A Complete Guide To Buying Surge Protectors In 2024
Electricity is a wonderful force of nature. However, the elements like lightning strikes and storms can affect the power flowing through your homes and offices. These lead to powerful surges that can damage expensive electrical devices, resulting in data loss or fire.
Surge protectors exist to safeguard equipment like computers from power surges. Recent technological innovations have seen a rise in the popularity of surge protectors since smaller electrical components are more vulnerable to power surges. When considering power quality issues and the rising cost of electrical devices, finding a high-quality and reliable surge protector is essential.
This is why this guide carefully weighs the ups and downs of the various surge protectors on the market so you can make the right purchase.
Choose the Right Type of Surge Protector
1. Multiple Outlets
Many surge protectors come with at least two outlets. However, you don't have to settle for this if you need more. You can look for one with more than two outlets and a switch power cord. This ensures you can plug your new electronics without unplugging an old one.
2. Know The Various Types
Surge protectors come in different sizes and shapes, such as compact and portable molds, strips, and plug-in taps. There are two main types, as discussed below:
Anti-Surge Power Strip
When you think of a surge protector, you usually imagine the design of a power strip surge blocker. A power strip surge protector is typically rectangular and has many outlets for connecting various electrical devices. It comes with a power cord and connector that connects straight to a wall outlet. Not all floor-mounted power strips provide surge protection, but you may adjust the cord length to suit the distance between your electronics and the wall outlet. You can't go wrong with these for your house and needs.
Pick this if you want affordable, simple-to-use protection for your daily electronics.
Rack-Mountable Surge Protector
Rack-mounted surge suppressors are specifically engineered to safeguard network components from surges while supplying power via multiple sockets. Because of their compact size, they are ideal for use in server rooms and other data centers that house numerous networking items and servers in a single cabinet or rack. There are horizontally and vertically arranged versions of rack-mount surge protectors, with some requiring just 1U of rack space.
Select this option when protecting many equipment parts within a data center or if you own a large home theater or stereo system.
3. Cord Length
Unlike the popular notion about pricing, cheap isn't always the best. A cheaper surge protector extension cord is usually short, which could mean it won't reach your power outlet. Hence, you need to find one with a matching cord length.
4. Consider the Joule Rating
The Joule rating of your surge rating tells you the amount of power surge it can safely absorb. Thus, surge protectors with higher ratings offer better protection. Often, it comes down to the value and type of equipment you'll plug into it. Below are some ratings and their corresponding gadgets.
- 350 - 1000: Small appliances, mobile chargers, clocks, lamps
- 1000 - 2000: Routers, printers, laptops
- 2000 and above: Gaming consoles, HDTVs, PCs, Sound systems, Cable receivers
Lookout For The Right Features
1. Adapter spaced outlets
When you compare surge protectors vs. power strips; many surge protectors feature adapter-spaced outlets to prevent bulkier plugs from blocking nearby outlets.
2. Data Line Protection
At times, surges can traverse phone and cable lines and spoil the gadgets connected to them. Surge protection can also benefit any device connected to coax lines or phones. The right surge protection can cover phone/modem/DSL inputs, coax/cable, and ethernet or network lines.
3. USB Support
Take a few seconds to think about the number of USB ports you use and the Amps involved. For instance, charging your phone and other small devices only takes one amp. Nevertheless, you should go for nothing less than 2A if you want to purchase a surge protector with a USB port. Not only will this charge faster, but it will also offer added protection.
4. Safety Snap/Locks
Safety features on surge protectors can include socket snaps or lock covers. These are crucial, especially if you have minors in your home. Additionally, they ensure that foreign objects won't disturb unused outlets in your surge protector, prolonging its lifespan.
5. Light Indicators
Some surge protectors come with LED lights to show users when the device is actively protecting their devices and adequately grounded. You can also check for Eye Indicator technology, which means the surge protector can give your devices an at-a-glance charging status. Usually, the light turns red during active charging, green when charging is complete, and blue when idle.
6. UL Listing
When shopping for your next surge protector, consider devices with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) stated for the whole device (UL1449) instead of only the electrical cord. This guarantees that your surge protector meets the highest manufacturing and safety standards.
Only Choose The Best
It's only fitting that you protect your investment with the best surge protectors on the market. The surge protector will be a reliable backup to protect your data and equipment and save the headache of dealing with possible electrical hazards. Given their crucial role, you shouldn't take any chances or compromise on quality. You should narrow down your options using the guidelines in the blog above and choose one that properly weathers the elements’ effect on power surges.