Using a surge protector will protect your devices from being damaged when there is a sudden jump in the electrical charge of your wall socket. With so many to choose from it may be a little confusing, so here are our best picks and a brief guide on what to look for when choosing your product.
1. Belkin 4 Amp USB Charging 8-Outlet Surge Protection Strip (Top Pick)
This surge protector from Belkin is one of the most popular on the market. It is really well designed with eight outlets that are far enough apart that you can fit bulky adapters side by side. It also has two USB ports for charging smart phones, Bluetooth headphones, and other devices.
It has a rating of 900 joules, so your equipment will be protected for a long time, but this could be a little higher. It has a heavy-duty cord that is a good length, so you can place the powerboard wherever you need it in a room. There is also a recessed on/off switch which is handy if you have the board far away from the wall socket.
Overall, this is probably the best surge protector around, and it’s suitable for a wide variety of uses.
What We Like:
- Well-designed with room between outlets
- USB charging ports
- Protection indicator
What We Don’t Like:
- Surge-suppression could be higher
2. CyberPower 8 Way Outlet Surge Protector Power Board
This surge protector from CyberPower has eight outlets and two USB ports. It also has LEDs to indicate that surge protection is active and grounding. It has a rating of 2750 joules which is quite high.
This is a really good surge protector for the price, and it’s suitable for most appliances. It would be nice if there were a little more space between the outlets, but there shouldn’t be any problem if you’re using standard-size plugs.
Overall, it’s a great surge protector at a great price.
What We Like:
- USB sockets
- Protection indicator
- 2750 joule rating
What We Don’t Like:
- Outlets are a little close together
3. Belkin BSV102au Travel Surge Protector
This is a single socket surge protector from Belkin. It’s ideal for traveling when you want to protect your laptop while in a hotel or some other unfamiliar place. It’s also good to use around the home when you just need to protect one appliance.
It is a simple design. Aside from the outlet, there is an LED indicator to let you know that it’s protecting your equipment. It’s rated for up to 306 joules, so it’s a good, low-cost insurance plan for your digital devices when you’re on the road.
What We Like:
- Convenient size
- Protection indicator
What We Don’t Like:
- Single outlet
Surge Protector Buyers Guide
Connection types
Most surge protectors have plugs just like a wall socket, but you can also find ones with additional sockets such as USB ports, ethernet, coaxial cable, and phone lines. Choose a surge protector that best suits your equipment.
Features
Some important features to look for are:
A protection indicator light
This shows that the surge protector is working. When this light is off it means the surge protector has reached power capacity and it’s time to replace it.
Auto shut-off
This immediately cuts the power when there is an extreme surge in power on the line, so your equipment isn’t damaged even if the surge protector can’t hold up under the power overload. This is not a circuit breaker that protects from plugging in too many appliances.
Cord length
Measure how far the surge protector will be from the wall socket and make sure the cord is long enough. Give yourself a bit extra length so there is enough to feed around table legs or corners.
Surge Protector FAQs
Surges and spikes in your power line can damage your electrical equipment. They can stop working instantly sometimes, or they may wear down faster over time.
A spike in electricity is a sudden increase in power supplied to your home. They usually only last a fraction of a second, but they can damage your appliances and render them useless. They can be caused by extreme weather such as lightning striking a power line, or a short on one of the lines if it becomes damaged in some way.
A surge in electricity is often caused by putting more demand on the line, such as adding a new refrigerator or other large appliances. Surges have less voltage than a spike, but they last longer, usually a few seconds. A surge is more likely to damage your appliances over time.
Surge protectors prevent damage to your equipment by absorbing excess power on the line and channeling it away from appliances. Each surge protector has a fixed capacity on how much electrical power it can absorb, and once it reaches its limit, it needs to be replaced or your appliances will not be protected.
Regular power boards may look like surge protectors, but they can’t absorb excess electricity. Make sure there is an energy rating in joules printed somewhere on the board. This lets you know how much electrical power it can absorb in total.
