Consider what surge protectors can do for your home and what exactly you need. mikroman6 via Getty Images
A high Joule rating
Joule ratings indicate how much energy a surge protector can absorb before failing. It's essentially a measure of how much protection each surge protector will offer you. Around 1,000 Joules or more is ideal. Be wary if there are no certifications or Joules/other ratings.
Well-spaced sockets
One of the most important things was having enough outlets to fit the wall wart power adapters that come with most products. These bulky connectors usually take up two or more spaces on normal outlets and power strips. I physically checked each power strip to see if its outlets were sufficiently spaced to fit multiple warts.
Number of outlets
Generally, the next size up from what you’re considering will give you room to grow if you need to add new gear or devices down the road.
Warranties for connected devices
Gaurantees aren't as common as they once were, but this warranty applies in case your gear is destroyed by a power surge. Are you likely to get your money back if your gear gets zapped? Hard to say. Insurance like this is hard to collect on, as some companies will only replace connected gear "at their option." Having this sort of guarantee does give you some peace of mind, however; more than you have without it, and perhaps it will cover you in a way your homeowners or renters insurance doesn't.
Number of surge protector
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