What Is The Difference Between A Surge Protector And A Power Strip?

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It is common for people to use the terms «multiplate» and «surge protector» interchangeably.

But in reality they are two very different devices.

And if you use the wrong one in the wrong situation, it could spell disaster for your home office electronics.

What is the difference between a surge protector and a multiple?

A multi-outlet provides the ability to power multiple devices from a single wall outlet and turn multiple attached devices off and on simultaneously. A surge protector is a special type of multiple that is specifically designed to withstand a surge and keep all your electronic devices connected to it safe.

This article covers the pros and cons of power strips and surge protectors and how you would use each in different scenarios.

By the way, before I get too far here, if you want to connect with other homeowners, DIYers, and builders and get more great ideas for your home to make your space the best, join my group free facebook private, Reshape Reality here.

What is the difference between a power outlet and a surge protector?

They may look the same, but a power outlet and a surge protector are very different devices.

The main differences between power outlets and surge protectors are size, price, and features.

Most power strips are small enough to fit into any standard electrical outlet, but do not offer surge protection,

On the other hand, surge protectors provide protection against power spikes, which is vital to keeping your valuable electronic equipment safe.

Power outlets usually look the same and can fit various different outlet configurations and layouts, as can surge protectors.

Both power outlets and surge protectors are easy to install and use, whether you are mounting them on the bottom of a standing deskto a workbench or a wall.

Additionally, both offer additional features such as USB charging ports, master power switches, and more.

Some of the newer versions are «smart» and will automatically turn off the electricity to devices that don’t need power when they are powered up and can really help reduce power consumption.

What is a power outlet?

Multipla is a handy device that allows you to connect several electrical appliances at once.

In most situations, wall outlets will only have two outlets to power your devices, whether they are in your home office or a regular office or elsewhere.

This is just one of the reasons why power strips are a fantastic solution for connecting multiple devices to that single outlet.

A sockets into a standard wall socket and also has a number of sockets for connecting various household items.

The best way to think of a power outlet is to think of it as an extension cord with multiple outlets available to you.

It brings your power to where you are need it with more options.

It could be that you simply don’t have the space where your outlets are, or it could be a scenario where you want to plug in multiple tools in one place.

The main uses for a power outlet

A great example of where you would use a power outlet would be in a garage or on a workbench to provide power to your power tools.

Imagine a scenario where you have a corded drill and a corded table saw, along with a few other corded tools that you use in your space, but you don’t want to go through the trouble of plugging in and unplugging each tool in order. to use it.

Another great option where using one power outlet makes sense is to turn all devices on or off at once. Many power strips have a single master switch that you can use to instantly turn everything connected on, or conversely, turn everything off at once.

The main uses of a multiple is to expand your power needs and connect more devices.

This includes powering all your electronics at once, getting extra power in hard-to-reach areas, and you can even get a travel-sized power strip so you have more power options when you travel.

How to select a power outlet

The best way to choose a power strip is to use our guide to choosing a power strip. It will tell you what features you should look for and give you some tips on where to find them.

Overloading a feed lane

If you overload a power strip by plugging in too many things at once, it can cause damage.

to your electronic equipment.

In a typical 120-volt home, a standard outlet can handle up to 1800 watts. If you’ve never used a power strip, the wattage is usually printed somewhere on the box or on the bottom of it.

Connecting too many devices that use too much power can lead to overheating and even an electrical fire. Your device can also overcharge when you plug in the wrong type of device.

For example, stand-alone heaters should never be plugged into a power strip.

Heaters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet as they can handle the higher power demand.

It should also be the ONLY item plugged into that wall outlet. Space heaters can easily overheat a power outlet as well as an extension cord and cause a fire, making it quite dangerous.

What is a surge protector?

A surge protector is a device that protects your home from electrical surges by stopping a dangerous power spike before it reaches your valuable electronic devices. It does this by using capacitors to absorb any excess voltage.

The surge protector works to stop line voltage exceeding a pre-planned, pre-engineered threshold.

It uses a pair of components called MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) which act as a fuse to protect against excessive voltages by interrupting the current and bypassing another circuit.

When power spikes occur in the line, the surge protector suddenly adds resistance through the MOV and drops the voltage to a lower level, which suppresses the surge.

A surge protector is an absolute must-have for your home office since you have so many delicate electronic devices in there!

Also, keep in mind that they don’t last forever, so it’s important to replace them regularly. In most cases, the lifespan of a surge protector is about 3-5 years, but if you live in an area where you are more subject to power fluctuations and outages, like we are here in Tallahassee, you should probably replace them every 2.-3 years to ensure you are protected.

Main uses for a surge protector

Surge protectors come in all shapes and sizes.

They typically fall into three broad categories: standard, surge, and smart.

Standard sockets are simple and cheap; they provide basic surge protection and electricity spikes and look like the power sockets we all know and are familiar with.

Surge protectors for the surge station offer several features and sometimes even include a built-in circuit breaker.

In addition, it will also have options for directly connecting USB devices, protection for your ethernet cable, or to provide protection for your coaxial cable (the big cord that runs through your wall from your cable company), along with with superior voltage protection and power conditioning, but are still easy to use.

Smart surge protectors are more advanced and even allow you to control them remotely using an app.

The great thing about surge protectors is that they are incredibly convenient to get more options for power.

However, many devices will continue to use power even when you are not using them. Things like TVs, printers, and computers can keep your energy bills high, even when they’re turned off because they’re still using power!

