Surge protector

A surge protector looks like an ordinary power strip but includes internal circuitry, usually a metal oxide varistor, that absorbs a sudden spike in voltage before it reaches whatever is plugged in. A plain power strip without this circuitry only adds extra outlets and offers no protection against a voltage spike at all.

In a home office, a surge protector is worth using for a desktop computer, monitors, and any networking equipment, since a voltage spike, whether from a storm, a grid fluctuation, or another appliance switching on nearby, can damage sensitive electronics that a simple strip would let straight through. Many models also include USB charging ports built into the strip itself.

Surge protection wears out with use and is not permanent, since each absorbed spike uses up some of the internal component's capacity, and a unit that has taken a serious surge may offer little protection afterward even though the outlets still work normally. Many models include an indicator light showing whether the protection circuit is still active, which is worth checking occasionally rather than assuming an old strip is still doing its job.