Max. power
The highest power consumption of the connected devices that the surge protector can tolerate without consequences (to be more precise, with which it can work indefinitely without overloads, overheating, etc.).
This limitation is due to the fact that the higher the power at the same voltage, the higher the current passing through the equipment (in this case, through the surge protector); and off-design currents can lead to breakdowns and even accidents. And although in order to avoid these consequences, modern filters often provide various types of protection (see above), however, the operation of protection is still an emergency situation that is best avoided. Therefore, it is worth choosing a model according to this parameter in such a way that the maximum filter power is at least not lower than the total power consumption of the load. And it is best to have a margin of 20 – 30% — this will give additional guarantees in case of various deviations in the operation of the connected equipment.
Separately, it is worth highlighting the situations when the filter is planned to be used for the so-called reactive load — electrical appliances that widely use circuits on capacitors and/or inductors, for example, power tools or refrigeration units. The total power consumption of such devices (written in volt-amperes) can be much higher than the active power (which is indicated in watts). The recommended line filter power in such cases is calculated using special...formulas that can be found in the relevant sources.
Wire section
The cross-sectional area of the wire used to connect the filter to the network. The larger the cross-sectional area, the thicker the wire, the more reliable it is and the more current it can pass without overheating. Accordingly, thick wires (
1.5 mm² and
2.5 mm²) are a must for high power devices. At the same time, modern manufacturers, usually, choose the cross-sectional area in such a way as to guarantee the safe operation of the filter at the claimed maximum power (see above). Therefore, in fact, a model with a thicker cable than other similar devices should be chosen if it is supposed to be used in unstable networks in which power surges often occur. If the cross-sectional area seems too small for you (
0.75 mm² or
1 mm²) for the claimed power, there are special formulas that allow you to check the validity of such doubts.
USB A
The number of
USB ports for charging, provided in the design of the surge protector.
Such ports do not perform any other function than powering and charging external devices such as smartphones or tablets. The presence of such connectors in the surge protector can be especially convenient when there is no “230-to-USB” adapter at hand, and there are few USB ports in a computer or laptop and using them for charging is “an unaffordable luxury”.
Charge current
Current value for all USB ports of the device. Allows you to understand how much maximum you can squeeze out of the device, i.e. how much current will be supplied to each port at maximum load. As for the maximum value of the current strength, it cannot be determined by this indicator.
Power output (all ports)
The total power provided by the device when charging through all USB ports simultaneously.
When assessing this parameter, two points should be taken into account. Firstly, when fully loaded, the power of each individual port may be below the maximum possible value. For example, some models with 2 USB ports of 3 A and 2 A (15 W and 10 W), with both ports operating simultaneously, can output only 10 W per each, that is, only 20 W in total (this is the number indicated at this point). Secondly, the power distribution across individual connectors may be different, depending on the current on each port and the supported fast charging technologies; It is best to clarify these nuances using official documentation.
Safety socket cover
The presence
of protective shutters from children in the design of the surge protector.
Such curtains are shutters that cover the current-carrying parts of the outlet and restrict access to foreign objects (most often, curious children try to put such objects into the outlet — hence the name). The design of the dampers is most often such that they open only under the pressure of the plug, when two contacts press on the curtains at the same time.
Wall mount
Availability
of fastening on a wall in a network filter design. Such fastening most often has the form of a characteristic eyelet (loops), designed to be put on a nail driven into the wall or other similar detail. And the installation on the wall itself is convenient in that the filter can be quite close to the user, and besides, it does not take up space on the floor (which, among other things, minimizes the risk of stepping on the device, damaging it during cleaning, etc.) .
Protection level
The degree of protection of electrical appliances is regulated by the international standard IP (International / Ingress Protection Rating). For power strip outlets, the most commonly used protection standards are IP20 and IP44.
Only ordinary household models do not have protection. Devices in the IP20 category have basic protection against dust, but they are not protected against moisture. Sockets rated IP44 and above are capable of withstanding both dust and moisture. Models of this class can be safely used in bathrooms and other rooms with a high level of humidity.
