One drawback to owning lots of awesome electronics is finding enough outlets to plug everything in. With a desktop computer, you likely need extra outlets for a monitor, printer, desktop speakers, wireless router, mobile devices, and other gadgets. For a home theater system, there’s the television, stereo receiver/amplifier, preamp, subwoofer, speakers (sometimes), turntable, DVD/Blu-ray player, gaming consoles, and cable set-top box to consider.
The solution? Get an outlet tap/splitter, which would typically be your everyday power surge protector or power strip. While both these options offer extra outlets, that’s where general similarities end. Most (but not all) surge protectors are also power strips, but power strips are not surge protectors. You’ll often see the two types displayed together on the same aisle of your local hardware or electronics retail store. But don’t just grab the first one that catches your eye! There are significant differences and benefits to consider.
Surge Protector vs. Power Strip
At a glance, surge protectors and power strips look like they do the same thing. But while power strips are basically multi-plug extension cords, surge protectors are designed to keep electronic equipment safe from – you guessed it – electrical surges (and spikes).
APC 11-Outlet Surge Protector Best Surge Protector for Gaming PC. This 11-outlet surge protector from APC has a 3020 Joule rating, sliding safety shutters, telephone and Coaxial protection, and an 8-foot cord. Out of the 11 outlets, 6 are block-spaced to accommodate bulky adapters.
Surge protectors work by diverting excess voltage into the grounding port of a wall outlet. Without this feature, the excess voltage would flow through all connected power cables and cause permanent damage to connected devices. The effect of excess voltage can be as obvious and instantaneous as a filament light bulb burning out with a pop. But it can also inflict harm discreetly over time, where the added burden of energy gradually weakens the integrity of electronic circuitry (think about your most expensive gear with complex microprocessors), resulting in terminal failure.
An extreme example of excess voltage is a lightning strike. But those are rare (depending on where you live) and too powerful to be contained by a surge protector – it’s safest to unplug electronics during a thunderstorm. You’re more likely to experience electrical surges and spikes when the local utility company switches power grids and/or has equipment problems. Even though they try to maintain a steady flow of electricity throughout, disruptions happen.
The most common instances of excess voltage occur when there’s a shift in energy demand, especially if the building has old or bad electrical wiring. Ever notice lights flickering or going dim whenever the refrigerator, air conditioner, hair dryer, or any other powerful appliance turns on? That sudden request for energy can cause a momentary surge to the demanding circuit and affect all connected outlets. In North America, anything above the standard voltage of 120 V is considered excess. Smaller surges can happen anytime without any signs yet still surpass a product’s normal operating voltage.
What to Look for First
Surge protectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some attach directly to the wall and work like a surge protector outlet. Most others are equipped with a cable that can be anywhere between one to 12 feet in length. When choosing the right surge protector, you’ll want to make sure it has:
- Outlets for all your electronics
- Spacing to fit power bricks
- Long enough power cable
You won’t be doing yourself any favors by purchasing a six-outlet surge protector when you have 10 devices to plug in. The last thing you want to do is daisy chain another surge protector or power strip to make up the difference – that increases the risk of overloading the electrical circuit as well as voids the warranty of the surge protector(s). If you’re uncertain as to the exact number of outlets you need, always go for more since extras are useful.
Not all surge protectors are designed with power bricks in mind. Some power bricks are so bulky that they can block a free outlet (or two or three) when plugged in. Even if your current equipment uses standard two-prong plugs, it’s worth choosing a surge protector that has some outlets spaced apart. You’ll still be able to use them all now, yet retain the flexibility to handle any power bricks in the future.
A surge protector won’t do much good if it can’t reach the closest wall socket. Sure, you could use an extension cord, but doing so doesn’t guarantee full protection and often voids the product warranty. So when in doubt, choose surge protectors with the longest length power cable.
![Best surge protector for your home electronics Best surge protector for your home electronics](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125780452/708574662.jpg)
Performance Ratings to Consider
Product packaging is designed to attract attention as well as convey a lot of information at once. This can seem confusing or overwhelming, considering how many surge protectors have quite the list of features and specifications. It’s best to focus on the critical ones, so look for these first:
- Joules (higher is better): The number of joules listed for the surge protector represents the energy absorption rating. Think of it like a shield that blocks excess energy. Higher numbers mean the surge protector can sustain more (or bigger) hits through single or multiple events over time before wearing out. So if a surge protector has 500 joules of protection, it could theoretically handle ten 50-joule hits, or four 125-joule hits, or two 250-joule hits, or one 500-joule hit. Small electronics (e.g. lamps, radios, battery chargers, etc.) are fine with joule ratings under 1000. But for computer and/or home theater equipment, you’ll definitely want to consider surge protectors with joule ratings of 2500 or more.
- Clamping Voltage (lower is better): The clamping voltage – sometimes referred to as Voltage Protection Rating (VPR) or Suppressed Voltage Rating (SVR) – indicates when the surge protector will activate to divert excess voltage to ground. Think of it like parrying/redirecting. While the protection offered by joules sounds good, it’s the clamping voltage (maximum voltage to be allowed through) that ends up being far more effective. Lower numbers mean the surge protector is less tolerant of excess voltage. So when comparing a surge protector with 330 V clamping voltage (best option) versus one with 500 V clamping voltage, the latter will allow a higher surge/spike to occur (which can damage components) before doing anything about it.
