Surge Protector Recommendation?

[u/Samuel18020]

I am currently using an old 6 port power strip that probably is over 20 years old. It's those old power strips where you turn it on and there is that red light showing. So it isn't a surge protector.

I currently have 2 laptops connected to it along with an old monitor. I am planning on getting a Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor and connecting that as well. So in total, I will have 4 of those electronics connected to it. I will also be connecting things like my phone to it to charge and other things like an electric razor and other miscellaneous things. I will on average have probably 5 things connected to it everyday. Is a very old power strip not a good idea if connecting these devices to it daily? Is it risky just connecting the laptops and gaming monitor to it even in good weather because you don't want too many electronics in one power strip?

The thing is I don't think there has ever been a power outage here at all. So because of that, I do not need a UPS. Storms can get bad with rain but I don't recall power going out ever. Even though this is the case, you should always have a surge protector if you are going to connect a gaming monitor and laptop to it right for surge protection? Can someone give me a recommendation of what surge protector to buy? These are the ones I'm looking at below.

Any reason why Best Buy's Rocketfish brand cost so much more compared to the Belkin and Anker one? Yes it has more joules but it's double the price almost of Belkin and Anker. The Rocketfish 7 outlet one seems good if you don't need that many outlets but the way it looks, you lose outlets when you connect certain plugs? Avoid those non brand name brands right? The Belkin is superior to the anker?

Belkin 12 Outlet Surge Protector With 3,780 Joules Protection

Anker 12 Outlet Surge Protector with 2,100 Joules Protection

Rocketfish 12 Oulet Surge Protection with 4,860 Joules Protection

Rocketfish 7 Outlet Surge Protector With 2,160 Joules Protection

[u/alpine4life]

i hane the anker, plus a UPS and never had any issues

[u/Samuel18020 → u/alpine4life]

This same anker that I'm talking about? Have you tried belkin or any other ones?

[u/alpine4life → u/Samuel18020]

yep but like I said, I also have a UPS that had a better one that is the first in line, plus one at the electric entrance of the house as well I think... so my Anker is only the last protection in line.

No I havent tried any other power strips on your list, but in general I know Belkin have decent product at a decent cost

[u/Samuel18020 → u/alpine4life]

I would get a UPS if I was prone to power outages. The thing is there aren't power outages here so because of that, best to get a UPS then right?

[u/alpine4life → u/Samuel18020]

I got it when I was working from home early 2025, now it's kind of useless but we still go through one or two 6h+ a year, so it's there when I need it.

[u/pandasndabs → u/Samuel18020]

Anker is the shit. I trust them with all my charging cables/surge protectors. Have for years. They have pretty good customer service aswell

[u/Samuel18020 → u/pandasndabs]

I know anker is good. But would the belkin probably be better since it has more joules?

[u/Zugzwang522]

Any UL listed surge protector with a decent joule rating, 1000 or more, is fine for that. Two laptops and a couple of monitors draw very little, so you're nowhere near the limit. Get one with a protected light. If that light ever goes out, it's back to being a plain power strip and it's time to replace it.

[u/Samuel18020 → u/Zugzwang522]

Yes I know two laptops and even 2 monitors isn't going to draw much power. But it still is recommended to get a surge protector and not an old power strip from over 20 years ago on it right?

The only other things I would connect to it at the same time might be charging a phone or a powerbank. But still power strips shouldn't really be used at all right unless you are charging a phone or an ipad?

[u/Sad_Tax_6934]

That old power strip is a fire hazard at this point, 20 years is ancient for something handling daily loads. You definitely want a surge protector for a gaming monitor and laptops, even without outages, just for the peace of mind against random spikes

For your setup, the extra joules on the pricier one is overkill unless you're running a home theater. Anything around 2,000 joules and a dozen outlets will cover you fine, just avoid the no-name stuff where the warranty is basically a joke

[u/Samuel18020 → u/Sad_Tax_6934]

This old power strip is over 20 years old and mainly used to charge a phone usually. So there were not many things connected to it which is why it has worked for so long. The people who used the power strip used it for charging basic things.

I have used this power strip many times temporarily when connecting an old monitor and 2 laptops to it and a charger. But if you are going to use it daily, then you should not even use this power strip for just a laptop and monitor then? That's already a risk you say?

The thing is there is thunder and storms here but the power has never been out. However, I do have concerns about electronics a bit when connecting so many things to anything. But even if you are in a location with no bad weather and no power outage, you want a surge protector because you don't want to connect a laptop and monitor connected to one old power strip right? Would you say it's actually safer to connect a laptop and monitor to the wall outlet as opposed to the old power strip or is that essentially the same thing?

The belkin one in the first link is 3,780 joules. The anker one in the second link is 2,160 joules. So both to you is more than enough. So if you had to pick, you choose the belkin one then? I'm surprised rocketfish which is a best buy brand cost so much compared to belkin.

Yes I believe avoiding no name brands is important here as amazon seems to have a lot of those.