Guide to Power Strips and Surge Protectors

You have at least one in your house, but are you using it right?

Allie Johnson (@ByAllieJohnson)Home (November 17, 2015)

(Photo: Elena Elisseeva/Shutterstock)

Power strips and surge protectors are a bit of a mystery to some. For instance: What’s the difference? Are all power strips surge protectors? Do you really need a surge protector? What sort of electrical surges are we talking about, anyway? Can you plug as many things as you want into a power strip as long as there’s a spot for the plug?

UL consumer safety director John Drengenberg is juiced to answer your burning questions.

Dear John: What’s the difference between power strips and surge protectors?

People mix up the two because they look exactly the same. I can’t tell you how many people go to a store to buy a surge protector and they come home and find they have a power strip.

The difference is the power strip is just an extension cord with a lot of outlets. That’s all it is. A surge protector has another element inside that, in electrical terms, will “clamp” the surge. That means it will take the surge away from what’s downstream — your computer, your flat-screen TV, your stereo or other electronic product you don’t want damaged.

It’s especially important to use a surge protector if you live in an area that has a lot of electrical storms or in a rural area or in a building that has a lot of large motors, like a large furnace or an elevator, that can send surges down the power line.

Related: 8 Signs You May Have a Problem with Your Electrical Wiring

Dear John: What should I look for when buying a power strip or surge protector?

Make sure the product you buy is UL certified. That’s your one indication the manufacturer has met safety standards, and it could pay off for you down the road. We look at fire hazard, electrical shock hazard and even the personal injury hazard with things like sharp edges.

Also look at the electrical rating — usually given in watts or amps — which tells you how much power you can draw from it. You have to know what you’ll be plugging in so you know you’re not taking more current out of the power strip or surge protector than it’s designed to handle. If you don’t really understand it, talk to the people at the hardware store.

Continued at:  http://www.safebee.com/home/guide-power-strips-and-surge-protectors