Powering Your Home Office
With the increase in remote work and the consideration of a part of your home as an office, users are now actively seeking solutions to maximize their home office experience. This experience is because our homes could never be visualized as our offices. And now, since they are, we all seem to find it difficult to equip them, at least when starting. So, we thought it wise to help our readers with a handy recommendation on the best power strips to use for their home offices.
Best Office Power Strips
Values | |||||
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Photo | |||||
Lengths | 6, 10 and 20 ft | 5, 6, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ft | 5, 10 and 15 ft | 5 and 10 ft | 6.5, 8, 10 and 15 ft |
AC Power Outlets | 6 (Type B) | 8 (Type B) | 12 (Type B) | 12 (Type B) | 22 (Type B) |
USB (Type A) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
USB (Type C) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
USB Fast Charge | USB C 20 W only when USB A not in use | ||||
Wall Mountable | 2 keyholes | 2 keyholes | 4 keyholes | 2 keyholes | 4 keyholes |
Surge Protection | 800 Joules with LED indicator | 1080 Joules with Switch | 1050 Joules with Switch | 2100 Joules with Switch | 2100 Joules |
Outlet Design | 1 sided | 4 sided | 3 sided | 1 sided | 1 sided |
Max Power Rating | Not given | 1875 W | 1875 W | Not given | 1875 W |
Fire Resistance | No fire resistance rating | Fire resistant PC shell with flame resistance at 1382℉ | Fire resistant PC shell with flame resistance at 1382℉ | Supported, no standard referenced | Fire retardant casing |
Price | Under $16 | Under $20 | Under $30 | Under $40 | Under $60 |
Top Surge Protector Power Strips
Addtam Surge Protector Power Strip
- Pros
- Available in 5, 10 and 15 ft lengths
- Surge protection up to 1050 joules with switch
- 12 AC outlets – Type B
- 2 USB A
- 1 USB C
- Wall mountable
- 3 side design
- Fire-resistance PC shell with flame resistance at 1382℉
- Max Power: 1875W
- Cons
- Being 9” long, it is not compact
- No USB fast charge support
HANYCONY Surge Protector Power Strip
- Pros
- Available in 5, 6, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ft lengths
- Surge protection up to 1080 joules with switch
- 8 AC outlets – Type B
- 2 USB A
- 2 USB C
- Wall mountable
- 4 side design
- Max Power: 1875W
- Fire-resistance PC shell with flame resistance at 1382℉
- Cons
- USB charging provided does not support fast charge
- Comparatively less number of outlets
Anker Surge Protector Power Strip
- Pros
- Available in 5 and 10 ft lengths
- Surge protection up to 2100 joules with switch
- 12 AC outlets – Type B
- 2 USB A
- 1 USB C with 20W fast charging support
- Wall mountable
- Fire-resistance supported, standard not mentioned
- Cons
- Not available in lengths greater than 10 ft
- Not as compact as the others
- Outlets are only on one side in 1-sided design
- USB A outlets do not support fast charging
SUPERDANNY Surge Protector Power Strip
- Pros
- Available in 6.5, 8, 10 and 15 ft lengths
- Surge protection up to 2100 Joules
- 22 AC outlets – Type B
- 5 USB Type A
- A1 USB Type C
- Wall mountable with 4 keyholes
- Fire retardant casing
- Max power rating 1875 W
- Cons
- Outlets are only on one side
- No surge protector switch
- Not in compact form
- USB outlets do not support fast charging
GE Surge Protector Power Strip
- Pros
- Available in 6, 10 and 20 ft lengths
- Surge protection up to 800 Joules
- 6 AC outlets – Type B
- Wall mountable
- Twist to close safety covers for outlets
- Light indicator for surge protection
- Cons
- No USB outlets
- Outlets are only on one side
- No surge protector switch
- Not in compact form
- No fire resistance rating
Following are our recommendations for each specific requirement:
Best Power Strip with USB Charging
Anker Surge Protector Power Strip
Space-Saving Power Strip Solution
HANYCONY Surge Protector Power Strip
Power Strips for High-Wattage Devices
SUPERDANNY Surge Protector Power Strip
Budget-Friendly Power Strip
GE Surge Protector Power Strip
What to Look for in a Power Strip
Power strips come in all shapes and sizes and have various features. Let’s look at some factors to consider before buying one.
Size of the strip
The size of the power strip is vital in case the space available or installation is not enough. Also, most users tend to prefer smaller strips that are compact and can meet their requirements.
Power cord length
The length of the power cord is essential when trying to make an office at home, as the length would define the extent to which the power can be extended.
Number of outlets
Given the copious number of devices we use to carry out our tasks remotely, such as cellphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs, a power cord with multiple outlets is essential.
Surge protection
With so many electronic devices connected to power, having protection against unforeseen surges that can damage the electronics connected is crucial.
Spacing of power outlets
The space between the outlets provided will invariably matter when connecting different-sized plug heads. So, a power strip should have enough plugs while being compact and not waste space.
Types of plugs
The plug type in a power strip is probably the only characteristic that can affect the electronics it supports. Plug types come in all shapes and sizes, depending on where you live. Type B is the standard for North America and Japan. 1
Here is an excellent guide to understanding the types of plugs on IQSdirectory.
USB ports (Type-A and Type-C)
Given how many electronics these days utilize USB ports, it is very beneficial to have dedicated USB ports for power. They not only free up space in terms of outlets but also ensure that extra power adapters are not wasted for drawing power from the strip.
Safety features
A power cord is used with electronics that draw on enormous power. Drawing power means that a hazard in the form of fire or overheating can be expected. Therefore, most strips come with fundamental safety features, such as circuit breakers to stop the current flow in the event of a surge or loss of power. Increasingly, the power strips manufactured are rated against fire safety, too, so they may not cause a fire hazard in the event of failure.
Wall mount
As power strips are necessary to power most appliances in the modern home office, the possibility of mounting them to a wall or desk is valuable. This saves lots of space while decreasing the hazard in case of fire or overheating.
Which Power Strip is Best?
Which power strip is best for you eventually boils down to your individual needs and considerations. Given just how versatile a home office set up can be depending on your job role or skill, the search for the best power strips will lead you to different places and products. We hope this guide covering the best power strips will be of use in your search to enhance your home office experience.
Read more about the other essentials required to set up the ideal home office on Remote Turtle.
To learn about the future of remote work, read our blog.
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