The idea of a surge protector might be a little confusing at first. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. For conference rooms, consider round tabletop surge protectors, which have outlets for multiple staff to charge their devices while seated around the conference table. Thank you, you will now be redirected to comparisons. With that said, a surge protector works in this case too, if youre willing to spend some more money. If you talk to an electrician before renovating your home, they can professionally install different surge protections throughout the house. There are outlets for you to plug your devices in, and typically an on/off switch as well. The distinction is that a surge protector will also protect the devices from a flux in electricity. Putting a surge protector in the right place can save your expensive electronics. Its a long strip with a bunch of outlets in it. Now that you know more about power strips, lets talk about surge protectors. You'll also want to determine whether your power strip or surge protector should sit on the floor, affix to the wall outlet or sit on your desk. It has a cable on one end, and nothing on the other end. Think about how many sensitive electronics are used: a computer, printer, fax machine, and monitor. Another reason to use a power strip is because theyre so easy to turn on and off. Not only will a surge protector keep these expensive devices alive, but theyll also allow you to plug in many devices in a small area. Electrical Vehicle Home Charging Stations, professional emergency electrical contractor. They consist of a flexible cord with a plug on one end attached to a block of sockets that devices plug into. These power strips are commonly used in healthcare environments to power multiple devices in patient rooms, treatment rooms, and administrative areas as well as on mobile workstations and carts. For reference, floor heaters should never be plugged into a power strip. Power surge can happen when a big appliance turns on (like your AC unit or fridge), when lightning strikes, or when an electrical transformer is hit by something. 4369989, Item They have a certain amount of surge that they can protect you from. You can easily find a good power strip or surge protector for less than $30. 950178, Item Not to worry, well tell you all about it. You can think of it like a valve that only kicks on when higher than normal electricity is detected. If you want a professional to help, you can always reach out to us. Datacom surge-protected power strips supply power to multiple devices from one outlet while preventing voltage spikes from damaging sensitive electronics. In addition to simple considerations like cord length and color, look for other features best suited to your home or working environment. A power strip gives you the ability to plug multiple devices into a single wall outlet. 2931616, Item A surge protector is designed to create a protective barrier around the products plugged into the protector. Since these are all expensive items, it shows you how important a power surge really is. If theres a surge, then your expensive TV can get fried and destroyed. A power strip is something you might have seen a thousand times already. 513843, Item If you have sensitive devices that you want to protect from power spikes, a surge protector is the best option. Be sure to review all of our computer and tablet accessories, including extension cords, to find the right equipment and accessories for your home, office or business. Note: Product availability is real-time basis and adjusted continuously. If youre not sure, the wattage is printed somewhere on the power strips box and on the bottom side of the strip itself. 9574855, Item A surge protector is a type of electrical socket that believe it or not protects your device from a surge.They use a specialized circuit that redirects spikes of electricity right into the ground without going through the electrical device. When theres a major surge, electrical appliances and devices can fry, melt, and malfunction. After learning about both of these products, you might wonder what the difference is. Some power strips and surge protectors plug directly into wall outlets, some have just a few outlets, and some have a couple of dozen outlets. Any of these scenarios will temporarily disrupt how much electricity is flowing to the devices around your home. When lightning strikes a power line outside, a lot of your electrical devices are at risk. Surge-protected power strips are portable blocks of electrical sockets that supply power to multiple devices from one outlet and protect the connected devices from damage due to unexpected voltage increases. When you call Rytec, well take a look at your property and give you expert advice. Your outlet doesnt have infinite energy that it has to offer. Have a place to plug everything in and protect it wherever you are - at home, at