- Response Time (lower is better): The response time (typically measured in nanoseconds) indicates how quickly a surge protector will react in order to divert excess voltage. While electronics seem to work instantly, they actually require time to operate. Response time goes hand-in-hand with the clamping voltage. Surge protectors with lower response times activate faster in order to redirect excess voltage before it has a chance to cause damage. If you want the best, choose ones with response times at one nanosecond (or less).
- UL 1449 (must have): The Underwriters Laboratories UL 1449 is the recognized safety standard that applies to every Surge Protective Device (SPD). This standard lists the certification criteria, design requirements, and product performance testing that manufacturers need to meet in order for a surge protector to be considered safe for consumer use. If a surge protector doesn’t have this displayed somewhere on the box, it may not be the best choice for protecting your equipment.
Extra Features
Many surge protectors offer an array of extra features. While nice to have, they can also bump up the purchase price. More expensive doesn’t automatically mean better – focus on needs first and make sure you don’t overlook the aforementioned performance ratings. It’s up to each individual to decide whether or not these extras are useful:
- USB ports
- LED displays
- Ethernet, coaxial, and/or telephone jacks
- 3-line (or all-mode) protection
- Built-in circuit breaker
- EMI/RFI filtering and/or power conditioning
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) battery backup
- Replacement (or protection status) indicator lights and/or audible alarms
- Energy-saving (e.g. master plugs, timers, etc.)
- Wireless remote control
- Motion sensors
- Whole house surge protection
Warranty
As with most types of consumer electronics, surge protectors come with a manufacturer’s warranty that also covers connected equipment up to a specified maximum dollar amount (varies from product to product). Hopefully, you’ll never have to use it, but it’s always best to be prepared. Make sure you thoroughly readthe fine print regarding the warranty coverage. Some claims require the surge protector, all the equipment (whether or not each suffered any damage) connected to the surge protector at the time of damage, and original receipts for everything.
There’s usually a lot of exclusions, conditions, and limitations (i.e. flaming hoops to leap through) that need to be met before you’d ever see a dime, and full reimbursements are never guaranteed. You can also expect claims to take three or more months to process.
Remember:
- It’s critical to plug a surge protector into a properly grounded wall outlet – using a three-to-two prong adapter does not count. Otherwise, it won’t be able to protect like it’s meant to.
- Joules aren’t everything. Be sure to equally consider both the clamping voltage and response time.
- Don’t daisy chain surge protectors with other surge protectors, and/or power strips, and/or UPSes for more outlets. You run the risk of overloading the house’s electrical circuits, igniting an electrical fire, and/or voiding the surge protector’s warranty.
- Surge protectors gradually wear out over time and won’t always indicate when a replacement is needed. There’s no set rule of thumb, except that it’s a good idea to buy new surge protectors after the old ones have done their job (i.e. if your area has suffered damage/abnormalities to the local power grid, serious power fluctuations, blown/failed transformers, lightning strikes, etc.)
A surge protector, in a nutshell, is a special component installed inside a power extension hub or outlet that soaks up any excess charge passing through the circuit. This aids in preventing your PC, TV or other electronic devices being dealt a blow. Think of it as a shield of sorts in combat. You'd rather that shield takes the hit over part of your body, right?
But there's actually more to a surge protector than you might think, especially when it comes to picking up new extension leads. Here's what you need to know, as well as a few recommendations to get you started.
As well as making sure you have adequate protection at the point of entry in the home (or office) with a fuse box, there's also the requirement of adding in the middleman in case that fails, which is where the trusty surge protector comes into play. A fuse can be reset or replaced, so can a surge protector, but your device getting fried and data being lost is something you really need to avoid.
These surge protector can also be accompanied by some additional handy features, such as indicators as to when surge protection is no longer active (usually dictated by an LED light) and halting power flow altogether if a fault is detected or the protector is burnt out. Not all extension leads and hubs include additional protection. On more affordable options, it's down to you to keep checking to see if the protection is still active.
![Sensitive Sensitive](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125780452/863790618.jpg)
Advanced protection
This P11VT3 model from reputable brand APC (who also do some killer uninterruptible power supply units) has everything you need and more. It's a big unit that has 11 well-spaced outlets for hooking up all your electronics, and boy can you connect a bunch thanks to the massive 3020 Joule support. Numerous monitors can be wired up, alongside a computer, as well as countless phones and tablets — perfect for the busy household and small office.
Priced at around $25 it's not cheap by any means, especially if you need a few of them, but it's well worth the price. Power won't be halted unless the main line-neutral protection fails, and when things go south after a lightning strike or other phenomenon, your equipment will not be supplied power.
Backup power
APC also does UPS units, as mentioned above and the BR1500MS is one such offering. Sporting a 1,500VA (900W) built-in battery pack and surge protection, it's got everything you need to keep your electronics safe and online even during power outage. The automatic voltage regulation instantly corrects fluctuations in power supply, and the LCD panel allows you to quickly check the status of the unit.
Priced at around $193, it's really not cheap but if you have valuable equipment hooked up to the mains, you need to consider just how much it's worth. It's backed by APC's three-year warranty.
Basic protection
Amazon has its own line of extension cords and this option isn't actually that bad. This 790 Joule surge protected extension has a total of six power outlets, an LED light to show if the surge protection is active, and comes rocking a six ft long cable — longer cables are recommended, especially when hooking up larger appliances like computers and TVs (not everyone is lucky with wall outlet positioning).
This really is the no-thrills solution but it gets the job done without frying your equipment. It's only around $9 and you'll only get basic functionality. It will continue supplying power even after the protection has worn out. So keep your wits about you.
Stay protected
Regardless of what surge protection you choose to go with, be sure to keep everything guarded against surges. Even the most basic protection is better than nothing.
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