In any case, all quality power supplies, whether internal or external, have some noise filtration built in. We measured the efficacy of this feature in past rounds of testing, but since most models performed similarly in this regard, we haven’t continued to test it. Noise filtering: On the more expensive surge protectors we’ve tested, noise filtration is a common “premium” feature that reduces electromagnetic or radio-frequency interference, which could cause data loss or audio/video disruptions in your connected devices.We considered well-designed clamps, hooks, or holes for mounting the surge protector on a table or baseboard to be a bonus. And we didn’t want something overly heavy or bulky that would look out of place in a room. Sensible port layout and overall design: To keep oversize plugs from blocking nearby outlets, we wanted the surge protector’s ports to be adequately spaced.(We explain in the Care and maintenance section why you shouldn’t plug a surge protector into an extension cord.) This makes it more convenient to use and safer. Long power cord: If a surge protector has a power cord, the longer, the better.Keep in mind that a warranty covers only defects in materials or construction and won’t help you when the surge components wear out as designed-and even a lifetime warranty doesn’t last forever. At least a one-year warranty: A one-year warranty is a bare-minimum requirement for something that you’re trusting to protect equipment costing tens or hundreds of dollars and that you’ll be replacing every few years regardless.We dismissed any nightstand or light-duty contender without at least one USB-A port with 2 amps or more. Convenient auxiliary ports: We preferred (but did not require) our picks to have telephone ports for the significant percentage of people in the US who have a landline phone or a dial-up internet connection-about 37% and 0.6% of the population, respectively.But you never get to see the meter itself, and how long the surge protector will last is just an estimate, so we didn’t put a lot of stock in the rating.
High joule ratings: A joule rating tells you about how much energy the surge protector can absorb before it fails-in a video game, the joule rating would be the health meter-so, the higher the better.Lower is better when it comes to let-through voltage, the measure of how much extra voltage reaches your electronics. A surge protection rating of 400 volts or better: Although we verified each model’s abilities in our own electrical testing, we required that they be rated by one of the major product-safety corporations, UL or ETL, to bring a surge down to (at most) 400 volts, giving preference to models that earned a lower, 330-volt rating.At least eight AC outlets for living room or office use: We required at least eight AC outlets for the main, runner-up, and top-of-the-line contenders, at least four for the nightstand contenders, and one to four for our light-duty pick.Otherwise, we required, at minimum, an indicator light that will notify you when items plugged into the unit are no longer protected against surges. Automatic shutoff when the surge protector wears out: We preferred that the surge protector have an auto-shutoff feature so that it never leaves your equipment inadvertently unprotected.We’d choose the SK30USB for protecting a few small household appliances-say, an essential oil diffuser, a Nintendo Switch dock, and a coffee grinder-and a couple of smartphones, or even for tossing in a carry-on when we’re traveling. In contrast to many comparable models, its compact size, grounded (three-prong) plug, and optional screw in the center of the unit help keep it firmly attached to the wall outlet, which is important for preventing electrical fires or shocks.
It performs well compared with other small options we’ve tested, blocking almost as many volts as larger models.
In addition to the three AC outlets, it comes equipped with two USB ports that offer a combined 2.1 amps to charge a phone, a tablet, or a couple of low-power devices. It has an auto-shutoff mechanism, making it one of the few three-outlet options we’ve found that will disconnect the power when the surge protection wears out. The Tripp Lite Protect It 3-Outlet Surge Protector SK30USB offers the portability of our favorite small power strips for travel but with even more protection.
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