Power Strips & Surge Protectors
Now that you know what the features to look for are, let’s take a look now at the following considerations. Here’s what you should mull over:
How many outlets do you need?
Not every power strip/surge protector will have the same number of outlets. Some will have less than others. Some will have more.
You can find a power strip/surge protector that will handle as many appliances as possible. The more, the better. Not only that, it will also have the power to handle as many of these appliances.
One last thing, you should never plug in a power strip into another. The reason for this is that it can lead to electrical fires. If you need to use more than one power strip, make sure they are plugged in separately.
Types of equipment you’re using
There are different power strips that can handle certain types of equipment. You can find a powerstrip that will be perfect for medical equipment. You may find one that can handle your workbench tools.
There is bound to be a power strip that will fit whatever equipment you plan on using. To that end, the heavier duty the equipment is, the more power it’s going to need. Also, it may be a wise idea to consider the environment.
There are power strips that have to be used indoors only. Likewise, there are power strips designed for outdoor use as well. It’s important that you pay attention to the labeling.
It will determine whether or not it's safe to use indoors, outdoors, or both. Using the wrong power strip outdoors can lead to damages to your appliances. Plus, it can lead to electrical or even fire hazards.
Indoor power strips are not designed to handle harsh weather conditions. Determine which indoor or outdoor equipment you plan on using on a regular basis. This way, it will help decide which power strip will be the best for you.
USB ports
Some of the more modern power strips will have USB ports attached to them. This will come in handy for anything that uses such a plugin. So you can use it to charge your phone, plug in LED lights on your TV or computer desk, or even personal assistants like Alexa or Google.
Power strips will come with at least two USB ports (unless stated otherwise). These will come in handy whenever you need to plug something in and don’t need a standard electrical plug in.
Energy rating
The higher the energy rating, the better protection you’ll get from surges. That’s one of the rules of thumb when you are looking for a power strip/surge protector. It’s important that you find the best one based on the type of electronics you use.
The higher the joules, the more energy it will absorb before failure. This will depend on the type of equipment that you’re using. Video game consoles will use anywhere from 1500 to 2000 joules and can be protected if plugged into the right power strip/surge protector.
This is a factor that a lot of people tend to overlook. Especially if they are using certain electronic appliances all the time like TVs, computers, gaming consoles, and more.
Cord length
The cord length may come down to both need and preference. You may be too far from an outlet to plug in certain appliances. For this reason, you will need a power strip/surge protector with a long enough cord for reach.
You don’t have to move things around if you don’t need to. You may need to measure the distance between the outlet and where your appliances are. From there, you can decide how long of a cord a power strip/surge protector might have.
You can choose one that is six feet in length or above. Keep in mind that the longer the cord, the more it might cost. Speaking of costs, let’s take a look now at the next factor.
Price
The price may be a cause for concern for some. Especially if you want to keep it within a certain budget. But what factors play a role in the price?
For one, it can be the cord length. Other factors can include the number of outlets, energy rating, and other features. It’s important that you decide on the best performing power strip/surge protector that will fit your budget.
The last thing you want to do is go for the cheapest option. It may be too short, the energy rating may be too low, and it might not be enough to satisfy your needs. It would make sense to consider your most critical needs.
For example, what appliances do you plan on using with this power strip? Some power hungry appliances will require something that has a higher energy rating. Meaning it can be protected from a certain number of joules if a power surge or outage occurs.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a power strip & surge protector, it’s important to look over these considerations. You’d be hard-pressed to find the best one in terms of performance while it fits your budget. You can use it for your much-needed equipment that you’ll use on a regular basis.
Some may be the best match for the type of equipment you are using. Be sure to not overlook some of the factors like the energy rating. You may be using power demanding appliances and the wrong power strip may not be enough.
