As for the ports, there's a lot of them. 12 AC outlets and six USB Type-A ports mean that you'll never run out of a place to plug in again. There's just no USB-C port, unfortunately, but that can be easily remedied.

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. 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? 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. 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 youWith 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. At least a one-year warranty: This is a bare-minimum requirement for something that you’re trusting to protect high-priced equipment and that you’ll be replacing every few years. However, a warranty covers only defects and won’t help you when the surge-absorbing components wear out as designed.

Don’t plug a space heater into a surge protector. Space heaters and other appliances with an open heating element (such as toasters or hair dryers) use a lot of power, increasing your chances of overloading the outlet. A surge protector adds even more resistance that can allow heat to build up, potentially catching fire or damaging the device. To be on the safe side, plug any open-heat electronics straight into the wall. When you first plug in a surge protector, make sure the status lights don’t report any problems. Most protectors have a single grounding light that indicates whether there’s a ground fault. If there is a fault, call an electrician as soon as possible to determine whether you have a wiring problem. A ground fault could fry your devices, electrocute someone, or start a fire. It is best to buy a surge protector from a reputable brand, not a no-name company. A well-known company not only stands behind the quality of its electronics but also provides a warranty covering the devices they connect. The Belkin 3-outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB Ports is a bit of an oddball but could come in handy for specific situations. Acting more like a wall tap, the 3-Outlet essentially gives buyers additional ports on their walls. It also swivels, meaning it can sit both horizontally and vertically.

There are eight outlets included, two on each side, plus three USB ports on top right below the power button. You do have the choice of either three USB Type-A or two USB Type-A and one USB-C port, which is nice, and it has four non-slip feet for a secure base. Plus you can choose the length of cable: two, three, five and 10 meters. 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.Compared to larger surge protectors, the 3-Outlet falls short. It doesn’t have nearly as high a Joule rating at only 918, nor does it offer the same amount of equipment protection. But it does have more surge protection than other barebones power strips. For the technically inclined who want to know: it’s small electronic components called Metal Oxide Varistors, or MOVs for short, which are more often used for this filtering of surges. Other types of filters are gas discharge arrestors which are often seen in antenna protectors, but most of the time, MOVs are used, often in combination with other components like capacitors. 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.