How to Choose a Surge Protector

How to Choose a Surge Protector

So you’ve decided to invest in a new surge protector to protect your devices and information saved within. A wise decision indeed, but you may ask yourself what the difference is between the many options
available on the market.

For starters, surge protectors offer protection in amounts known as joules. Joules are essentially reservoirs of protection that increase the amount/size of hits your products will be able to withstand. For example, a surge protector with 1,000 joules means it can take ten 100 joule hits, one 1,000 joule hit, or any combination in between.

Many surge protectors will carry a manufacturer’s warranty on not only the device itself, but also the equipment you have connected to it. Belkin offers one model that features a $300,000 Connected Equipment
Warranty that says: “If your electronic equipment is damaged by a surge, spike, or lightning strike while properly connected to this power strip, we will repair or replace it, up to $300,000.”

While looking for surge protectors that offer the most joule protection is generally the best idea, it’s important to be wary of products that claim to “condition” the power from your wall. The fact of the matter is electronic devices already do this on their own. Virtually every device that’s made today will take the incoming wall current (110v in the US), filter it for noise, and convert it into whatever that particular device needs. Unless you’re using a really cheap device, or you live in an area with bizarrely inadequate power, a power conditioner isn’t something you need your surge protector to do.

When it comes to number of outlets on your surge protector it’s almost always a good idea to play it safe and go with more than what you currently need. In today’s day and age, there’s a much better chance
you’re going to add another device that needs wall power before you get rid of something you’re currently using. Therefore, if you only need four outlets today, it’s best to opt for the six outlet surge protector.

Some surge protectors even sport 12 ports, well spaced so you can use them all. Buying the right number of ports will make sure you don’t have to daisy chain surge protectors, which can be an incredibly dangerous practice.

Many surge protectors now even come with USB connections, so you can charge your mobile devices. While these can be incredibly convenient, it’s important to know how much power you’ll be getting out of them.
These connections are usually either one or two amps. One amp is adequate for cell phone charging, but most tablets need 2 amps for fast charging.

Make sure that any surge protector you buy is certified by Underwriter’s Laboratories, and at least meets their UL 1449 standards (required for the label “transient voltage surge suppressor,”). This will ensure that the product you buy is a legitimate device to protect your valuable equipment.

Two last things to be aware of an check before making a purchase are absorption rating and clamping voltage. Absorption rating has to do with joules and is literally how much energy the device can absorb before it fails. The higher the number, the better. Clamping voltage, on the other hand, is the amount of voltage that will trigger the surge protector into action. Around 400 V or less is usually a good standard to look for. Keep in mind, lower numbers are better when it comes to this feature.

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