The most common reason to buy a surge protector is to protect your appliances from power surges. At the same time, many people are looking for a surge protector that saves energy.
Lightning, blackouts, and faulty wiring could cause an increase in the power of your home. In turn, damaging anything connected to the main power. A surge protector blocks the extra power and redirects it to the ground.
Many people prefer a surge protector because it saves on electricity costs. Nowadays, we are keen on reducing our electric bill. This means we are more conscious of our impact on the environment.
One way to overcome both is to reduce vampire power. Vampire power is the electricity our devices drain even when they are idle. Two of the main ways a surge protector reduces energy consumption are by using energy-saving outlets or smart control.
In a hurry? Here’s our best tip:
Just get the CyberPower P705G. It has a great price tag and comes with the right amount of protection against power surges.
Table of Contents
Energy-Saving Surge Protectors
Energy-saving outlets have a master outlet. The master outlet controls the other smaller outlets. Imagine your TV is plugged into a master outlet. You then have other appliances plugged into the energy-saving outlets. If the TV is off, the other appliances don’t receive power.
Imagine how much energy these appliances use. The appliances use up all that energy while no one is home. It’s a waste because no one is using the equipment and this happens every day.
With smart surge protectors, you can control appliances from a smartphone app. Others work by voice activation too. You can set timers for certain devices to turn on or off when you aren’t at home.
We will look at 10 popular surge protectors that have energy-saving features in mind. Aside from the main characteristics of each, we will go over the pros and cons. After reading this article, you will make an informed decision. The following surge protectors have LED indicators, so you know they are working.
Product Comparison Table
This table helps to compare the various products in this review:
| Product Name | Outlets | Energy Saving Outlets | Cord Length | Connected Equipment Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bits Limited LCG-3MVR | 10 | 6 | 4ft heavy duty | None stated |
| TrickleStar 7 | 7 | 4 | 3ft heavy duty | $20 000,00 |
| Globe EnerSaver | 8 | 5 | 4ft | $200 000 |
| Gosund | 3 + 3 USB ports | 3 + 3 USB ports | 5ft | None stated |
| APC P8GT | 8 | 5 | 6ft (1.83m) | $75 000 |
| Bestek Tower | 8 + 6 USB ports | Half of the outlets can be
turned on/off with a button | 6ft (1.83m) heavy duty | None stated |
| POWRUI Outdoor | 4 | 4 | 6 inches (15.4cm), plus 4 inches (10.16cm)
for each individual cord | None stated |
| WiFi Smart Power Strip | 4 + 4 USB ports | 4 + 4 USB ports | 6 ft (1.83m) | None stated |
| Tripp Lite | 12 | 8 | 10ft (3.05m) | $250 000 |
| CyberPower P705G | 7 | 5 | 5ft (1.52m) | $250 000 |
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Bits Limited LCG-3MVR
Key Features:
- 10 outlets, 3 always-on, 1 master, and 6 energy savers
- 4380-joule protection
- EMI/RFI filter
- 2-year warranty
First, the protection features are great on the Bits Limited surge protector because 4380 joules is a high level of protection. It has a clamping voltage of 400v and a response time of less than one nanosecond.
The colored outlets make it easy to see which outlet to use for your appliances. The red outlets are always on, ideal for your WiFi. The blue outlet is the master outlet that control the consumption of the 6 green outlets. 3 of the green outlets and one red outlet got a wide-spaced design. 10 outlets are perfect for home appliances.
The cord is short at 4ft (1.21m) but it is wall mountable in 4 ways. It comes with EMI/RFI 52db noise filtering. This stops interference from electrical waves. Above all, it is UL certified.
Pros:
- Environmentally friendly
- Well-priced
- Durable
- Excellent protection from power surges
Cons:
- 30 seconds boot-up for appliances
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TrickleStar 7
Key Features:
- 7 outlets, 2 always-on, 1 master, and 4 energy savers
- 1080-joule protection
- EMR/RFI filtration
- Ceramic fireproof casing
- 10-year warranty
The joules are low, but they are still above the recommended 1000. It has a higher clamping voltage at 500v. The extra safety features include the fireproof casing and the child protective covers.
