Must Have Checklist: Choosing a Surge Protector

Power surges happen all the time in homes and businesses. Simple daily activities such as starting the dryer or dishwasher, running the garbage disposal, operating the copier, turning on the air conditioner or opening the garage door cause power surges. These small, frequent bursts of electricity can slowly deteriorate the internal circuitry of any device that is plugged in to a power outlet, phone line or cable.

Spikes of electricity, from lightning for example, are rapid and infrequent but much more powerful and destructive to computers, TVs, and other electronic devices.

Surge protectors are designed to prevent damage due to electrical surges and spikes. They act like a sponge, absorbing excess voltage before it reaches devices that are plugged into them. This protection is exceedingly important for valuable electronics and devices that store important data. Devices with microprocessors or "chips", which are used commonly in most electronic devices, are particularly sensitive to voltage fluctuations.

Consider using a surge protector on these electronic devices:

• Computers, laptops and portable hard drives
• Printers, copiers and scanners
• Phones and fax machines
• Scanners
• TVs and surround sound systems
• VCRs, DVRs and DVD players
• Game systems and stereos
• Microwaves, convection ovens and other kitchen appliances
• Medical equipment
• Tools and machinery
• Anything that's recharging

When shopping for surge protectors, compare them for these features:

• UL clamping voltage - The lower the UL clamping voltage, the better protection. Make sure the rating reflects 500 amp test results for household or office use.

• Joules - The higher the joule rating, or MOVs, the more energy a surge protector can absorb before reaching its limit. A higher rating means better protection longer.

• Circuit breaker - When a circuit overloads, a breaker stops the flow of electricity (this is separate from surges and spikes).

• 3- line protection - Surge protectors should include protection for hot, neutral and ground lines.

• Response time - The faster a surge protector can respond, the better.

• Cable / satellite / phone lines / network / DSL - In addition to power outlets, surge protectors come with jacks for cable, satellite, phone lines, networks and DSL. They may include built-in splitters plugging in multiple phone cords.

• Indicator light - Shows the surge protector is on and protecting. Once the surge protector has absorbed its limit of extra power, the light will go out and the unit should be replaced.

• Power shut down protection - When the surge protector reaches its capacity to absorb extra electricity, it will turn off electricity to all of its outlets.

• Alarm - An audio alert that the surge protector is "full" and must be replaced. This is important if power shut down protection is not included and/or the indicator light is out of sight.

• Ground indicator light - shows that the surge protector is properly grounded for safety.

• EMI/RFI - Interference (electromagnetic and radio frequency) can cause "noise" on an electrical line leading to data loss. Wider frequency ranges (kHz to MHz) and greater noise reduction in decibels (dB) is better.

• Multiple chargers - Widely-spaced power outlets in the surge protector allows for multiple chargers to be plugged in at once.

• Child protection - Sliding guards cover unused outlets for safety.

• Cost - Surge protector prices range between $10 and $40, the most common difference being how long they will last before they need to be replaced and manufacturer guarantee.

Keep in Mind

• UPS - Uninterrupted Power Supply devices combine surge protection with battery backup for electronic devices. In the event of a power outage, these devices will keep a computer running long enough to save any data and shut down normally. Cost is usually around $100 - $150.

• A power strip is different than a surge protector - it only provides extra outlets.

• Be sure to plug cable, satellite and phone lines into a surge protector as well. These lines can have power surges and spikes just like electrical wiring.

• Follow manufacturer guarantees carefully, and many will provide free data recovery (which usually costs hundreds of dollars) for a computer hard drive damaged by surges or spikes.


Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality of its JC Penny Coupons, Omaha Steaks Coupons, Bose Coupons, and Bed Bath & Beyond Coupons.