With the number of electronic devices needing continuous power or frequent charging in any given household, it's likely you've looked for options to expand your home's outlet capacity. But not all power strips are created equal, and you don't want to settle for something that won't protect your devices from power surges. So what is a surge protector, and when do you need one? How does a surge protector work? A surge protector is an extension of your wall outlet: it has a single power cord but several (or many) outlets, so you can have a bunch of things plugged in at once. In addition, it offers built-in protection against power surges—that is, higher-than-normal flows of electricity—that can damage your devices. Power surges anything from overloaded circuits and faulty wiring to lightning strikes and power outages. These spikes subside almost instantly, but they can destroy your electronics or shorten their lifespan significantly in less than a second, so there's no reason not to invest in a surge protector. A surge protector's level of protection is noted by a joule rating, which tells you the maximum voltage it can handle in a power spike before your electronics are at risk. While this is an initial estimate, the level of protection will decrease over time, and the strip will eventually need to be replaced. The difference between a power strip and a surge protectorNote that the terms "surge protector" and "power strip" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing. A power strip is simply a strip of outlets—sometimes with an on/off switch—and plugging into one is no different than plugging directly into the wall. Power strips create more electrical real estate but provide no additional protection. Surge protectors and power strips look alike, but only a surge protector will have a joule rating on the strip or the packaging indicating how much power it can handle, and only a surge protector will protect your devices in the event of a power surge.How to pick a surge protector that will protect your devicesThere are a few details to consider when selecting a surge protector for your devices. First, to ensure you're buying a surge protector, and not a basic power strip. A rating of 1,000 joules is probably fine for lamps and kitchen appliances, but you should go with 1,000–2,000 joules for routers and power tools and 2,000 joules or higher for computing, gaming, and home theater devices. The next decision you need to make is how many outlets you need—and then get more than that. You can find surge protectors with a dozen or more AC outlets, and while you may not require that much space right now, go for at least six so you don't have to upgrade for a while. You'll also want to consider the spacing and orientation of the outlets (or the ability to rotate them) to allow for bulkier plugs, extras like USB ports, the length of cord, and features like auto-shutoff. , A surge protector limits the voltage supplied to the electrical devices to a certain threshold by short-circuiting current to ground or absorbing the spike when a transient occurs, thus avoiding damage to the devices connected to it., Surge protectors expand your outlet capacity and keep devices safe from power surges. Here's how they work, and when to use one..