Picture this- You are busy doing your work online and using your phone to communicate with your teammates, get more directions from your boss or give instructions to your subordinates. Your television is on as you are following an important event. Suddenly you realize that your phone and computer power are running low and you have to recharge them. What do you do then? 

Since you have many electrical appliances that you are using at a time, you require more outlets to keep up with your needs and charge your devices while using them in your comfort. Hence, you require a new power strip. 

Frequently, when buying power extenders, people choose them based on the color, price, or design. But these outward appearances might deceive you into getting a power strip that might not give you the service you require. You need to consider the more important details about the power strips before buying them. Read on for more information.

How to Choose the Best Power Strips

These are the five simple steps that you should follow to ensure you get an extension cord that will meet your needs.

1. Number of Ports

power strip

Consider the number of appliances that you need to plug into the power strip before buying it. Power strips come with a varying number of ports. Also, consider future needs that you may have. If you have many appliances or might add more soon, go for one with more outlets.   

Most plugs have small spaces between the sockets, but you might need to insert big plugs such as transformer plugs in the socket. Therefore, buy one with the right amount of space between the ports that will allow you to plug in big plugs without interfering with the other outlets.

Are you buying a power strip to use at home, office, hospital, or workshop? You must answer this question before ordering the power strip. The design of the power strip differs based on the type of equipment to be plugged in. Therefore, choose the right one according to your needs.  

2. The Equipments You Use

There are strips made for hospitals, specially designed for plugging in medical equipment. Others are for household appliances, like refrigerators, television sets, iron boxes, and other items or workshop appliances like cutters. The ratings for the different types of equipment vary. 

3. Safety Considerations

When we choose appliances to use at home, we always consider our safety. It should be the same case when choosing a power strip. Keep in mind that your equipment should be safe while using it.  

Ensure the power strip has circuit breakers that prevent the system from overloading as this can cause a lot of damage to the appliances plugged in. An ideal circuit breaker should be 15A to 20A. 

You should also determine if you are working in areas with water. The power strip that you buy, in this case, has to protect you from shock by cutting the circuit. 

Another thing you should consider is if it has a power surge protector. Power strips with a surge protector are modified to re-route excess power to other ports thus, protecting your appliances. The configuration of the protector should also be sufficient for the items that you will plug in the power strip to prevent them from malfunctioning. Large appliances need strips with a higher configuration than smaller ones.

4. Code Length and Power Strip Configuration

power strip

If you use the power strip at a distance from the source of electricity, you will need one with a long code length. It is advisable to buy one with a longer strip if you keep changing your working position. 

The port configurations come in different styles like standard, front-facing, end-mouthed, near-facing, and right-angle. Choose the one that’ll work best for you.  

5. Electrical Rating

Electrical rating is necessary to know which devices you can plug into the power strip. You need one that can provide the right amount of power to your appliance.  

The rating will also inform you of how much electricity it can allow through before getting damaged. The information will help you protect your electronics and the power strip.

Conclusion

Power strips are a must-have in the modern age. Choose with care so that they serve you efficiently. The tips above are beneficial and will help you avoid the stress of buying a new one after a short period because the last one did not serve you well or got spoiled. 

Above everything else, get your power strips from reputable manufacturers or sellers so that you are guaranteed quality. Always remember to go for quality even if the price is higher than others. Also, remember that you should store your power strip well to serve you longer and protect what you love.