Belkin Power Strip Surge Protector, 12-Outlet

With the high number of electronic devices we use in modern-day households or offices, you might find yourself needing more plugs available than what your standard 120V wall outlet offers, which is usually two or four receptacles. Surge-protecting power strips offer an easy workaround due to the fact that they offer an ability to plug in many devices at one time. Better yet, by using the surge protector, the devices that you have plugged in are safe from being fried in the event that your outlet experiences a power surge from something like a lightning strike.

Surge protectors are designed to stop the unwanted surge of electricity from getting all the way to your valuable electronic devices and overloading them, which can cause fires or simply break your device. The rating you will see for how good a surge protector is at doing its job is listed in joules. A higher joule rating in a surge protector generally means it will do a better job of protecting your devices from the highest level of energy, like that of a lightning bolt. Joule ratings can range from the low end at around 200 joules all the way up to nearly 4,000 joules. If you have hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of equipment plugged into your surge protector, do yourself a favor and get one that has a high rating and will offer you the best protection.

Some of the features you’ll find in a surge protector might help you determine which one is right for you. The length of the cord is important because sometimes a 4-inch power cord means you can’t actually tuck that surge protector where you want it and you’ll be stuck looking at it in plain view. It’s better to err on the side of a longer power cord for your surge protector to ensure you can position it in the most ideal place.

Beyond that simple feature, you’ll want to look at what types of plugs you’ll be plugging into the surge protector itself. If you have a few plugs that are big blocks, you might already know that they take up a lot of space and can often times hog two spots when only using one. Many of the surge protector power strips have been designed to account for these large blocks and offer a more spaced-out set of ports to accommodate your large block-plugs.

Standard 120V plugs aren’t the only things that can fail from surges. Some surge protectors have ports for your ethernet cables that run your phone or internet and there are even models that accept an older coaxial television cable so you can ensure all your connections are protected. For an added bonus of convenience, you can even find some models that have USB ports so you can plug smaller electronics directly into the surge protector with your USB charging cable.

• Look for surge protectors that orient their plugs in different ways. This can be an easy way to get oddly-shaped plugs to all work together.
• Color coordinate your power strip with your wall or room. Many surge protectors come in different colors, such as white or black, to help fit your aesthetic.
• If you’re unsure about how effective a surge protector is that has a low joule rating, it is recommended to err on the higher side for your own protection. The small added cost of the nicer surge protectors can be worth it when it actually protects your valuable electronics.