The answer to 'how does surge protector work' is that a surge protector is an electrical device designed to protect electronic equipment from sudden and potentially damaging power surges. It works by diverting excess voltage away from connected devices and into the ground, preventing damage to sensitive electronics like computers, TVs, and appliances.
Surge protectors contain metal oxide varistors (MOVs) that act as voltage-dependent resistors. When the voltage flowing through the surge protector exceeds a certain threshold, the MOVs start conducting electricity, creating a path for the excess voltage to travel to the ground instead of reaching the connected devices. This effectively 'clamps' the voltage and prevents it from reaching and potentially damaging the equipment.