A surge-protection rating of 400 volts or better: Although we verified each model’s abilities in our own electrical testing, we required that they be rated by one of the major product-safety corporations, UL or ETL, to bring a surge down to (at most) 400 volts. Lower is better when it comes to let-through voltage, the measure of how much extra voltage reaches your electronics. 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.

As for your charging needs, there are 12 AC outlets on hand, with enough space between each outlet to accommodate all your devices, as well as two USB Type-A ports and one USB-C with power delivers for fast charging - allowing you to fully-charge your iPhone in an hour. Just bear in mind that the USB and USB-C port do share output so if you're using all three at once, it will slow down all three to just 15W.Our best surge protector overall will easily protect most devices. But if you have really costly equipment such as gaming PCs you'll want something more powerful to make sure your expensive equipment doesn't get fried. In that case, the Furman Power Station 8 (PST-8) is for you. Unlike most surge protectors that use Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) to divert surge current, the Furman PST-8 uses Series Multi-Stage Protection Plus (SMP+) that provides great surge filtering alongside an automatic shutdown circuit that cuts off the power when a surge is detected. This setup protects both your appliances and the surge protector, allowing it to last longer in theory than MOV-based options. Still, it sits cleanly on a wall and can work well next to a nightstand to plug in a lamp and some phone chargers. For travel and small spaces, the 3-Outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB ports can come in handy. Just use it mostly for smaller devices. 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.

To put the Joule rating of a surge protector in simple words, it indicates how much energy a device can absorb before the filter stops functioning. So the higher the joules, the more filtering it can do, and for a longer time, as each spike that hits your surge protector weakens its filtering ability. Belkin is a trusted name in electronics, and this power strip surge extension doesn't fall far from the tree. It has eight AC outlets, which is enough for most people, and two USB Type-A ports, which makes it an excellent and affordable option for the office. That's especially with that 6.6-foot cord, allowing it to be more versatile in terms of placement. Metal Oxide Varistors are the most important electronic components inside Surge Protectors that perform the “magic” filtering of excess voltage. They have a limited lifespan. (Image credit: Tripp Lite) How do surge protectors protect your devices? What's unique about this surge protector is that each of its AC outlet - it has four - has its own switch, which should make a difference when your next energy bill comes around. To ensure the kids' safety, each also has a safety door. And though it doesn't specify its protection level, it does offer overvoltage, overcurrent. and short-circuiting protection.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.

Another factor to consider when buying a surge protector is the joule rating. It's more important for MOV-based systems and is an indicator of the amount of energy and the number of surges a protector can take before it fails---so, the higher is better. 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. Most people don't need a kitted-out power strip with surge protection, and if you're one of them, you're better off choosing something that's affordable like this one from Anker that offers 2,100 joules of protection. That's more than enough for your basic devices like smartphones, laptops, and printers, which is what most people have in their offices. It does have eight AC outlets, two on each side, and each pair has its on/off button to help save energy and help you save money on your energy bill. Plus there are three USB Type-A and one USB-C ports. The only thing is that those ports are only on one side so anyone needing access to them would have to do some sort of maneuvering, especially if there are several electronics and devices already plugged in.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 Automatic shutoff: We preferred this feature because it ensures you’ll never leave your equipment unprotected. Otherwise, at minimum, we required each model to have an indicator light that signals when its surge-protection capabilities have worn out. Very few manufacturers are willing to risk money to meet their sales promises. TrippLite is one exception. They offer lifetime exchange warranty on many of their products, as well as an insurance coverage for most of their surge suppressors. Insurance amounts vary according to the model. 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.

How well a surge protector shields connected devices depends on many factors, chief among them being the design. Most options on the market use efficient and cost-effective Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) which receive and divert excess voltage from your equipment. But this causes them to take the brunt of the surge, making them degrade over time---they're essentially sacrificial components.Manufacturers of surge protectors certify their devices and measure their effectiveness, giving them a rating in Joules which is the amount of energy they can filter, and also its clamp voltage, which is the threshold. Put simply, the more joules, the better protection and the longer your surge protector will do its job. 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. In terms of footprint, it’s relatively compact and can easily sit below a home theater setup. It also has a clip towards the bottom for cable management. The BV12234-08 also has room for large adapters, a recessed power button to prevent accidental shutoffs and mounting holes to secure to walls, baseboard or furniture.