Surge suppressors, plugin style are plugged into wall outlets to protect equipment from transient overvoltages.  Surge suppressors or surge protection devices (SPD) are devices used to protect equipment from transient overvoltages present on AC power, data, or telephone circuits. Surge suppressors may operate by absorbing the surge (the shunt type suppressor) or by blocking the surge from flowing (the series type suppressor) or by a combination of the two. Shunt type suppressors have a characteristic clamping voltage that is normally chosen to be around the maximum safe operating voltage of the circuit. The performance of surge suppressors is measured by applying a known test surge (such as described by the domestic IEEE 587 standard or the international IEC 61643-1 standard) and measuring the maximum voltage that is let-through to the device to be protected. To prevent equipment damage from both internal and external surges, point-of-use SPDs can be used. The equipment's power plugs (or data lines) can plug directly into the protected outlet.

Surge suppressors, plugin style can be strip or shelf type, rack, wall mount plug-in, or receptacle.  A strip or shelf type surge suppressor employs an integral cable that plugs into existing outlet, it can be a strip to lie on the ground or be mounted on a wall. The SPD can also serve as a monitor shelf.  A rack unit mounts on or in equipment racks.  A wall mount plug-in surge suppressor plugs into existing outlets, without an integral cable.  A receptacle surge suppressor is a retrofit outlet that replaces standard receptacles and allows devices to be plugged directly into them.

Surge suppressors, plugin style are plugged into wall outlets to protect equipment from transient overvoltages.  Surge suppressors or surge protection devices (SPD) are devices used to protect equipment from transient overvoltages present on AC power, data, or telephone circuits. Surge suppressors may operate by absorbing the surge (the shunt type suppressor) or by blocking the surge from flowing (the series type suppressor) or by a combination of the two. Shunt type suppressors have a characteristic clamping voltage that is normally chosen to be around the maximum safe operating voltage of the circuit. The performance of surge suppressors is measured by applying a known test surge (such as described by the domestic IEEE 587 standard or the international IEC 61643-1 standard) and measuring the maximum voltage that is let-through to the device to be protected. To prevent equipment damage from both internal and external surges, point-of-use SPDs can be used. The equipment's power plugs (or data lines) can plug directly into the protected outlet.

Surge suppressors, plugin style can be strip or shelf type, rack, wall mount plug-in, or receptacle.  A strip or shelf type surge suppressor employs an integral cable that plugs into existing outlet, it can be a strip to lie on the ground or be mounted on a wall. The SPD can also serve as a monitor shelf.  A rack unit mounts on or in equipment racks.  A wall mount plug-in surge suppressor plugs into existing outlets, without an integral cable.  A receptacle surge suppressor is a retrofit outlet that replaces standard receptacles and allows devices to be plugged directly into them.

Important outlet parameters to consider when searching for surge suppressors, plugin style include outlet type, number of electrical outlets, number of RJ-type pairs, and number of coaxial connectors.  Outlet choices for surge suppressors, plugin style include electrical outlets, RJ11 / RJ13 / RJ14 phone jacks, RJ41 / RJ45 / RJ48 data jacks, and coaxial cable connectors.  Important AC specifications to consider include maximum surge current, maximum AC rated energy absorption, maximum AC power distribution, and clamping voltage.  The maximum surge current is the maximum current allowed for a single impulse waveform with continuous voltage applied. This level is used to indicate the protection capacity of a particular surge suppressor design, and when specifying a suppressor for a given application. For example, in a high exposure application with very large transients present from lightning, a higher-level surge current capacity would be required.  The rated AC energy absorption is the measurement of a surge protective device's ability to absorb heat energy created by transient surges. Note that the Joule rating is not a part of IEEE or UL Standards.  The maximum AC power distribution is the maximum AC power that the unit can handle.  Clamping voltage is the surge protective device's (SPD) DC clamping voltage is typically much less than its AC clamping voltage for multiple outlet type spuds (Typically <300 for phone, <35 for TV).  DC specifications to consider include rated DC energy absorption and maximum DC power distribution.  Rated DC energy absorption is the measurement of a surge protective device's ability to absorb heat energy created by transient surges. Note that the Joule rating is not a part of IEEE or UL Standards.  The maximum DC power distribution is the maximum DC power that the unit can handle.

UL specifications to consider when searching for surge suppressors, plugin style include UL 1449 L-N rating, UL 1449 N-G rating, UL 1449 L-G rating, UL 1449 L-L rating, UL 497A rating, UL 1459 rating, or UL 452 rating.  Common outlet features for surge suppressors include hospital grade, AC adapter spacing, continuously live outputs.  Performance features to consider include self-diagnostics, status indicators or LEDs, resettable circuit breakers, thermal fusing, audible alarms, sine wave tracking, surge counter, and remote alarm contacts.  An important environmental parameter to consider when specifying surge suppressors, plugin style is the operating temperature.