Surge protectors are an affordable way to protect your tech from power spikes.
They also add extra outlets, including some that can be USB rather than the standard electric outlet.
For the sake of your gear, if you don’t already have one, buy a surge protector. Here’s a little about surge protectors – what they are, how they work, and what makes an excellent-quality surge protector.
Spacing Between Sockets
Consider what you’re plugging in. Wider spacing between sockets or sockets which can be rotated is particularly advantageous for households accommodating bulky plugs.
Check the USB Amps
A surge protector with USB is very popular now, however, they aren’t all built equal in power. Check the amp rating. They usually come in 1 or 2 amps, measured as 1A or 2A. This indicates how much charge your USB devices will receive. At least 2 amps is required for fast-charging. A single amp, however, will still work.
Protection is Measured in Joules
The more joules your surge protector has the better. Over time, your surge protector can wear down. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to know or measure how well your surge protection is functioning. Most will say it’s best to replace old surge protectors every few years when you suspect they’re beginning to lose effectiveness.
You Don’t Need A Power Conditioner
A lot of products claim to offer ‘power conditioning’. You don’t need it in a high-quality surge protector because your gear already has conditioning in its own design. Electronics with a power supply that receives an incoming wall current is already filtering it for noise, converting it to the electricity needed, and is doing the conditioning.
Surge Protectors Are Not Power Strips
Power strips are similar in look but all they do is expand the amount of wall outlets you have. Oftentimes, they incorporate a circuit breaker in their design but it doesn’t offer the sort of protection one expects with a surge protector. Come a power spike, you can’t rely on a power strip.
Always Get More Outlets Than You Need
This is the rule. Don’t forget it. When you buy a surge protector, don’t buy for today – buy for tomorrow. Eventually, you will need more outlets. If a multi-outlet surge protector is available at comparable pricing to a smaller version, it’s worth the investment to go for the larger surge protector. That is, unless you have minimal space and want something small.
If you have a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer at home, get a surge protector. Any home theater system should be supported with a surge protector as well. There’s no reason not to include these in your tech network. All it takes is one thunderstorm and electricity surge to fry everything. As unlikely as it is to happen, just in case, a surge protector from PrimeCables.ca is recommended.