Home > Choosing a PSU > Surge Protector
Published: December 23, 2022
A surge protector, also known as a surge suppressor or surge arrester, is a device that is used to protect electronic equipment from voltage spikes and surges. These sudden increases in voltage can damage or destroy sensitive electronic components, and can also cause data loss or corruption. Surge protectors work by diverting excess voltage away from the protected equipment, either by directing it to the ground or by limiting the voltage to a safe level. They are typically used to protect computers, TVs, audio equipment, and other electronic devices that are sensitive to voltage fluctuations.
Surge protectors come in a variety of forms, such as power strips, wall outlets, and standalone units. They may also be built into power cords or other types of electronic equipment. Some surge protectors have additional features, such as voltage regulation, filtering, or grounding, which can provide additional protection against voltage spikes and other types of electrical interference. It is important to note that surge protectors are not the same as power strips, which simply provide additional outlets for plugging in electronic devices. Surge protectors contain special components that are designed to protect against voltage surges, while power strips do not.
You technically don't need a surge protector for your PC, but it's generally a good idea to use a surge protector for your PC to help protect it from power surges and voltage spikes. Especially if your particular area is prone to power outages, and also especially if you spent a lot of money on a powerful new system for gaming or work. Power surges can damage or destroy your computer's hardware and cause data loss, and a surge protector can help absorb the excess voltage and protect your computer from damage.
Thought not required, in addition to using a surge protector you may want to also consider using a battery backup (also known as an uninterruptible power supply or UPS) to help protect your computer from power outages and brownouts. A UPS can provide temporary power to your computer during a power outage, allowing you to save your work and shut down your computer properly.
When shopping for the best surge protector for your gaming PC and other valuable electronic devices, here are the important features to be aware of:
After a lot of research, the best surge protector I found in terms of quality, reliability and value for money that would be suitable to protect a gaming PC and a bunch of accessories is the Tripp Lite Isobar. It's built sturdy, got a very high joule rating of 3840, and perhaps most importantly, has a very low clamping voltage of 140v.
It costs a little more than other surge protectors, but is of higher quality and higher reliability since most other surge protectors (and literally any cheap one) will have a higher clamping voltage of 400V or 500V. It's also got a lifetime warranty which is the icing on the cake. Note that it comes in different variations with varying amounts of outlets depending on how many peripherals and accessories you want to connect to it.
If you do your own research on the best surge protectors, as I suggest that you do (never just take one person's opinion as definitive), you'll find that the Tripp Lite Isobar is quite universally recommended by those seeking a professional grade unit they can rely on. Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with this one.
Related: The Best Gaming Routers
The retailers I recommend most, for the regions that make up the majority of my readers.
USA:
Amazon US /
BestBuy /
B&H
Canada: Amazon CA
UK: Amazon UK
Australia: Amazon AU /
PLE /
Scorptec
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn a commission on sales made through other store links (Best Buy, B&H, PLE).
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