Surge Protectors and Power Strips: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to powering your electronics, you have a few different options, but which one is best for your needs?

You can use a surge protector or power strip or just plug your devices into the wall outlet. What’s the difference between these three options?

Only using the wall outlet

If you have just a few devices that you need to power, and they’re not going to be on for very long, then you can plug them directly into the wall outlet. This is the most straightforward option. The only downside to this is that your devices could be damaged if there’s a power surge. A power surge is a sudden spike in electricity from outside sources like lightning or downed power lines. It can also come from inside your home if you have large appliances that suddenly turn on and off, like your air conditioner.

Just plugging a device directly into the outlet is fine for most devices, but if you have something that is expensive or sensitive to power surges, then you’ll want to use a surge protector.

Using a power strip

A power strip is a good option if you have several devices you need to power simultaneously. Power strips have multiple outlets, so you can plug in various devices at once. Remember that a power strip does not protect your devices from power surges. All it does is give you more outlets to plug into!

Using a surge protector

A surge protector (as the name implies) is designed to protect your electronics from power surges. Surge protectors have a fuse that will “trip” if there is a power surge. The fuse is designed to allow a certain amount of current through. But if there’s a sudden spike in electricity, the surge protector will “trip” and cut off the power before it can reach your devices. This protects your devices from being damaged by the power surge.

Computers, laptops, TVs, gaming consoles, phones, printers, and refrigerators are fantastic candidates for surge protection.

Did you know it’s possible to get whole-home surge protection from Parker & Sons?

An expert electrician installs these devices and they protect your entire home from power surges.

Now that you know the difference between surge protectors, power strips, and outlets, you can choose the best option for your Phoenix or Tucson home! Just remember, if you have expensive or sensitive electronics, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and use a portable surge protector or a whole-home surge protection system.