What does a surge protector do?

A surge protector primarily functions to protect electronic equipment from voltage spikes, often referred to as power surges. These surges can occur due to various reasons, such as lightning strikes, power outages, or sudden spikes in electrical usage. By diverting excess voltage away from connected devices, surge protectors help prevent damage that could potentially render equipment inoperable or reduce its lifespan.

This protective function is crucial for safeguarding sensitive electronics, such as computers, home theater systems, and other valuable devices that can be adversely affected by power fluctuations. In contrast, other options focus on functions that are unrelated to the core purpose of a surge protector. For example, compensating for low battery life has to do with power management, increasing network bandwidth pertains to network performance, and storing data is associated with data backup solutions. Thus, the primary role of the surge protector remains as a device dedicated to preventing damage from electrical surges.