A surge protector is a device that protects your computer from sudden power surges that could damage this sensitive equipment or adversely affect its lifespan.
Technical specifications
The efficiency of a surge protector depends on several characteristics. The most important of them is the degree of suppression of high-frequency noise arising in the power grid. Such interference is one of the most common threats to the health of a computer, which manifests itself at the moment when any electrical appliances, especially those with high power, are connected to the network. The higher the level of noise suppression the power filter has, the more reliably the computer connected to it is protected.
Another important characteristic is the level of energy absorption. Other things being equal, you should give preference to a surge protector model with a large volume of joules, which it is able to dissipate during a jump in the network.
The service life of a good surge protector can be roughly estimated based on the length of the warranty given on the device. If the manufacturer is confident in the quality of his filter, then the warranty will be large, sometimes even reaching the mark of five years, because in the event of a device failure due to a voltage surge, the goods will be subject to exchange. If the vending model does not have a warranty period of even three years, it is better to look for a more reliable device.
additional characteristics
The number of sockets in the surge protector is the most obvious difference between different models, which is understandable even to the most inexperienced buyer. Before purchasing a filter, you need to decide how many devices you need to connect to it. For the simplest set of computers, three sockets may be enough - for the system unit, monitor and speakers. Additional connectors may be needed if you also use a printer, router or scanner. Having counted all the devices that will be connected through the surge protector, add one to the result - this should be the minimum number of outlets.
Extra sockets in the surge protector will never hurt - you can connect not only a computer, but also other household appliances to them. Therefore, it is better to purchase a filter with a supply of free connectors.
The length of the cord may vary depending on the surge protector model. Usually it is between two and five meters. For a compactly equipped workplace, a cord that is too long can only be a hindrance, however, after relocation or moving, the distance to the power source may increase. In this case, the excess cable length of the surge protector can come in handy.
