To further demonstrate the importance of using a surge protector, Johnson subjected a (very old) Dell LCD monitor to a 5,000-volt surge, both with and without protection. Tripp Lite’s Protect It 3-Outlet SK30USB has an auto-shutoff feature and offers almost as much surge protection as full-size models. Every home theater should have a great surge protector. BRING THE CONCERT HOME. This is the gear we’ve found that makes working from home easy and productive. In testing, this surge protector was one of the best at preventing extra voltage from reaching its outlets. I … Unlike the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet, the P12U2 has two USB ports. Its designed to mount behind your electronic equipment and fits most standard single gang plastic or metal boxes. In 2016 and 2017, Johnson dissected each surge protector to assess the components inside. Its 6-foot cord is thick, flexible, and durable, and its outlets are spaced generously around the top of the unit, giving you full access to all of them. Our top picks will protect most equipment in most cases. The Furman Power Station 8 (PST-8) offers the strongest surge protection of the dozens of models we’ve tested, besting even high-end series mode surge protectors that cost hundreds more. Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. A surge protector does much more than supply extra outlets. But it’s one of the most expensive and least protective options we’ve tested, and it’s not UL or ETL listed. Browse Power Sequencers . They also performed well, letting through only about 290 volts apiece in our testing. Many cheap models continue to pass power to their outlets even after the protection is long gone. We tested the Furman PST-2+6, P3 Kill-A-Watt PS-10, SurgeX SA-15, Tripp Lite Isobar (HT10DBS), and ZeroSurge 2R15W in previous years, but they don’t offer the same combination of surge protection, cord length, and number of outlets as the Furman PST-8. I bought one for my home theater and another for my network rack. Highly recommended!!!!! It offers two USB ports and six AC outlets in a round package that’s smaller than a dinner plate. It’s compact enough to slide under a bed or entertainment center, and a set of holes on the back gives you the option to mount it on a baseboard. I also have my Bose Soundbar, DirecTV genie and PlayStation plugged into it. We’ve spent more than 150 hours researching and testing surge protectors, and we’re confident that the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet Surge Protector offers the best combination of protection and outlet quantity at a reasonable price. The Panamax MR4300 MR4300 which is also known as Panamax MR4300 MR4300 9-Outlet Home Theater Power Management with Surge Protection and Power Conditioning is another great product by Panamax to safeguard your valuable electronic equipment. Works as intended. It works great and has saved my electronics numerous times. That’s the safest way to be sure that your surge protector is actually protecting your electronics. In case of an undervoltage … I purchased my first Panamax in 2015 and it still works great. Two AC receptacles provide power protection for your connected components. In addition to three AC ports on its front-facing side, the SK30USB has two 2.1-amp USB ports. Most people don’t need this degree of protection, but the Furman Power Station 8 (PST-8) offers the strongest surge protection of the dozens of models we’ve tested, besting even high-end series mode surge protectors that cost hundreds more. Panamax warrants to the purchaser of any standard Panamax surge protector that the surge protector shall be free of defects in design, material, or workmanship, and Panamax will repair or replace any defective unit. Lastly, its three-year warranty (no registration needed, but valid only if you buy from an authorized seller) is one of the shortest we’ve seen, which is disappointing since we expect its surge protection capabilities to last much longer than those of less-expensive models. Given how effective the setup was at swallowing our test surges, we have every reason to believe that the PST-8 will provide more protection for longer than standard surge protectors in the under-$50 price range. The P12U2’s auto-shutoff feature—the thing that prevents it from delivering power to your electronics after it has lost the ability to protect them—kicks in only when the main (L-N) leg wears out. I hooked up 2 powered subwoofers, an AVR, a TV, Apple 4K TV and AC Infinity cooling fan with this. The Power Air is sleek and compact, with a flattish shape that makes it easy to slide under an end table. 9 Outlet Power Management, specifically designed and engineered to provide protection, filtration and power monitoring for your home theater system. It has a critical auto-shutoff feature, more than enough outlets to keep all your gadgets powered, and both coaxial and telephone connectors. The APC SurgeArrest Essential PE4WRU3 and the Tripp Lite Protect It Surge Protector with 4 Rotatable Outlets (SK40RUSBB) are nearly identical: Both have four rotating outlets, which are ideal for large or oddly shaped plugs, and two USB-A ports. The P12U2’s cord is only 6 feet long, but we think in most cases that’s still plenty long. Plus, its extendable USB hub feature is hard to maneuver and not all that useful (it seems like a gimmick), and there’s no option to wall-mount this unit. If our top pick, the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet Surge Protector, is unavailable, get the 12-outlet APC SurgeArrest Performance P12U2. NEW Panamax Powermax 8 DBS+3 PM8DBS3 Satellite System Surge Protector. Like the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet, it comes with a lifetime warranty. Electronics . But since this type of surge protector commonly sits out of reach (behind a couch, desk, or TV stand) and is designed for more heavy-duty usage, we don’t think USB ports are all that important. Although surge protectors can’t do much to protect your property against direct lightning strikes—which are pretty rare, anyway—they can help with the much more common surges that originate inside your home or building. i like it so much, i totally forget its even there, except for the blue light i see emitting from it, but other than that, it works get! Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars with 530 reviews. All over a good buy, especially since we got it half-off. I didn't feel the need to replace it with another high end conditioner but the Panamax works just as well...at a lower price. If you never want to replace your surge protectors again, you can look for high-end series mode or hybrid surge protectors that can last indefinitely. After testing nine more surge protectors, we recommend two new compact options: the Accell Power Air and Tripp Lite SK30USB. $18.50 +$17.79 shipping. With six AC outlets and two 2.4-amp USB ports, the Power Air packs a lot of protection into a compact design. Furman or Panamax or Whole Home Surge protection. In the US, AC power outlets nominally provide electricity at 120 volts, but most electronic devices can handle more thanks to power bricks designed to operate on the 240-volt standard used internationally. Make Offer - Panamax MAX 8 DBS+5 Surge Protector Power Conditioner (Model: M8DBS5) Strip. Panamax is the absolute best in surge protection and noise control. Finally, if you want to protect equipment that could be damaged by a sudden loss of power, a hard disk drive that’s susceptible to data corruption, or critical gear that can’t ever go down (such as a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea), you shouldn’t be looking at a surge protector at all. Product Title GE 6-Outlet Surge Protector, 8ft., Black 1,300J 336 ... Average rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 71 reviews 71 ratings Current Price $13.99 $ 13 . But our top pick remains the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet Surge Protector. I actually had one "dance" on the floor during a terrific charge. He followed that up with five consecutive surges of 5,000 volts and averaged those results. Even though it juts out about an inch from the wall when plugged in, it blends into the background fairly seamlessly. It also safely stops all power once the protection wears out, and it has 12 AC outlets plus coax and phone ports. Like the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet, the P12U2 comes with a limited lifetime warranty to cover any defects. Overview: The Panamax MIW-SURGE-1G is an in-wall, single-gang wall-outlet with surge protection. He recorded the output—lower is better, because it means the surge protector is holding back more power from your devices—for all three legs of wiring. It’s also pretty lightweight and flimsy feeling. The joule rating tells you how much the surge protector can take before it’s worn out, so our top pick is unlikely to last as long as the APC model. works great have all my home theater equipment hooked up to it After taking the protected hit, the display powered on and displayed an image with no problem. Don’t buy generic surge protectors if you care about actual surge protection. The AC and USB ports are pretty tightly spaced, but that’s to be expected on such a small unit. And despite its smaller size, the Power Air was able to suppress the most common surges about as well as most larger models. They come with a lifetime warranty and an … (Unlike Ethernet connections, telephone ports don’t support high-speed internet, so although you can use these to protect a landline telephone, you can’t use them to shield network gear from damage.) This is a great entry level power management system. 3 product ratings - Panamax M8-EX Surge Protector W/ Circuitry Protection PERFECT. It provides all the safety features you need, plenty of outlets, stellar surge protection performance, and noticeably nicer build quality than we’ve seen on other units we’ve tested. The Accell Powramid and Accell Powramid Air are older versions of the Accell Power Air. But I still need a power conditioner for my bedroom system, which is fairly basic. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, no home would ever experience a power surge over 6,000 volts (PDF), and most don’t even come close. The Power Air’s auto-shutoff feature will permanently power down the unit when it has reached the end of its life and is no longer able to suppress surges. But you should replace these subpar options as soon as possible and be thankful that they didn’t catch fire or damage your electronics (PDF). And it’s sturdily built overall, with an aluminum body and a long, 8-foot cord. building. Make Offer - Panamax MAX 5300 Transient High Current Voltage Power Surge Protector … It doesn’t just economize available space, it provides efficient protection against surge and has an energy rating of 3,420 joules. If you want a surge protector for your home theater or office, the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet Surge Protector (TLP1208TELTV) is your best choice. The surge protection components inside wear out a little more with each surge, and there’s virtually no way to know how much protection remains. We bought the cheapest surge protector we could find at a local Walmart (the Hyper Tough 6-Outlet PS682B_B) for a previous round of testing, and it failed spectacularly in pretty much every way. The major exception to this would be direct lightning strikes, but considering that a bolt means upwards of 1 billion volts, no home surge protector is going to save your TV from one of those. When you first plug in a surge protector, make sure that the status lights don’t report any problems. I bought two more for our newer TV’s. Yep, that’s right: Surge protectors don’t last forever. C $56.49. The power management and monitoring function as well as the surge protection make the Panamax MR4300 a much more cost effective investment than most Type 3 surge protection devices. I also like that the blue light can be turned off since it is quite bright when lit. The Latest New Products Must-See Controlling VR … We’ve tested dozens of surge protectors and are confident that the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet Surge Protector (TLP1208TELTV) is the best one to use with typical living room or office equipment. From United States . I also have my Bose Soundbar, DirecTV genie and PlayStation plugged into it. Most estimates put the average lifespan of a surge protector at three to five years. EndersShadow Posts: 17,199. It lacks telephone and coaxial connectors, which might be an inconvenience if you want to hook up your landline phone, dial-up internet, or cable box through your surge protector. Overkill unless you have high-end home theater, office, or media equipment, this unit knocked down surges better than any model we tried, including surge eliminators costing twice as much. And when it comes to build quality, the APC P12U2 is just as good as the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet. That’s why we suggest looking for a surge protector with an auto-shutoff feature, which stops the device from conveying power when the protection wears out. All our electronics are plugged into Panamax units. When we sent 5,000-volt surges of electricity through the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet, it suppressed as much as any MOV-based surge protector we tested. Most protectors have a single grounding light that indicates whether there’s a ground fault. As for look and feel, the SK30USB is made of glossy plastic and has a sleek, streamlined design. If you’re setting up a media center with equipment that requires a coaxial or telephone connection, these extra ports are nice to have. If music matters to you, power up at home with the power products artists use. General assessment. Great power supply!!! Plus, it has a sturdy aluminum body and an 8-foot cord. 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