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

Product Information

It also has a surge protection of 1,050 joules - enough to protection your more expensive devices like a PC or a laptop. RoHS and FCC certified, it also has overload, short-circuit, over-current and over-voltage, and overheating protection. And it comes with a 6.5-foot pure copper cold. 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 BE112230 shares the flat design of the switched Belkin F7C01008q, just without the switch. It has six wide-spaced outlets, a claimed 3,940 joules of protection and a connected equipment warranty. Secondary surge arresters fixed to the line side of the service panel to protect against current surges from lightning or switching events.

At least a one-year warranty: This is a bare-minimum requirement for something that you’re trusting to protect high-priced equipment and that you’ll be replacing every few years. However, a warranty covers only defects and won’t help you when the surge-absorbing components wear out as designed.

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 While this ExtraStar lead surge protector doesn't say exactly how much protection it offers, this is a great option for budgeting households that doesn't have very demanding plugging needs. This is a cheap yet realiable extension cord perfect for smaller bedrooms and kitchen, especially with that 3.3ft cord - it just means you don't have a lot of cord length to put away when you're working with a tighter space. There are eight outlets included, two on each side, plus three USB ports on top right below the power button. You do have the choice of either three USB Type-A or two USB Type-A and one USB-C port, which is nice, and it has four non-slip feet for a secure base. Plus you can choose the length of cable: two, three, five and 10 meters. Regular Updates: Our recommendations stay current with any changes in product performance or availability.

How The DIY Works Team Tests & Rates The Surge Protectors

Chris was a PCWorld columnist for two years. He founded PCWorld's "World Beyond Windows" column, which covered the latest developments in open-source operating systems like Linux and Chrome OS. Beyond the column, he wrote about everything from Windows to tech travel tips. 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. Get access to a total of 12 AC outlets and five USB Type-A ports with this power strip from Auopro, which boasts an octagonal prism shape, four sides of which house the outlets. It's an extremely effective design that keeps things compact while allowing you to plug all your devices and then some. And it's just the thing a small team needs. Hands-On Expertise & Collective Knowledge: Our team boasts extensive DIY experience and in-depth knowledge.

The Monoprice 12 also has lights that indicate if surge protection is working, and if protection fails following a major surge, the light will shut off. The device will auto-shut to prevent damage to electronics. It’s also UL Listed. Convenient auxiliary ports: We preferred models with coaxial connectors, which are commonly used in AV devices, as well as telephone ports for a landline phone or dial-up internet connection. USB ports are handy for charging a phone or other small device without a wall charger, but since most won’t charge a phone at top speed, we don’t think they add much value.

Whole-House Surge Protectors

Long power cord: If a surge protector has a power cord, longer is better because it’ll be safer and more convenient to use. Chris Hoffman is the former Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. Chris has personally written over 2,000 articles that have been read more than one billion times---and that's just here at How-To Geek. It is best to buy a surge protector from a reputable brand, not a no-name company. A well-known company not only stands behind the quality of its electronics but also provides a warranty covering the devices they connect.