What if only two power outlets are in your bedroom, and one is hidden behind the bed? This is a common issue faced by most homeowners. When the number of power outlets in your room is insufficient to fulfill your needs, it becomes necessary to rely on power strips. You must charge your mobile and laptop and use the TV, lamp, sewing machine, and other electronics.
Using a power strip is the most convenient option, but people often buy the wrong one. This results in fire hazards, as well as high energy bills. So, to help you avoid such mistakes, here we have listed some useful tips for choosing the right power strip for your home. But before that, it’s necessary to distinguish between a power strip and a surge protector.
Unlike a common belief, surge protectors and power strips offer distinct functions. A power strip is designed with multiple electrical outlets so that you can plug in more electronic devices at a time. It has a long cable that extends the reach of your wall outlet to a few feet. On the other hand, a surge protector is a device used to protect your electronic devices from power surges or spikes. These days, you may also find power strips designed with built-in surge protectors.
Tips To Choose the Right Power Strip
1. Look for Maximum Amp Rating
The amount of electrical current you can draw through your power strip safely depends on the amp rating. The higher the amp rating, the more electrical current you can safely remove. Always look for the maximum amp rating, as it ensures you can safely plug in multiple electronic devices simultaneously. Usually, you’ll find power strips with a rating of around 15A, which are safe for using various electronics. But make sure not to exceed the maximum amp rating of your power strip, as this may lead to electrical damage.
2. Consider Surge Protection
Some power strips come with in-built surge protection, while others do not offer any protection against sudden power spikes. Surge protection is crucial to guard your electronics against power spikes. When looking for surge protectors, you must consider their joules protection capacity. This is because power surges are measured in Joules, a unit of energy. The best devices offer maximum protection from surges– at least 700 joules of protection. If you want a higher level of protection for your costly and delicate electronics, invest in a higher-rated device.
3. Number of Outlets, Length, and Configuration
Depending on your needs, you should consider a few questions. It would help if you thought about how many outlets you want and where this power strip will be plugged in. The power strips are available in numerous different types, and you must choose the one that fits your needs. You will find the number of outlets from 3 to 12. Ensure the strip you purchase has sufficient sockets because daisy-chaining (plugging one strip into another) can be very dangerous. Next, consider how far your power strip will be from the wall outlet. If you will use it a few feet away from your wall outlet, look for a longer cord length of at least 8 feet. In addition to this, you should also consider configurations such as standard, front-facing, rear-facing, side-facing, and end-mounted outlets.
4. Warranty
Nowadays, manufacturers offer a warranty on power strips with built-in surge protection. However, often, these power strip manufacturing companies don’t honor the warranty. This happens when the device is not used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. So, before buying a power strip, look for the warranty and always follow the instructions to use the device safely.