Surge protectors can help protect your electronics from large spikes in voltage caused by weather events, other appliances, and problems with the power grid. While it’s never a bad idea to use a surge protector with your PC, you can ensure better protection by spending a bit more.
Surge protectors only go so far
Surge protectors come in two forms: plug-in intermediary devices that sit between the wall socket and whatever you want to protect (often integrated into power strips), and whole-home surge protectors that sit between your switch board and the wider grid. They’re all designed to do the same thing: prevent sudden surges in electricity from damaging equipment.
Computers, in particular, are very susceptible to damage from power surges. It’s not just your power supply that’s at risk, either; motherboards, graphics cards, and other components can be ruined in a flash. The same is true of laptops, games consoles, single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, and network devices like routers and NAS storage.
Surge protectors are designed to deal with sudden spikes in voltage, known as surges. Unsurprisingly, they don’t do anything to protect against voltage sags (known as “brownouts”) and swells (known as “overvoltages”). These events either cause lower or higher than normal fluctuations in voltage for a short period of time (think milliseconds to a few seconds).
Though often seen as less dangerous than surges, sags, and swells, they can still cause damage to sensitive electronics like computers, so to guard against them, you’ll need a different kind of device.
- Number of Outlets
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12
- Surge Suppression Rating
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2,100J
Anker’s 12-outlet surge protector not only keeps your traditional devices safe from power surges, but also offers a 20W USB-C port as well as two 2.4A USB-A ports. With up to 2,100 Joule surge protection.
Power conditioners provide better protection
If you want to protect against surges, sags, and swells, you should buy a power conditioner instead. These are more expensive devices that look like large power strips or rack-mounted servers that regulate smaller dips and rises in voltage, adding protection against other forms of “dirty” power.
In addition to enhanced voltage regulation, power conditioners also filter out interference. This is why they’re often desired by hi-fi enthusiasts and audio professionals since they “clean” up power that can often be heard in amplified circuits.
That’s not going to make a huge difference to your PC, but the added protection will if you happen to live somewhere that encounters frequent fluctuations in voltage. Though a surge protector can cost less than $10, you’re looking at spending around $70 or more on a power conditioner.
Unfortunately, power conditioners still cause your computer to turn off when the power goes out completely. While this won’t cause hardware damage, it might cause data loss and drive corruption. Thankfully, there’s another option.
Get an Uninterruptible Power Supply instead
An uninterruptible power supply, commonly known as a UPS, is exactly what it sounds like: a power supply that keeps on providing even when the lights go out. In addition to stopping sudden shutdowns during a power cut, these devices can also protect against voltage surges and regulate smaller changes in voltage, depending on what you go for.
There are a few different types of UPS to choose from. The most basic is known as a standby UPS. These pass standard (surge-protected) AC power through to your computer until a problem is detected, at which point the UPS switches over to battery power in a matter of milliseconds to avoid any sudden shutdowns. Though you might get surge protection, you’ll get little in terms of power conditioning.
A line-interactive UPS is a more advanced type of UPS that still passes AC power through to your computer, but also protects against sags, swells, and surges. They also switch over to a battery backup when a problem is detected, and they strike a good balance between cost and protection.
For the best protection, pick an online UPS, also known as a “double conversion UPS.” These are more sophisticated devices that convert incoming AC power to DC, store it within a battery, and then pass it back to AC power using an inverter before it hits your PC. At no point is a switch-over needed, because the UPS is always running from a battery.
A double conversion UPS provides the best protection, while costing more money. For decent protection, a line interactive UPS for desktop computers does a great job for as little as $100 (though expect to pay more for higher power outputs). For double conversion models, expect to pay around $400 and up.
Don’t expect a UPS to keep your computer powered up for long. They’re designed to buy you a little time to safely finish what you’re doing and shut down your computer. If you want to keep going, you’ll need something with more juice, like a portable power station.
The Best Portable Power Stations of 2024
Bring a little power into your life with one of these best portable power stations.
A surge protector is better than nothing, but they don’t last forever. It’s very possible that your old surge protector isn’t doing anything and needs replacing.
