A surge protector is an appliance that protects against power surges and voltage spikes reaching electrical devices. A power strip is often referred to as a surge protector, but they are not the same thing. However, many power strips have a surge protector built in. A surge protector is considered a standard and important piece of any computer system. They usually retail between $10 and $40.
Important Components
The Importance of Surge Protectors
The most obvious use of a surge protector power strip is to plug multiple components into a single outlet. However, another important purpose is to protect valuable computer equipment from surges in power. High voltage levels (over the standard 120 volts) can damage computer and other electronic equipment. When a power surge occurs, the surge protector diverts the extra electricity into the outlet's grounding wire. Once the added current has been grounded, the voltage level returns to normal, preventing any damage to the computer equipment.
