Keep Your Electronics Safe with a Surge Protector

Everything you need to know about surge protectors and power strips

There’s no getting around it—our devices have become an integral part of our daily lives. This is why keeping your electronics safe with a surge protector and securely plugged in with a power strip is essential.

While a power strip can be handy for managing multiple plugs, only a surge protector ensures your equipment is shielded from potential damage caused by electrical fluctuations. Keep reading as we explain how surge protectors work, how they differ from power strips and why they are an essential part of keeping your electronics safe.

What is a surge protector?

A surge protector is a device designed to protect your electronics from sudden spikes in electrical voltage. These power surges can occur due to lightning strikes, power outages or even routine fluctuations in the electrical grid. Without protection, these surges can cause irreparable damage to your devices, frying internal components or shortening their lifespan.

How does a surge protector work?

Surge protectors work by diverting excess electricity away from your devices, typically using a component called a metal oxide varistor (MOV). This technology absorbs the excess voltage and safely redirects it, ensuring only the normal, safe amount of electricity reaches your devices.

It’s important to note the joule rating of a surge protector, which measures its energy-absorption capacity. A heavy-duty surge protector will have a higher joule rating, meaning it can absorb more energy from power surges before it becomes ineffective.

What does a surge protector do?

A surge protector acts as a safety buffer between your electronics and the power supply, primarily focusing on preventing excess electrical energy from damaging your devices during a power surge.

When a surge occurs, the surge protector takes in and diverts the excess voltage away from connected devices, ensuring that only a stable, safe level of electricity passes through. In doing so, it helps safeguard sensitive internal components of devices like computers, TVs and gaming consoles.

What is a power strip and how does a power strip work?

A power strip is a simple and convenient device that allows you to expand a single wall outlet into multiple outlets, providing more plug-in options for your electronics. It usually consists of a long plastic housing with multiple electrical outlets. Inside, the power strip contains wiring that directs power from the wall outlet to each of the connected devices.

Power strips are particularly useful in areas where you need to connect several devices, such as home offices, entertainment centers or gaming setups. However, while they are excellent for managing multiple devices, power strips do not offer protection against electrical surges.

Surge protector vs. power strip

When it comes to surge protectors vs. power strips, the main difference is that a surge protector provides protection against power surges and voltage spikes, while a power strip only expands the number of available outlets without any additional protective features. Surge protectors absorb excess voltage while power strips simply pass electricity through.

Whether you’re setting up a new desktop, home theater system or other electronics, you’ll want to ensure that your devices are safe from electrical surges. This is why it’s important to choose a surge protector power strip, which combines the benefits of both—providing extra outlets while also protecting against voltage fluctuations.

Surge protector and power strip FAQs

Now that you know the importance of surge protectors and power strips and how they can work together to keep your electronics safe and organized, here are some frequently asked questions that can help you better understand how to use them effectively:

Can a surge protector go bad?

A surge protector can go bad over time. The MOV that absorbs excess voltage during a power surge has a limited capacity. Each time it diverts excess energy, its effectiveness slightly decreases. A surge protector may also no longer offer protection and should be replaced immediately if it absorbs a significant surge, like from a lightning strike. To ensure continuous protection, consider replacing your surge protector every three to five years or sooner if it has experienced a major surge event.

Can a power strip go bad?

A power strip can go bad over time. While it doesn’t have the same surge-absorbing components as a surge protector, a power strip can wear out due to repeated use, overheating or physical damage.

Are surge protectors necessary?

Surge protectors are necessary, especially for safeguarding valuable or sensitive electronics. They provide a critical layer of defense by absorbing and diverting excess electricity, ensuring that only safe voltage levels reach your devices.

Are power strips safe?

Power strips are safe when used correctly and for the right devices. They are ideal for low-power electronics like lamps, chargers and laptops but should not be used for high-power appliances like refrigerators or space heaters.

Are surge protectors safe?

Surge protectors are safe and essential for protecting electronics from power surges. To ensure safety, use certified surge protectors, avoid overloading them and replace them every three to five years or after a major surge.

What is the best surge protector?

The best surge protector for you depends on the types of devices you need to protect, the level of protection required and the number of outlets you need. Consider the joule rating for energy absorption, the clamping voltage for quicker response to surges and any additional features like USB ports or coaxial protection.

Whether you're upgrading your home office, protecting your gaming setup or enhancing your home theater system, choosing the right surge protector ensures your electronics are safe from power surges, helping to prolong their lifespan and prevent costly damage. And, don’t forget that a power strip can provide the extra outlets you need to manage multiple devices, offering convenience without compromising safety when used appropriately.