop voltage spikes off at the knees. An error would be to rate spike protection solely by Joule rating then shop for the cheapest protector. I'm a bit sensitive about this at the moment as I spent (for my pay grade).a fortune for big bags of MOVs, TVS diodes and Gas Discharge Tube devices so I can make my own spike protectors. It really hurt because I know one single stupid isolation transformer would filter and protect 100-times better than all those devices in all those bags put together. But isolation transformers are bulky, heavy and wuuwee pricey.

Try GOOGLE search term

TRANSIENT VOLTAGE PROTECTION

[enblethen]

Higher the better. Don't go cheap on something that protects your life!
Joules info

[Chris_Bryant]

Higher is better.