Smart surge protectors have the ability to monitor the devices you have connected to them, when they sense a change in power beyond a certain threshold, a sensor will detect if you have turned the device on or off and trip the power accordingly to outlets.

How to select a surge protector

The best way to choose a surge protector is to know what you need to connect it to, where it will be located or mounted, and then compare it to the manufacturer’s rating.

First, figure out what you’re going to connect to it. Some chargers come with large transformers that hide the linearly aligned plugs, taking away opportunities to connect additional items. Surge protectors they come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit those Awkwardly shaped and sized chargers, so the first thing you need to know is what you need to connect to the tape.

The size and shape of the surge protector will be dictated by the space you plan to use it.

For example, if you plan to mount it on a wall, then you can use a variety of sizes and configurations, such as a strip of two rows of four socketse.g.

If you are mounting the strip to the bottom of the standing desk, then you may prefer a linear surge protector with a a single row of 12 sockets.

Just find a configuration that will work best for you for where you plan to place it.

When it comes to protection, it’s best to read the fine print.

For the simplest protection, you can choose a surge protector with a joule rating of at least 200 to 400.

But if you’re connecting delicate and/or expensive electronic equipment, such as a computer, display monitor, or audio/video equipment, then you should look for something with a joule rating of at least 1000.

A joule level of 2000 or more indicates maximum protection.

You should check for a UL seal, make sure it is a transient overvoltage suppressor.

Power outlets vs. Surge protectors

When does it make sense to use a power outlet versus a surge protector?

Here is a real life example that will illustrate the difference.

On my desk in my home office, one of the items I have is a small mixing sound card that I use for audio controls, to record my podcast, and for the sound of my videos.

Once a few years ago all I had was a power outlet in place and I had a lightning strike nearby that caused a power surge in my house.

That lightning sent a burst of power into my house, some of which did way through the switch and into my office and hit my sound card.

Fortunately, the only thing that was damaged was the transformer used to power the mixing board!

But the transformer that was used for the power was toast.

If I had a surge protector instead of that power outlet it would have saved me all the time and effort I had to go through figuring out what it was and how to find a replacement.

In most home offices these days, you have your computer, a computer monitor, speakers, and other things like wifi routers, mobile devices and their chargers, and all sorts of other things.

They are delicate and power shots can fry those devices.

Is there a cost difference between a surge protector and a power strip?

The great thing is that both power blocks and surge protectors are relatively inexpensive options.

You can get a high quality surge protector for ~$50 from Amazon.

In many cases, a surge protector will be slightly more expensive than a simple outlet, but the difference isn’t that big.

Always check the ratings and reviews of other customers to see what their experience has been so you know you are getting something of high quality.

Can you connect a power outlet to a surge protector?

Yes you can connect a power strip to a surge protectoras long as you do not exceed the rated power of the surge protector.

This can be a convenient way to manage those devices that have large power units, commonly called «wall warts», that come with you. Computer monitoror other electronic devices with large transformers.

However, there may be a downside to this.

By connecting a power outlet to a surge protector, you risk overloading your circuit, which will cause the circuit breaker to trip because it draws too much power.

And at worst, it can even be a fire hazard, so make sure you understand the load capacity of your presses and surge protectors.

What is an electrical surge?

A power surge is a sudden increase in current flow through a circuit. It happens when something causes a large amount of electricity to go through your system at once.

The most common cause of this type of power spike is a lightning strike, but it can also happen from a faulty appliance or device.

How often do power surges happen?

The average home has three outlets – two standard and one high amperage. If you have a lot of devices connected at once, it’s likely that they will all draw power from the same outlet. That means if something goes wrong with that outlet, it could cause damage to all your devices.

Unfortunately, power surges are a common occurrence. The US standard voltage for homes is 120 volts, but in reality the actual voltage can range as high as 169 volts. When power spikes exceed 170 volts, they are considered harmful and can damage your stuff.

What electrical elements are at risk in case of overvoltage?

The most common cause of damage to a surge is a short circuit. If you see smoke coming from the device, unplug it immediately. Additionally, if you notice flashing lights, this could mean that your device has experienced a damaged internal component.

Which is better a power outlet or a surge protector?

The best way to decide whether you should invest in a power outlet or surge protector is to look at what you plan to plug into them.

If you intend to turn on and off several relatively low-tech small appliances, then it makes sense to buy a power strip.

On the other hand, if you plan to connect expensive and sensitive appliances, then buying a surge protector makes more sense.

How to make a difference on packaging

The packaging will tell you what it does and if it has any special features.

The language the manufacturer uses on their package or online listing is important.

You want to look for words like «surge protector» or at least «protection» or «suppression».

It’s common for power outlets and surge protectors to be placed next to each other in retail stores, and they don’t look very different from each other.

As long as you know that you are specifically looking for surge protection, the information provided will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for.

Another alternative – UPS

If you want to protect your desktop or laptop computer from power outages, you may want to look for a uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

Not only does it provide a backup battery in case of a sudden power outage, it also offers surge protection and the ability to connect multiple devices. They give you time to save documents and shut down your computer gracefully if you lose power.
These devices usually come with a USB port so you can charge your phone at the same time in the event of a power outage. However, they aren’t always cheap, but they will give you peace of mind knowing that if your power goes out, you still have time to save important documents to protect against data loss and shut down the power properly.

Some UPS devices will only provide a few minutes of backup power, but this is usually enough to get things back on track while you shut down.

Other more expensive devices offer even more time to charge your devices so you can still access all your important files and documents on your computer.

Next steps

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