What’S The Best Power Strip To Buy?

Best surge protectors and power strips

1. Best overall: Belkin 12-Outlet Pivot Plug.
2. Editor’s pick: APC Surge Protector (P12U2)
3. Best for low prices: AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip.
4. Best wall surge protector: Addtam USB Wall Charger.
5. Best smart power strip: TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300)

How do I choose a power strip?

5 Steps to Choosing the Right Power Strip

1. Number of outlets. Get a power strip that will permit at least as many items as you want to plug in.
2. Length and configuration.
3. Type of equipment.
4. Consider extra safety.
5. Surge protection.

What is the difference between a power strip and a surge protector?

A power strip gives you the ability to plug multiple devices into a single wall outlet. A surge protector is a type of power strip which is specifically designed to withstand a power surge and keep your electronics safe.

Does it matter what power strip I use?

Be careful to get the correct protector for the items you want to plug in. – Small kitchen or household appliances or large electronics such as computers or laptops will need different protection. 5. Does it have a warranty in case of failure?

Is there a difference in power strips?

The main difference between the two is that your electronics are protected against power surges only with the surge protectors. While power strips may be acclaimed extension cords, they do not offer any kind of protection.

Is 1200 joules a good surge protector?

Valuable Equipment Needs a Higher Joule Rating
A unit with up to 1000 joules of surge protection is adequate for these small electronics.Units with surge protector ratings of 1000 to 2000 joules will provide sufficient protection for power tools and office equipment such as printers, copiers and routers.

What is the safest surge protector?

TL;DR These are the Best Surge Protectors

• Anker PowerExtend Strip.
• AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector.
• APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3.
• TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300.
• Belkin PivotPlug BP112230-08.
• Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler.
• APC SurgeArrest P12U2.
• Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule.

What should you never plug into a power strip?

10 Things Never to Plug into a Power Strip

• Refrigerators and Freezers. 1/11.
• Microwaves. 2/11.
• Coffee Makers. 3/11.
• Toasters. 4/11.
• Slow Cookers and Hot Plates. 5/11.
• Hair-Care Appliances. 6/11.
• Portable Heaters and Air Conditioners. 7/11.
• Sump Pumps. 8/11.

Do power strips reduce power?

Smart power strips can actually cut power off and save energy since they are able to detect when a device is in standby mode.

What is an advanced power strip?

Advanced power strips are an easy, low-cost way to manage your home electronics while saving energy and money.With an APS, you designate one device as the “control”—so when you turn off your TV, for example, other electronics plugged into the strip are automatically shut off.

Is 15 amps a lot of power?

Just Enough Power Strip
If you’re using the power strip for computers, TVs and stereos, then either 15 or 20 amps will be plenty of power. Be wary of plugging power strips into other power strips because you could easily draw more amps than available.

Are all power strips surge protectors?

Surge protectors often look just like power strips, but not all power strips are surge protectors. Only surge protections actually help protect your gadgets against power surges. Many power strips are just glorified extension cords without any protection.

How many joules of surge protection do I need for a refrigerator?

A unit with up to 1000 joules of surge protection is enough for small electronics. A surge protector with 1000 to 2000 joules will provide sufficient protection for refrigerators, washing machines & dryers, office equipment, and power tools.

Should I plug my TV directly into the wall?

Do you have your PC, television, or other expensive electronics plugged directly into a power outlet? You shouldn’t. You should plug your gadgets into a surge protector, which isn’t necessarily the same thing as a power strip.

Do power strips go bad?

Extension cords and power strips: While extension cords and power strips don’t come with an expiration date per sae, they do have a limited lifetime use. These items are only designed to handle so much juice over the years and will eventually short out or lose effectiveness.

Are power strips safer than extension cords?

Surge protectors are best for surges! When it comes to plugging your appliances into power strips, a surge protector is safer than an extension cord.

How many joules surge protector do I need for TV?

Look for a protector that is at least rated at 200 to 400 joules. For better protection, look for a rating of 600 joules or more.

How many joules is a lightning strike?

one billion
With an average bolt of lightning striking from cloud to ground containing roughly one billion (1,000,000,000) joules of energy, that is a lot of power in every lightning bolt!

How many joules do you need for a TV?

Recommendations. Electronic accessories manufacturer Belkin recommends its 1,411 joule model for most TV sets, or its 2,444 joule unit for projection televisions. ReviewSurgeProtector.com similarly advocates a minimum level of 1,500 joules for TVs.

What is the difference between an extension cord and a power strip?

However, the main difference between the two lies in the purpose: If you want to multiply the number of electrical outlets from a single source, use a power strip. If you want to stretch out a power source towards a distant appliance, use an extension cord.

How long do power strips last?

Power strips don’t have expiration dates. But they tend to wear out within 3 to 5 years. If the power strip is a surge protector, the joule rating reveals the lifespan. The more surges the surge protector absorbs, the weaker its surge protection components become.