A Guide to Buying a Power Strip
There are certain things to think about while choosing a power strip.
- How many outlets, including transformer outlets, are required?
Pick a power strip with as many plugs as you need, plus some extra space in case you buy more gadgets down the road. There are power strips with as many as 24 plugs. Don’t forget that the plug for your transformer is bigger than the one for your regular appliance. Fortunately, there are power strips made specifically so that transformer plugs can be used without interfering with other outlets.
2.What kind of plugs and how long of a cord do you need?
Choose a power strip with a chord length that is at least as long as the distance you anticipate placing it from the grounded AC outlet. It is possible to purchase power strips with extension cords as long as 24 feet in length. Standard, right-angle, front-facing, rear-facing, and end-mounted outlet designs are all available on power strips. Although rear-facing outlets are the most common, front-facing outlets and end-mounted outlets are also available for unique requirements.
- What distinguishes a surge protector from a power strip?
Both power strips and surge protectors allow you to plug in and power several electrical devices at once, but only surge protectors shield your electronics against sudden and potentially catastrophic spikes in AC voltage.
- Is it necessary to implement additional safety measures into your application?
Some power strips have robust metal enclosures and 15- or 20-amp circuit breakers to protect against potentially harmful system overload. In the event of a power surge or spike, GFCI models automatically cut power to the outlet to protect the user from electric shock.
- Do you need power strips made for use in hospitals or with medical equipment?
There are special power strips for use in hospitals and other healthcare institutions, both within and outside of patient care areas. When there is no need to plug in diagnostic, therapeutic, or monitoring equipment directly into an electrical line, these outlet strips are a great addition to waiting rooms and resident rooms. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections can be mitigated with the use of a proprietary antimicrobial coating used in healthcare facilities.
- Do you have power strips in your server room or data center?
Yes. Data line protection for serial, network, or phone line connections is available in a number of rack-mount power strips made specifically for use in server racks and other equipment in network environments.
Additional Factors to Think About
Charging Via USB:
Certain power strips feature both AC outlets and USB ports for charging mobile devices like tablets, e-readers, and smartphones. Each USB-A charging port pair supplies sufficient amps of shared power to charge a device without an AC converter, freeing up one outlet for use with an AC power source.
Power output of 20 amps:
Some power strips have a circuit breaker in case they are overloaded by the greater voltage requirements of 20-amp appliances.
GFCI Plug:
To ensure the security of connected devices in hazardous conditions, GFCI plugs have been developed. This function prevents electrical shock in damp or humid conditions.
Antimicrobial Film Coating:
Silver ionic powder coating provides exclusive, proprietary antimicrobial protection that is 99.9% efficient against the growth of bacteria like C. diff and MRSA. This proprietary coating is useful in lowering the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare facilities.
