When it comes to your electronics, the last thing you'd probably get excited for is a surge protector. These aren't the sexy pieces of hardware that grab headlines or turn your dusty old computer into a high-spec gaming PC. But, they are a key component to any high-end electronics setup in that they keep those electronics safe from the very power that they run on.
A surge protector does more than just offer up extra power outlets so you can plug all your gadget into one spot. It also limits the amount of voltage that can pass through to your devices, helping ensure they aren't damaged by a sudden spike. Some of these surge protectors will not just defend your devices from surges over their power cables but also block voltage spikes over other wired connections, such as Ethernet or even coaxial cables.
So, if you're going to buy pricey electronics and want to keep them safe, you'll definitely want to pick out a surge protector. And, since they're not the most exciting product to shop for, we've saved you the trouble of searching for the surge protectors that are worth your while.
TL;DR These are the Best Surge Protectors
- Anker PowerExtend Strip
- AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector
- APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3
- TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300
- Belkin PivotPlug BP112230-08
- Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler
- APC SurgeArrest P12U2
- Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule
- Refrigmatic WS-36300
- Cyberpower CP1500PFCLCD UPS
1. Anker PowerExtend Strip
Best Surge Protector
Not to be outdone when it comes to providing affordable products for delivering power, Anker has introduced the PowerExtend Strip with a price to please. This $28 surge protector goes the extra distance by turning a single power outlet into 12. This includes six outlets arranged along the middle of the strip as well as three outward-facing outlets on each side with a bunch of extra space between them to allow for even the chunkiest power bricks. The surge protector also has a six-foot cable with a flat, angled plug to help you get the perfect setup.
The Anker PowerExtend Strip grounds your devices while also offering some long-lasting protection. Being able to handle 4,000 joules worth of surge energy would be mighty in its own right, but Anker has actually built-in dual surge protectors to hold up to double that with the added protection that comes from redundancy. Should one surge protector finally reach its limit, the second one will still be there to keep your power strip running without dropping its protection.
2. AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector
Best Budget Surge Protector
Sometimes you don’t have a bunch of expensive electronics to plug in so much as just a bunch of electronics – quantity above all. In that case, you might not want to fork out for the most robust and expensive surge protector. For $20, the AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector can offer you a nice handful of ports and a decent amount of protection for connected gadgets.
There’s nothing terribly fancy about this surge protector. You’ll at least find a handy indicator light to tell you when surge protection is working, but it doesn’t offer up extra USB ports or surge protection for coaxial, Ethernet, or telephone cables. The strip does have the added safety that comes with sliding outlet covers at least. The main thing is that it will provide eight outlets, including three with extra space to fit larger power bricks, that all benefit from its surge protection. And, with a rating for 4,500 joules, it should last a good while.
3. APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3
Best Multi-Port Surge Protector
For a serious multimedia center or desk space, you might need a ton of power outlets all in one place. And, for all those electronics, you’re likely going to want some solid protections in place. The APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3 provides you with all of that. This surge protector provides 11 grounded power outlets with sliding safety covers on each, but that’s just the start of what it’s offering.
The APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3 isn’t worrying about surges coming in through just your power lines. This surge protector has ports for phone and DSL lines as well as coaxial cables and Ethernet (though it may bottleneck bandwidth to 100Mbps). That’s great news for your expensive TV and computer that may be connected directly to those sources. The surge protector provides protection for 3,020 joules of surge energy, so it can last a while, and it’ll clamp at 400 volts. You can see clearly when it’s protection is active thanks to an indicator light, which can also show you if it’s overloaded or if the wiring in your building has a fault.
4. TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300
Best Smart Home Surge Protector
If the last piece of your smart home puzzle is a voice-controlled surge suppressor with its own mobile app, then the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip is just what you’re looking for. This 6-outlet strip also has a trio of USB ports. Each of the six plugs can be independently controlled via Alexa or Google Assistant. Using the mobile app, you can also group plugs and command them as a unit, and you can create scheduled events to toggle devices, or use IFTTT for additional programmability.
Each outlet gets its own recessed button to turn it on or off. Since it’s a smart device, it’s one of the few surge suppressors you’ll find with 802.11 b/g/n. It has a breaker for large surges and is rated for 1710 joules. But it will eventually fail with a closed circuit—meaning it’ll keep the power flowing without any surge protection—so keep an eye on the status light to know when it needs to be replaced.
5. Belkin PivotPlug BP112230-08
Best Surge Protector for Oversized Plugs
Too few surge suppressors acknowledge the reality of oversized plugs and transformers. The PivotPlug arranges four outlets in standard spacing down the middle and then four more on each side that can also pivot up to 90 degrees. With a little planning, you can connect virtually any array of oversized plugs. It also features a convenient cable trap, so you can thread most or all of your cords through a channel at one end, keeping everything tidy. It also includes coax and DSL/telephone port passthroughs.
The PivotPlug doesn’t have a resettable circuit breaker, but it offers a beefy rating of 4320 joules. When it fails it continues delivering power after the ability to protect is exhausted.
6. Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler
Best Portable Surge Protector
If you’re a frequent traveler, the gear you take on the road is probably unprotected. That’s where a portable surge suppressor like the Tripp Lite’s Traveler comes in. It’s a compact two-outlet surge protector that has a fully retractable three-prong plug for easy packing, and features a pair of outlets along with DSL/telephone sockets.
Tripp Lite managed to pack 1050 joules of protection in this small package, but be aware that it will eventually fail with a closed circuit, so keep an eye on the status light.
7. APC SurgeArrest P12U2
Best Surge Protector for Equipment and USB
APC’s P12U2 is a go-to option for people who have a lot of things to plug in. It features eight normally-spaced outlets and four on the periphery that can accommodate oversized plugs. It also includes a pair of USB ports as well. If you worry about exposed outlets, fear not: This one comes with safety shutters. The power cable also has a rotating shoulder, so you can orient it in any direction without bending or kinking the cable.
It has a respectable rating of 4,320 joules, but like the other APC on this list, how it handles the loss of surge protection is a little dicey. The surge suppressor may cut off current to your equipment, or let it continue to flow with an indicator in the status light, depending upon how the MOVs fail.
8. Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule
Best Fast Charging Surge Protector
We've got tons of devices to keep powered up in our lives. A good many of those devices just need a USB port to get juiced up. That can leave our traditional power strips looking like an utter mess as we jam USB power bricks into the available ports. Even when a power strip offers a couple of USB ports, they may not offer the fast charging we're used to, once again leaving us with a need for power bricks. Anker's PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule simplifies this. Anker is well known for its chargers, and it's basically built its charging ports into this surge protector.
On one side, you'll get three typical three-prong outlets. Anker has each outlet oriented in a different direction, so you can avoid having thick AC adapters getting in the way of one another. On the opposite side, you'll find three USB ports with fast charging capabilities. The two USB-A ports are both capable of delivering 15W of charging power while the USB-C port can deliver a useful 45W, though the ports combined max out at 60W total if you're using all three ports at the same time. That USB-C port has enough juice to charge a lot of ultrabooks. And, Anker has designed this surge protector with a number of safety features, like fire resistance, overload protection, over-temperature control, and more.
9. Refrigmatic WS-36300
Best Appliance Surge Protector
After much anticipation, the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge has finally arrived. Since you’ve purchased the fridge, it’s better to be safe than sorry and buy an appliance surge protector to go with it. Nothing is worse than opening your fridge only to discover your leftovers have been sitting in a lukewarm box for a few days. The Refrigmatic WS-36300 will make sure no fuses get blown or power breakers get tripped.
This surge protector is pretty simple and does exactly what it was made for with no fuss or frills. You just plug it in, wait three minutes for it to stabilize, and then plug your appliance into the polarized socket. Light indicators will tell you if there is high, low, or normal voltage. There is also a time delay light. If a load increases or decreases from the normal 120 volts, your appliance is accustomed to, it will disconnect. The Refrigmatic WS-36300 works with fridges up to 27 cu. ft., ice makers and air conditioners up to 5000BTU, so it'll work great with the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge.
10. CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS
Best Uninterruptable Power Supply
With an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) you're protecting your devices in a different way. This UPS from CyberPower does not only keeps power surges from hitting your sensitive and expensive electronics, but it's also a temporary battery backup that can keep your electronics powered on in case of a blackout.
The UPS takes the power in from your wall and then maintains a consistent output voltage, so your electronics don't experience fluctuations that could cause issues. Another key feature is that it can keep your devices temporarily powered even if there's a complete loss of power. This model is estimated to run for 2.5 minutes at full load or 10 minutes at half load, giving you a window of time to save important work before a power outage shuts down your electronics. All of the outlets on the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD have surge protection, while six are also connected to the backup battery.
What to Look for in a Surge Protector
Surge suppressors may look like power strips. But while all surge suppressors do the job of a power strip, run-of-the-mill power strips don’t suppress electrical surges. Most surge suppressors rely on a device called a metal oxide varistor (MOV) to divert excess current to the ground, “clamping” the voltage to a certain level to protect your electronics.
MOVs don’t last forever, and depending on the design, can continue to behave like a dumb power strip and pass power to your equipment, or fail “safe,” cutting off power to your gear. I’d recommend using a suppressor that opens the circuit when the MOVs eventually fail, so your equipment isn’t left unprotected. The downside is your stuff may power down unexpectedly, and you’ll have to buy a new surge suppressor to get back in business.
Some specs you might care about: An indirect measure of the life of a surge suppressor is its rating in joules (basically, a suppressor with a rating of 4000 joules should last about four times longer than one with a rating of 1000 joules). The clamping value, in contrast, measures how much voltage gets through during any single spike, where a lower number is better for your gear. Expect to generally see values from 333 volts to 500 volts. Most surge suppressors also include a circuit breaker which can trip if a surge exceeds its abilities.
Convenience is also worth considering. You might want to find a model that spaces outlets far apart or uses some sort of pivoting system to let you fit oversized plugs on the strip.
Oh, and about those equipment warranties: I wouldn’t put much faith in them. The find print can be onerous, and I guarantee you’ll never collect money over an equipment failure that resulted from a surge-related problem.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
