While most of the world has appliances that plug in to the wall, you’ll find that many people also have a power strip surge protector. Most bigger appliances like televisions and computers need power strip surge protectors but you need to be able to get a good one in order to safely make use of it. If you do not have a surge protector you are doing yourself and your home a disservice. Making sure that your electronics are protected from power surges is an important part of being a responsible electronics owner. You could do severe damage to your electronics if they are not properly protected when something like this happens.

Power Strip Versus Surge Protector
The first thing you should under stand is that not all power strips are surge protectors. A power strip will simply give you more outlets, a surge protector is made to add protection for you computer, television or any other electronic device that introduces power surges. While power surges do not happen every single day, they happen often enough that if you do not have a power strip surge protector, your equipment can become damaged. A surge protector will be more expensive than just a power strip but it is recommended to invest in this. A power strip surge protector is an all inclusive power strip that also is a surge protector.

Five Main Things to Consider

1. The right amount of ports – Not all power strip surge protectors have six or eight ports. Some can have as many as 12. Buying one surge protector with the right amount of ports is safer than buying several small ones and connecting them to each other. Avoid daisy chaining. Daisy chaining is when you plug a power strip into another power strip in order to make more outlets. While this may be convenient, it is very unsafe. Especially when trying to do this with surge protectors. If you plug one surge protector into another one, it will trip the first one and void its properties.




2. The equipment that will be connected – Think about what devices are going to be plugged into your surge protector. Bigger items like a home entertainment system will need a tougher surge protector than smaller electronic devices like cell phone accessories or usb cables.




3. The UL seal – You’ll need to make sure the protector is a transient voltage surge suppressor that is certified by the Underwriter’s Laboratories. This ensures that the surge protector that you are looking into will in fact, protect any equipment that you use it with.




4. The energy absorption rating
   This means quite simply, just how much energy the surge protector can absorb before it shuts down. 600 or 700 joules or more is sufficient; the more the better. You’ll also want to look at the clamping voltage which will need to be about 400 volts or less; less is better.




5. The warranty – As with every appliance that you buy, especially when you spend a lot of money, make sure the warranty is in place. Find out what is covered and what isn’t and how to file a claim if the surge protector doesn’t work properly.

USB Connections
Many surge protectors come with bulk usb cables, this is definitely convenient but make sure that the output amp rating is sufficient. It will be labeled either 1A or 2A if it is. one amp is enough for a cell phone but something the size of a tablet will need two amps in order for it to charge efficiently.

If you need a power strip, your best bet is to get a surge protector that doubles as a power strip. This way you can ensure that all of your equipment is protected to the best of your ability. Avoiding power surges is important especially if you have a lot of electrical appliances in your home. You don’t want to trip your breaker and end up shutting down your entire house. Every time this happens, the wiring in your home is damaged more and more and can cause sparks and fires in the worst case scenarios. Don’t be a victim to your own procrastination, get a power surge protector and take care of your electronics.