preserve your sensitive electronics from damage with the right equipment
A lot of electronics requires a lot of outlets.
Home theaters, too, can require multiple outlets.
Most surge protectors are also power strips, butpower strips are not necessarily surge protectors.
Youll often find them in the same aisle at the hardware or store.
But you should know the difference before buying.
What Is a Surge Protector?
Surge protectors work by divertingexcess voltageinto the grounding port of a wall outlet.
Sophisticated gaming rigs with complex microprocessors may result interminal failureif power surges or spikes are permitted.
An extreme example of excess voltage is a lightning strike.
Even though they venture to maintain a steady flow of electricity throughout, disruptions sometimes occur.
That sudden energy draw can cause a momentary surge to the demanding circuit and affect all connected outlets.
In North America, anything above the standard voltage of 120V is considered excess.
Smaller surges can happen anytime without signs or warning, yet still surpass a products normal operating voltage.
What to Look For
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.
That increases the risk of overloading the electrical circuit and it voids the warranty.
Not all surge protectors are designed with power bricks in mind.
A surge protector wont do much good if it cant reach the closest wall socket.
So when in doubt, choose surge protectors with the longest length power cable.
Performance Ratings to Consider
Product packaging is designed to attract attention while conveying information.
This can seem confusing, what with all the specs and features.
Focus on these ones first:
Extra Features
Many surge protectors offer an array of extra features.
While nice to have, they can also bump the purchase price.
More expensive doesnt automatically mean better.
Focus on needs first and confirm you dont overlook the aforementioned performance ratings.
Hopefully, youll never have to use it, but its always best to be prepared.
ensure you thoroughly read the fine print regarding the warranty coverage.
you could also expect claims to take three or more months to process.
You should do so sooner if it starts behaving erratically, or your house has major power issues.
Whole-house surge protectors go by the meter outside the house or at the circuit box on the inside.