work or while traveling. Everything you plug into the outlets on the strip will be powered by the outlet it plugs into on the wall. https://www.officedepot.com/images/us/od/refineloading.gif, Item But, surge protectors cost much more than a normal power strip because of the specialized circuit used to protect your electronics. Its almost like comparing a million punches from a kid versus a single punch from a bodybuilder both of them definitely do damage. Knowing where to put a power strip or a surge protector is a big deal. This protection is measured in joules, which is a unit that tells you how much energy is getting through. Maximum amount of digits: 6. For high-powered devices like an AC unit or a fridge, you might even use a commercial-grade surge protector in your home. Keep in mind, power strips can only handle a certain amount of watts. This is where a power strip comes in handy. 151500, Item Proud Partner of Cut Throat Marketing. Something like a lightning strike is considered a major surge. The level of protection that you get is the biggest difference between the two. Hospital and medical surge-protected power strips provide multiple electrical outlets in one block to power devices while protecting them from power spikes. It makes sense when you think about it: all of this power is coming out of a single outlet. Home and office surge-protected power strips provide multiple electrical outlets to power devices from one location while protecting the devices from damage due to voltage increases. Choose from hundreds of options tailored for various uses to find the perfect power strip for your circumstances. You might encounter a power strip in a number of different places. https://officedepotchat-en.custhelp.com/app/chat/BS2_reactive_chat_launch, 20% off your qualifying reg. Surges can vary when it comes to how serious they are. For that reason, its hard to say one is way better than the other. Also called surge suppressors, their plugs and receptacles are specifically designed to help protect patients and staff and comply with regulatory codes, making them suitable for use in both patient-care areas (medical-grade) and nonpatient areas (hospital-grade). Many people think because they look the same, they do the same and a power strip is cheaper so they usually default to that option. Need Help? 950157, Item Click the compare checkbox by 1 to 4 items and click the 'Compare' link again. Things like dishwashers, TVs, computers, and washing machines are all susceptible to a power surge. Additionally, the power delivered from your electric company doesnt always provide a smooth stream of electricity. These outlet strips are typically used to provide additional outlets in areas that don't have enough wall receptacles for the number of devices. Lets talk about them and answer any questions you might have. Sign In to access your account information. 175362, Item It makes it easier to control a handful of electrical devices at the same time. The truth is that your home might go through a dozen small power surges a day. Going through a large surge can irreversibly destroy any of these devices. Without a surge protector, youll need a professional emergency electrical contractor to help you. As you probably figured out by now, there is a lot of overlap between these two items. Many options have a single on/off switch that will kill power to all of the connected devices. You can think of it like an extension cord on steroids. Copyright Rytec Electric 2018 2022. They are portable and can be unplugged and moved to another location as needed. 8709249, Item Small surges and micro surges will also do damage over time. Commercial and industrial surge-protected power strips are portable blocks of electrical sockets that supply power to multiple devices from one outlet while suppressing any excess voltage or line noise. Major surges are less common, and they usually happen during a thunderstorm. You might think these are very similar to power strips, but there are some big differences. A surge protector is typically more expensive than a standard power strip. It often comes with irreversible damage. To take advantage of exclusive offers like these, join Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards now! For example, do you need a power cable with grounded outlets, and if so, how many? 2000-2022 Home Depot. They are suitable for homes, offices, medical facilities, and industrial environments where protection from power spikes is a priority. TLP712B 7-Outlet Surge Suppressor, 12' Cord, Black, Belkin Home/Office Series Surge Protector With 6 Outlets And Rotating Plug, Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip 6 Outlet 2x USB Charging Ports Black - 6 x NEMA 5-15R, 2 x USB - 1875 VA - 990 J - 120 V AC Input, Monster 6-Outlet Surge Protector, 6, Black, 2MNAC0948B0L2, Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip 120V 6 Outlet 8' Cord 990 Joule