With 12 outlets and two USB charge ports, it matches the APC Performance SurgeArrest 12. It has a lower energy rating at 3,996 Joules but is still more than enough for most. It’s also available in white.

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. 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. An electrical surge is a brief spike in voltage. They can be generated outside your premises or within it, depending on what equipment is malfunctioning (mainly electric motors, such as water pumps, building elevators, etc.). These surges can cause damage to electronic equipment within your home or office. 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.Belkin’s 12 Outlet Surge Protector, model BV12234-08, is an excellent unit that provides plenty of protection, which is why it’s one of the best surge protectors and best power strips on the market. Never use an adapter to plug a surge protector into an ungrounded outlet. Bypassing the ground negates most of the benefits of using surge protectors, since typically two-thirds of their MOVs are tied to the ground leg.

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. Though the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a big difference between power strips and surge protectors. A power strip is essentially just a wired, multioutlet extension of a power outlet. A surge protector adds in circuitry, which is designed to prevent damaging power spikes from making their way to your TV, soundbaror really anything that's plugged in. Regular Updates: Our recommendations stay current with any changes in product performance or availability. Long power cord: If a surge protector has a power cord, longer is better because it’ll be safer and more convenient to use. There are various types of surge protection devices and it is important to know the options available when choosing a surge protector. Common surge protection device types include:

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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. In addition to his extensive writing experience, Chris has been interviewed as a technology expert on TV news and radio shows. He gave advice on dark web scans on Miami's NBC 6, discussed Windows XP's demise on WGN-TV's Midday News in Chicago, and shared his CES experiences on WJR-AM's Guy Gordon Show in Detroit.