Surge Protector vs. Power Strip

Surge Protector vs. Power Strip 

Although surge protectors look very similar to power strips, the two are different.

 

Power Strips

Power strips act only as an expansion of a wall outlet, allowing more devices to reach power. They typically have a small circuit breaker, but power strips are not designed to protect from powerful surges.

 

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors provide the same features as power strips; they still allow users to plug in multiple electronic devices. But surge protectors reduce the chance of power surges and spikes from damaging your electronics. Point-of-use surge protectors generally cost between $20 and $40, with higher-priced models able to absorb higher surges.