Flat Plug - 6 x NEMA 5-15R - 1875 VA - 990 J - 120 V AC, 125 V AC Input, GE UltraPro 10-Outlet Surge Protector, 4' Cord, Black, 34462, GE UltraPro 8-Outlet Surge Protector, 4' Cord, Black, 34117, GE UltraPro 8-Outlet Surge Protector, 8', Black, Belkin Home/Office Series Surge Protector, 8 Outlets, Phone Line Protection, 6' Cord, 3390 Joules, Black, Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip 120V 7 Outlet 6ft Cord 1080 Joules - 7 x NEMA 5-15R - 1800 VA - 1080 J - 120 V AC Input - 120 V AC Output, Cordinate 60083 6-Outlet Surge Protector, 2.5', Black. Its a matter of an extra 5 or 10 bucks. If youre looking for a low-cost way to add devices to a single outlet and easily turn them on and off, a power strip will get the job done. A surge protector is a type of power strip which is specifically designed to withstand a power surge and keep your electronics safe. Its not a huge difference, though. This is a bad choice because power surges can destroy your electronics. Your device can also get overloaded if you plug in the wrong kind of device. This promotion is for Rewards members only. 2211226, Item 9996325. Also called a surge suppressor, the surge protector absorbs the excess voltage and diverts it to the ground wire, preventing it from reaching the connected equipment. The cable plugs into an outlet in your wall, and then the strip gives you multiple outlets to power your devices. 583999, Item 8739092, Item This is really important to keep in mind: A power strip offers no additional protection. Also known as surge suppressors, they have a durable metal housing, making them a good choice for areas with high traffic or dirty conditions, such as stores, factories, and warehouses. HomeResidential ServicesCommercial ServicesEmergency ServicesLocationsContactPay Now! Amperage, or amps, measures the rate at which electrical current flows through a circuit or electrical system. That is, as long as you pick the right one. They have a flexible cord at one end that plugs into a wall outlet, and they can be unplugged and moved as needed. Youve probably heard someone talking about a surge protector or a power strip in the past, but youre not positive what the difference is between them. priced purchase, 30% Back in Bonus Rewards on All Ink & Toner, Free next-business-day shipping on qualifying $45 order, Cordinate 4-Outlet 16-Gauge USB Extension Cord With Surge Protection, 10', Black/White, /contentSpecialLinks.do?id=protectionplan&template=blank, https://www.officedepot.com/images/us/od/, /account/v2/editBillingDisplay,/orderhistory/subsManager,/orderhistory/submitReturn,/account/accountSummaryDisplay,/account/loginAccountDisplay,/account/myfiles,/csl/listAll, https://request.eprotect.vantivcnp.com/eProtect/js/payframe-client3.min.js?d=20220802, GE 6-Outlet Surge Protector, 6' Cord, Black, GE 6-Outlet Surge Protector, 10' Cord, White, GE UltraPro 12 Outlet Surge Protector with 2 USB Tether, 8 ft Long Cord, 4320 Joules, Outlet Safety Covers, Black, 11824, GE 6 Outlet Power Strip 2 Pack, 2' Cord, White, 14833, Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip 6 Outlet 6' Cord 360 Joules Black - 6 x NEMA 5-15R - 1875 VA - 360 J - 125 V AC Input - 125 V AC Output, APC Performance SurgeArrest 10-Outlet And 2-USB Surge Protector, 6' Cord, Black, P10U2, GE Pro 7-Outlet Surge Protector, 3' Cord, Black, 33664, Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip 12 Outlets, 2 USB Charging Ports Tel/Modem/Coax - 12 x NEMA 5-15R, 2 x USB - 1800 VA - 4320 J - 120 V AC Input - Phone/Fax/Modem/DSL, Coaxial Cable Line, Tripp Lite Isobar Premium Surge Suppressor, 8-Outlet, 12' Cord, GE UltraPro 10-Outlet Surge Protector, 8' Cord, 41357, Monster 8-Outlet Surge Protector, 6, Black, 2MNAC0949B0L2, Belkin Home/Office Series Surge Protector, 12 Outlets, 10' Cord, 3996 Joules, Phone/Ethernet/Coaxial Protection, Tripp Lite Protect It! Do you need a surge protector that includes spaces for a fax or phone line as well? Look for power strips and surge protectors well-equipped for your computers and electronics as well as your space and environment. Your devices rely on a steady stream at all times. For workshops and other harsh working environments, look for a power strip designed to accommodate more extreme conditions, with added safety features. Standard wall outlets around your home only have two sockets so what happens when you want to plug in three devices? Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. A power strip does nothing besides give you extra sockets to plug into and an easy on/off switch. 348125, Item Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. A surge protector's joule rating determines how much energy it can absorb before it fails. Who doesnt love extra outlets? 7004615, Item They are typically used in office and commercial settings to power computer systems and hardware, modems, fax machines, and phones. A higher number indicates greater protection.