Do you need a surge protector for charging your phone? If so, you may be wondering if it’s a good idea to buy one. There are a few things to consider before making the decision. First, is the surge protector necessary for your specific phone? If not, what other devices do you have that need to be charged simultaneously and will likely require more power than a standard phone charger can provide, such as an Xbox or Playstation? If the answer is yes, then it’s worth considering whether or not the surge protector will work with your current outlet. Many surge protectors come with adapters that allow them to work with both American and European outlets. However, if you’re only using an American outlet, then you may not need the adapter and just buy the Surge Protector itself. Another thing to consider is how much power your phone battery can handle. A standard phone charger can provide up to 3 amps of power which is enough for most devices but some high-end devices like Apple products can require up to 5 amps of power. If your phone battery can’t handle that much power from a standard charger, then it might not be worth buying a surge protector for it. Finally, make sure that the surge protector you choose has enough protection against surges and lightning strikes. Some protectors are designed specifically for phones and don’t include other devices such as Xbox or Playstation as part of their protection; however, others have built-in protections against surges and lightning strikes but don’t include phones specifically. Make sure to read reviews before purchasing so that you know what type of protection the Surge Protector has in addition to whether or not it works with your specific device!
A Surge Protector Provides a Decent Defense
Your smartphone or any USB chargeable device may be at risk of surge damage unless it is adequately protected. Adding a surge protector to your power chain certainly can’t hurt, especially one that is built into a power bank that can protect multiple devices
There are plenty of examples of smartphones and tablets being damaged by power surges on the internet, and there are even portable “travel” surge protectors you can use to protect your devices while you’re on the move like this Belkin Wall Mount Surge Protector with three AC ports and two USB ports.
It’s not a good idea to plug one surge protector into another, since this may interfere with the surge protection abilities of each device. You also won’t be adding any more protection beyond redundancy (the surge protector with the lowest voltage threshold will do most of the work, with the second providing redundancy).
You Don’t “Need” A Surge Protector
You don’t need a surge protector in the same way that you don’t need device backups or a case for your smartphone. Most people still choose to back up their devices and protect against physical damage, since these things provide added peace of mind.
The same is true of a surge protector, with the caveat that where you live can change the odds of a power surge by a fair amount. If you get a lot of electrical storms, lightning may cause a devastating power surge that can knock your whole house out. At the same time, malfunctioning electrical equipment on the grid can put anyone at risk of a surge that can do serious damage to unprotected devices.
If you’re concerned about power surges, a whole home surge protector like the Siemens FS140 will protect everything plugged into any outlet in your house for only a few hundred dollars. If you can’t install such a device on the mains, cheaper power strip surge protectors can still save your devices.
The fact remains that power surge events can be extremely rare. Many have never experienced one, while others have lost whole homes’ worth of expensive electrical gear, from fridges and computers to their smartphones and tablets.
Unplug During Storms, Too
If you don’t have a surge protector (and even if you do and you’re short on outlets), you can still take the simple step of not plugging your devices into the wall during a potential surge event.
The most common of these is an electrical storm, so make sure you keep one eye on the weather and maybe invest in a few USB battery banks for emergency charging.
