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You may live where severe weather regularly causes power fluctuations (though a surge protector won't help you in the event of a direct lightning strike), or be on an electrical utility's system that can't provide good, consistent power. Who this is forĪ surge protector offers peace of mind when you're concerned about sudden power spikes that could fry your expensive electronics.
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If you want something on the go with more outlets than the SpikeCube and you are less concerned about surge protection, check out our full travel USB surge protector guide. It covers just one outlet, but has performance comparable to that of the bigger picks squeezed into a pocketable package. Tripp Lite's SpikeCube is perfect for traveling in areas with spotty grids. Even at their lower price, Accell products safely prevent power from passing through when the protection fails-you'll know when it's time to replace it in a few years. Due to the Powramid's small size, Accell used a compact circuit that might not last quite as long, but offers a great deal of protection. The USB ports put out a combined 2.1 amps, enough to charge one smartphone or tablet at high speed or two devices at low speed. It has two USB ports and six outlets that are usable even with larger plugs, all in a comparatively small package. With a total of 12 outlets, the Belkin model includes eight tilting outlets along its sides that allow you to fit all manner of power blocks at myriad angles.įor lighter duty, like under night stands or side tables, the Accell Powramid D080B-015K is the way to go. You might prefer a unit that functions this way if you're plugging in hard drives or other sensitive electronics that you fear might be harmed by a sudden shutdown, but for most people this won't be a concern. But, unlike the Tripp Lite, it still provides power even after the protection ceases being effective, alerting you by the failure of an indicator LED.
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If this Tripp Lite is unavailable, the Belkin PivotPlug is also a capable surge protector and has an excellent design that offers more outlets at a similar price. So long as your devices are energized, you know that surge protection remains in place and have no ambiguity as to when it needs to be replaced. We picked the TLP1008TEL because when its ability to block surges wears out, it cuts the power off entirely. Most surge protectors rely on an easily ignored LED indicator to tell you when they've ceased protecting your gear. And of the units we tested, our top pick is the 10-outlet Tripp Lite TLP1008TEL, because it stops passing power when it's no longer effective at blocking surges. Our extensive research and testing showed that more-expensive units didn't provide enough additional benefit to be worth their higher cost.
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After assessing more than 30 hours of research, and 32 hours of testing by an electrical engineer, we found that most surge protectors that cost just above $20 will provide adequate protection from surges. Just because your old surge protector passes power to your devices doesn't mean it's still actively protecting them-in fact, you probably need a new one. Like lightbulbs, they need to be replaced every few years when they wear out. Republicans courageously explain why they voted aagainst Veterans healthcare ( theonion.Surge protectors don't last forever. "The resulting croquette had a nice golden exterior and a slightly sweet flavor" ( ) » (2 comments) Japan snags Guinness World Record for giant croquette, a 615 lb deep-fried potato and beef monster dipped into 290 gallons of 338F oil by a crane. I want you to know it was me ( ) » (6 comments) Obviously if you win the MegaMillions, the first thing you should do is BUY MORE CARS ( ) » (26 comments) Russo Bros and SS Rajamouli discuss the universal language of PEW PEW PEW ( ew.com ) » (4 comments) I don't want to worry y'all but you might want to avoid touching any dirt in Gulf Coast states any time soon ( ) » (7 comments) not you, that's for sure ( ) » (6 comments) High gas prices shatter record profits for. Title belt? G1 CLIMAX 32: Day 8 starts 4:00 AM ET on, the King of Sports ( ) » (68 comments) We are the virus ( ) » (4 comments)Ĭan ZSJ try not to end Tanahashi's career? Will CHAOS reign over the Bullet Club? Is "The Dragon" next to steal the IWGP U.S.