There are 7 outlets and one of them is always-on. One of the energy saver outlets gets spread out wider for larger chargers. This surge protector has an adjustable switch. It allows you to control the threshold of the master outlet. You can set the power value at which the master outlet turns on or off to high/medium/low.
It has EMR/RFI filtration and an impressive 10-year warranty. Your warranty includes a $20,000 connected equipment warranty. Unfortunately, the power cord is even shorter at 3ft.
Pros:
- 5-second delay boot-up
- Excellent for PCs
- Great price
- Quality materials
- Effective
- UL certified
Cons:
- Problems with Smart TVs
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Globe EnerSaver
Key features:
- 8 outlets, 2 always-on, 1 master, and 5 energy savers
- 1050-joule protection
- $200,000 connected equipment warranty
- Savings of up to $137 per year
The Globe surge protector may not be as colorful, but it is an excellent value for money. This is the cheapest energy-saving surge protector we’ve looked at. Yet, it doesn’t fall short of protection. It would be nice to see joule protection of higher than 1050. It has a clamping voltage of 500v and a response time of less than 1 nanosecond.
The master outlet can control 5 energy-saving outlets. You will find two always-on outlets. The power cord is 4ft long, which isn’t something we can complain about for the price. It does not state the UL listing.
The connected equipment warranty is rather attractive. If your appliances get damaged, you have cover for up to $200,000. They do not state the length of the warranty
Pros:
- Automatic device booting
- Excellent value for money
- Connected equipment warranty
- Noticeable difference in savings
Cons:
- UL certification unverified
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Gosund Smart Power Strip
Key features:
- 3 energy-saving outlets and 3 energy-saving USB ports
- ETL and FCC certified
- Mobile controllable
- Voice activation enabled
- 2-year warranty
If you were only to look at the price and appearance, you’d likely buy it. It is a nice-looking surge protector. It’s the smallest we’ve reviewed, at 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.2 (9.9 x 9.9 x 3.05cm) inches.
The problem we have is the lack of information on protection. It’s not the first time a company has focused on technology while overlooking the safety aspects. This surge protector is ETL and FCC certified. Even though you don’t know the specifics, you know it has passed safety tests.
You can control the outlets from the Gosund app, IFTTT, Alexa, and Google Home. The three USB ports are controllable altogether. You can control the other outlets together or as individuals. There’s also the ability to set timers to turn devices on or off.
Pros:
- 5ft (1.52m) power cord
- Flame retardant material
- Easy to set up
- Good price
Cons:
- Lack of details on power
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APC P8GT
Key features:
- 8 outlets, 3 always-on, 1 master, and 4 energy savers
- 2160-joule protection
- Phone and fax protection
- Lifetime warranty
- $75000 connected equipment warranty
The APC surge protector has a bit of everything! The combination of 2160 joules and 330 clamping voltage provides plenty of protection. Plus, you also have the option to connect your phone, fax, or modem for added protection. It is ETL certified for peace of mind.
Of the three outlets that are always on, one is widespread for larger chargers. On the side of the unit, there is a switch for you to adjust the threshold of the master outlet from high to low. There is also one wide-spaced energy saver outlet. Finally, we have a nice long 6ft (1.83m) power cord.
It is nice that APC has provided a lifetime warranty, especially as this isn’t at all expense. The $75,000 covers any power surge damage to your appliances.
Pros:
- Great for home and office use
- Innovative outlet control
- Good protection and energy saving
- Value for money
Cons:
- None
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Bestek Power Strip Tower
Key features:
- 8 outlets and 6 USB ports
- 1500-joule protection
- Unique design to save space
- Fireproof materials
You will definitely appreciate the number of outlets here. The tower design means they’re well spread apart. The USB ports are smart charging, so devices can charge at high-speed. For the price, it would be nice to see a higher joule rating but it has a clamping voltage of 500.
The tower has 2 on/off buttons. You can only turn on or off one row of outlets. This can reduce your electricity consumption.
Other things we liked were the safety covers for children. That also means overload protection, over-temperature protection, and over-current protection. Fireproof materials are used to make this unit. It also comes with a 6ft (1.83m) long cable.
