What should I look for when buying a surge protector?

A higher joule rating is the best indicator of greater protection. Choose a surge protector with a joule rating at the very least in the 200 to 400 range. Sensitive or costly equipment, such as computers, displays and audio/video equipment, warrants a joule rating of at least 1000.

What is the best joules for a surge protector?

1,000 to 2,000 Joules

If you're trying to protect things like cell phones, basic laptops, printers, routers, and copiers, you'll want a surge protector with a rating between 1,000 and 2,000 joules. This rating is also large enough for your power tools and other building appliances.

Is 1200 joules a good surge protector?

Units with surge protector ratings of 1000 to 2000 joules will provide sufficient protection for power tools and office equipment such as printers, copiers and routers. Consider the highest joule ratings—2000 and above—for home theater components, gaming consoles and any computer that stores important data…

Is more joules better for surge protector?

Surge protectors offer protection in units called joules. Generally, the more joules the better, as this means the device can handle one large surge, or multiple smaller surges, before your gear is in danger. Over time, the parts inside the protector wear down, reducing its effectiveness.

What is the difference in surge protectors?

What Is the Difference Between a Surge Protector and a Power Strip? The difference between a power strip and a surge protector is that a power strip adds extra outlet space while a surge protector defends against possible voltage spikes that could damage your electronics, appliances, or equipment.

Basic Surge Protector Buying Guide

What do joules mean on a surge protector?

A Joule rating tells you how much energy the surge protector can absorb and thus safely protect the equipment plugged in to it. The higher the joule rating, the more robust the surge protector and the longer it will likely protect. Joule ratings are one of the first features you'll see noted on the product box.

How many joules surge protector do I need for computer?

2,000+ joules: Surge suppressors with over 2,000 joules of protection should be considered for your most important, and expensive, devices, such as computers, home theaters, gaming consoles and more.

What joule rating do I need?

A higher number indicates greater protection. Look for a protector that is at least rated at 200 to 400 joules. For better protection, look for a rating of 600 joules or more.

How many joules do you need to protect a TV?

Recommendations. Electronic accessories manufacturer Belkin recommends its 1,411 joule model for most TV sets, or its 2,444 joule unit for projection televisions. ReviewSurgeProtector.com similarly advocates a minimum level of 1,500 joules for TVs.

How many joules is a lightning strike?

With an average bolt of lightning striking from cloud to ground containing roughly one billion (1,000,000,000) joules of energy, that is a lot of power in every lightning bolt!

Is more joules better?

The joule rating is how much energy the surge protector can "absorb" before it sends the remaining energy to your connected devices. In general, the higher the joule rating, the better (it will cost you more).

What does 1500 joules mean?

Joules are measurement of energy. For example, 1500 joules is like leaving a 1500 watt hair dryer on for one second. A surge protector with a joules rating of 3000 for example, will “absorb” energy surges of up to 3000 joules.

Are expensive surge protectors worth it?

Conclusion. In conclusion, both the expensive and cheap surge protectors can bring you certain benefits. However, for the sake of safety, it is highly recommended to purchase an expensive surge protector since it can help you to get damage from lightning or power fluctuations.

Should a router be plugged into a surge protector?

It is definitely a good idea to plug into a surge protector for your TV, computers, streaming and gaming devices, and any other high-value electronics. The ethernet surge protector looks like a phone jack box and will do the same for the ethernet cable that must also run to your router.

Are APC surge protectors good?

The best surge protector or best power strip in our opinion is the APC Performance SurgeArrest 12, model P12U2. The unit offers 4,320 joules of protection, along with 12 electrical plugs and two USB ports. The surge protector is relatively slim and compact, making it an easy fit behind media consoles or televisions.

Does Smart TV need surge protector?

You don't need a surge protector for your desk lamp or your standing fan, but you do want a surge protector for expensive devices that have intricate microprocessors, like computers, televisions, stereo systems, and media centers. In short, anything electronic and expensive benefits from a surge protector.

Can a TV be plugged into a surge protector?

Do you have your PC, television, or other expensive electronics plugged directly into a power outlet? You shouldn't. You should plug your gadgets into a surge protector, which isn't necessarily the same thing as a power strip.

How many joules are in a watt?

Power in general is defined as energy over time. Watts are defined as 1 Watt = 1 Joule per second (1W = 1 J/s) which means that 1 kW = 1000 J/s.

What size whole house surge protector do I need?

The recommended minimum protection from a whole-house system is 40,000 amps, though many are much higher. A lightning strike is usually around 30,000 amps.

How many watts can a surge protector handle?

Overloading a Power Strip

In a typical 120V home, a standard power strip can handle up to 1800 watts (the same as the wall outlet).

How long do surge protectors last?

Yep, that's right: Surge protectors don't last forever. Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. And if your home is subject to frequent brownouts or blackouts, you might want to replace your surge protectors as often as every two years.

Is 2500 joules enough for a surge protector?

Small electronics (like lamps, radios, and battery chargers) are fine with joule ratings under 1000. But for computer or home theater equipment, you'll definitely want to consider surge protectors with joule ratings of 2500 or more.

Do I need a surge protector for my laptop?

Using surge protectors is highly recommended for your laptop. A power surge could easily damage your laptop because it's filled with voltage-sensitive parts. Laptops aren't designed to withstand violent power surges. Although they may survive for a while, a surge protector will extend their lifespan.

Do I need a surge protector for my washing machine?

A general rule of thumb is to not use surge protectors for high-powered appliances such as your washing machine. It's also advised to not connect multiple surge protectors together. It may seem like a handy way to get more outlets but all it is, is an electrical fire hazard.