![]() To achieve this, a UPS is basically a giant battery. ![]() But the primary purpose of the uninterruptible power supply is right there in the name: it provides power without interruption, no matter what else is happening to the power system in your home or city. Actually, a UPS might include a basic surge protector with a breaker and ground in the package, as well as multiple power outlets-they’re big, bulky boxes. ![]() RELATED: How to Select an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for Your ComputerĪn uninterruptible power supply is a different beast from a surge protector. $249.37 $316.24 Save 21% UPS: For Saving Your Work (and Time) From Random Power Outages Surge protectors offer an amount of electrical joules for which they are rated to stop, and the higher the better. But in terms of pure protection, what you’re looking for is the joule rating. All that stuff is nice, and could certainly come in handy if you’re planning an elaborate desk or television setup. Surge protectors range from simple to complex, with pricier versions packing in ten or more electrical outlets, plus extra in and out lines for other types of electronic equipment like phone lines, Ethernet cords, USB power, and coaxial cables. ![]() A consumer-grade surge protector has multiple outlets as well, but it also includes a shorting mechanism and a ground line that will physically block excess electrical energy from reaching your devices. This is a dangerous conflation: while a simple power strip might include a cheap circuit breaker (or not), it’s essentially just an extension of your wall power outlet, allowing more electronics to be plugged in at once but offering no significant extra protection. Some people refer to a surge protector as a power strip, because they look more or less identical. Surge Protectors: Simple Protection For Electronics ![]()
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