Power strips are handy, but they’re only designed for short-term use with low-power items like your charger, not microwaves ...

which can easily overload a power strip. These devices should be plugged directly into a wall outlet that’s dedicated solely to powering the appliance. Like a conventional electric oven ...

However, with devices in constant need of a boost, charging them all up easily without cluttering your outlets is no small ...

Power strips protect devices at ... They can also help prevent electrical fires by diverting energy that may otherwise overload outlets or devices, which is a common cause of most electrical ...

Far from harmless though, power surge can damage your electrical outlets, fry your appliances and electronics ... Basically, there are two types of surge protectors; power strips and whole-home surge ...

That’s when power strips come in handy ... This type of outlet is designed to cut off power instantly if it detects any electrical imbalance, protecting you from shocks or shorts.