Any power strip will add additional outlets to the room, but you should really use a surge protector, which won’t allow harmful power surges to burn out your electronic devices or start a house fire.
We’re confident that the Tripp Lite Protect It 12-Outlet Surge Protector TLP1208SAT offers the best combination of protection and outlet quantity at a reasonable price.
Absorbs common household electrical currents before they reach your electronic devices, preventing damage and fires. And you don’t have to wonder if it’s still doing its job, because once its protection wears out, it safely cuts off the power so you know it’s time to get a replacement.
Our choice
The surge protector was among the best at preventing surges. It turns off once the protection is down, and it has 12 AC outlets — plus coaxial and phone ports — but no USB.
If you want a surge protector for your home office or entertainment setup, the Tripp Lite Protect It 12-Outlet Surge Protector TLP1208SAT is your best choice. It has the important auto shut-off feature, more than enough ports to keep all your gadgets powered, and coaxial and phone connectors. But you’ll need a separate wall charger for any USB-powered devices.
This 12-outlet model provides great protection against household surges that come from other equipment in your home or surges from the power company. In addition, it has a large 8-foot cord, which is strong and durable.
Great too
This three-outlet model has an automatic shut-off feature and provides almost as much surge protection as full-sized alternatives. Additionally, it has two USB ports.
The Tripp Lite Protect It 3-Outlet Surge Protector SK30USB offers the portability of our favorite mini power strips for travel, but with more protection. It’s one of the few three-outlet options we’ve found with an automatic shut-off mechanism, and it works well compared to other small options we’ve tested, blocking nearly as many volts as larger models.
Unlike many similar models, its small size, grounded (three-prong) plug, and optional screw in the center of the unit help keep it firmly connected to a wall outlet, which is important for preventing electrical fires or shocks. And since it has two 2.1A USB ports, it’s also useful for charging a phone or tablet (or two low-power devices) wherever outlets are scarce.
Upgrade check
It’s overkill unless you have sophisticated protective equipment, but this unit handles surges better than any other model we’ve tried, including surge removers that cost twice as much.
Our top pick will protect most equipment in most situations. But the Foreman Power Station 8 (PST-8) goes even further, providing the best surge prevention of any model we’ve tested, enough to give owners of expensive electronics peace of mind.
It turned a 5,000 volt surge into just 40 volts, thanks in part to a shut-off circuit that turns off all power when it detects a surge. In fact, the Furman PST-8 allows lower voltages in our tests than high-end series strippers that can cost hundreds more.
