Belkin 4 Way/4 Plug 2 m Surge Protection Extension Lead Strip, White

Product Information

Operation time is important because the bad news about surge protectors is that they have a limited lifespan. Surge arresters can only absorb so much energy as they are rated for. A 500J surge protector can successfully filter a single spike of 500 joules of power, or ten spikes of 50 joules. Upon reaching its joule rating, the surge arrestor ceases to function as a filter: electricity will keep flowing through them, but so will spikes. Telephone Surge Protection Devices – these act as adaptors for the RJ11 or RJ12 port connected into, featuring inbuilt surge protection Finally, some surge protectors are equipped with fail-to-safe conditions, also known as automatic shutdown technology and "fail to shutdown". When the surge protector experiences a surge and the arrestors reach their end of life, the device stops sending power to your devices, telling you in no uncertain terms that it's time to replace it. How to choose the best surge protector for you

When you first plug in a surge protector, make sure the status lights don’t report any problems. Most protectors have a single grounding light that indicates whether there’s a ground fault. If there is a fault, call an electrician as soon as possible to determine whether you have a wiring problem. A ground fault could fry your devices, electrocute someone, or start a fire. A surge-protection rating of 400 volts or better: Although we verified each model’s abilities in our own electrical testing, we required that they be rated by one of the major product-safety corporations, UL or ETL, to bring a surge down to (at most) 400 volts. Lower is better when it comes to let-through voltage, the measure of how much extra voltage reaches your electronics.

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And note, not all power strips offer surge protection. Some act as nothing more than an extension of an existing wall outlet. Some might add a layer of minimal surge protection. So, regardless of shape or size, all units on this list will give strong levels of protection. We love a good extension tower, especially when it's very affordable, and this one from Tessan is definitely a shoo-in. It offers 1,700 joules of protection, which is pretty high and will keep your pricey laptop or computer from frying. And it has light indicators to indicate that the surge and ground protection are working, giving you that extra peace of mind. Comprehensive Research: Our team dedicates extensive time and effort to research and analyze products, so you can make informed decisions. It is a little basic in terms of its line of protection, but you are getting three layers here - just enough to protect your kitchen appliances and small electronics at home. And its six foot cord means that it's a little more versatile in its location. We wouldn't recommend using this to regularly power your PC or laptop, however, as it won't offer enough protection if a surge does happen. The Belkin 3-outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB Ports is a bit of an oddball but could come in handy for specific situations. Acting more like a wall tap, the 3-Outlet essentially gives buyers additional ports on their walls. It also swivels, meaning it can sit both horizontally and vertically.

Surge Protected Plugs

Never use an adapter to plug a surge protector into an ungrounded outlet. Bypassing the ground negates most of the benefits of using surge protectors, since typically two-thirds of their MOVs are tied to the ground leg.