Comparison Proove Prism Socket vs Bestek MRJ2402

The length of the cable used to connect the surge protector to the network.

The longer the cable, the farther from the outlet you can install the device. On the other hand, a long cable can be inconvenient over short distances. Models on a coil are deprived of this drawback (see "Type"), this moment is compensated by the actual presence of the coil, but they differ in large dimensions and heavy weight. So when choosing, it is far from always worth chasing the maximum length of the wire.

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.

The maximum current that the surge protector can pass through itself for an unlimited time without the risk of overheating, breakdowns and other troubles.

This parameter is directly related to the maximum power of the filter (see above): power is the current multiplied by the voltage. Thus, for example, for a standard 230 V model with a maximum power of 2200 W, the maximum load will be 10 A. Note that the characteristics of modern filters may not correspond to such calculations — for example, the same 10 A can be claimed for a 2500 W model . However, this is not something extraordinary: the difference in figures may be due to active and reactive power (see "Maximum power"), the characteristics of single-phase filters (without 400 V sockets, see above) can be given both for 230 V, so for 230 V and even 240 V, figures may be rounded for readability, etc.

Anyway, the practical value of the maximum load is the same as the maximum power: it should not be less than the current supplied to the connected electrical appliances (otherwise the protection may trip, or even break). And they use this parameter, along with the maximum power, because in some cases it is easier to evaluate the characteristics of the load (and filter requirements) in terms of current consumption, and not in terms of power.

The presence in the design of the surge protector of a special indicator (usually in the form of a light bulb) that indicates that the device is turned on.

This function provides the presence of at least one common indicator; and on models with switches per outlet (see below), additional indicators can be installed on the outlets. Anyway, such equipment makes working with the surge protector more visual, allowing you to immediately assess the status of the device and avoid some unpleasant situations (for example, imaginary equipment breakdowns — when a “faulty” device does not work just because the filter is not turned on).

The indicator can be installed directly in the switch (general or for each outlet, see the relevant paragraphs for details).

The number of sockets with type F grounding, provided in the design of the mains filter.

In this case, we are talking about full-size European type F sockets with metal ground clamps on both sides at the edges of the socket. The "socket" in this case means a CEE 7/4 ("Schuko") standard plug. Grounding is required for the safe operation of some types of electrical appliances, in particular, washing machines and other machines that work with water, refrigerators, computers, audio equipment, etc. A detailed list can be found in the reference literature. If you plan to connect such devices through the filter, this filter must have sockets with grounding.

Number of USB-A ports for charging included in the power strip design.

These ports don't serve any other function than powering and charging external devices, such as smartphones or tablets. Having such connectors in a power strip can be especially convenient when a "230-to-USB" adapter is not available, and there are few USB ports on a computer or laptop, making their use for charging a "luxury you can't afford."

Number of USB-C ports in the power strip design.

These ports serve no other function than powering and charging external devices, such as smartphones or tablets. Having such connectors in a power strip can be especially convenient when a "230-to-USB" adapter is not available, and there are few USB ports on a computer or laptop, making it a "luxury" to use them for charging.

The current output by a USB connector when a charging gadget is connected to it.

The higher the current, the faster the battery can charge. However, when choosing, note that in order to use a high current strength, the connected device must also support it. Basically there are USB with a current strength of 2.1 A, 2.4 A and 3 A.

It is also worth noting that when using several USB ports at the same time, the current strength is significantly reduced.

The maximum power that a USB port can produce when connecting only one gadget.

Higher power output speeds up the charging process. At the same time, there are a number of nuances associated with this parameter. Firstly, the appropriate power must be supported not only by the port, but also by the gadget being charged - otherwise the speed of the process will be limited by the characteristics of the gadget. Secondly, to take full advantage of the capabilities, you may need to support not only the appropriate charging power, but also a specific fast charging technology. Thirdly, in filters with several charging connectors, the maximum power per device can only be achieved if the other ports are not used.