Pros:
- Organized and tidy
- Superior design
- One-button off switch
- Fireproof materials
Cons:
- Higher-priced
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POWRUI Outdoor Smart Plug
Key features:
- 4 smart outlets
- 1080-joule protection
- Fireproof and weather resistant
- 12-month replacement
- Voice-activated
We chose this surge protector because of its unique design and the fact that it is safe to use outdoors. The first thing you will notice is the design. There is one short cord and then 4 extended cords with outlets. Even though it’s not a lot of outlets, they are extendable for more distance.
This outdoor surge protector can be voice-controlled using Alexa, Amazon Echo, and Google. If you are inside and want to turn off appliances that are outdoors, you can use your mobile. This, together with setting timers, will make sure it does not leave your appliances on.
This is a great option if you are looking for this design. It is affordable because you also have 330 clamping voltage, fireproof materials, and a weather-resistant unit. It has the right safety features.
Pros:
- Voice-activated
- IP44 Water-resistant rating
- Individual outlet control
- Great for Christmas lights
Cons:
- UL listing not verified
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WiFi Smart Power Strip
Key features:
- 4 Smart outlets plus 4 USB ports
- Wireless control and voice-activated
- ABS + PC fireproof materials
Similar to the Gosund, it’s a good-looking, well-designed surge protector with great modern technology. But once again, we don’t have any information on the levels of protection. We just know that it is CE and FCC certified.
It has 4 outlets that can be controlled individually from the Smart Life app. You can also use Amazon Alexa Echo and Google Home for voice activation. You can set up to 20 timing tasks on each outlet. With 4 extra USB ports, there is plenty of space for your appliances. The USB ports are controlled as one.
The 6ft (1.83m) cord is a good length. It has the right safety features like fireproof materials and a resettable circuit breaker. This Wifi Smart Surge Protector comes at a good price, however, no warranty is stated.
Pros:
- It has 4 mounting keyholes with rubber feet to firmly attach to a wall
- Easy to set up and connect to your phone
- Particularly useful for those who have aquariums that require various timed outlets
Cons:
- We don’t know the joule rating
- The instructions are difficult to read
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Tripp Lite 12 Outlet
Key features:
- 12 outlets, 3 always-on, 1 master, and 8 energy savers
- Outlets for telephone, modem, A/V receivers/ satellite
- 3600-joule protection
- UL listed
- Lifetime warranty
- $250,000 connected equipment warranty
This is ideal for anyone who needs excellent protection and ample energy-saving outlets. Along with the 3600-joule rating, it has a clamping voltage of 330. It also features a response time of less than one second. If by any chance there is a power surge, you get $250,000 worth of cover.
It goes further than protecting your electrical home appliances. You can protect telephone lines and an Ethernet line. The three always-on outlets have a wide-spaced design. Unfortunately, out of the 8 energy-saver outlets, none are widely spread. There is no shortage of outlets.
As if all that wasn’t enough, it comes with a 10ft long power cord and protective covers to keep little fingers out.
Pros:
- Excellent protection
- 8 energy saver outlets
- 2 diagnostic lights plus
- 4 AC power status lights
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- May contain extremely harmful chemicals (read legal disclaimer)
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CyberPower P705G
Key features:
- 7 outlets, 2 always-on, 1 master, 4 energy savers
- 2100-joule protection
- Threshold switch
- EMI/RFI filter
- Lifetime warranty
- $250,000 connected equipment warranty
This is a nice-looking surge protector because the green and black complement each other. On protection, there is a clamping voltage of 400 and a response time of less than 1 nanosecond. It features a 2100-joule rating. It is UL listed and flame resistant. Covers slide back and forward to protect children.
The four energy-saving outlets should be enough for most equipment for a home or office. For the extra saving, the threshold switch lets you choose between high or low. The EMI/RFI filter will protect against interference from other electrical appliances.
Cyberpower’s lifetime warranty guarantees the highest quality, materials, and design. This energy-saving surge protector is a real bargain.
Pros:
- Reduces vampire draw
- Turns off unused wireless appliances
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Weak plastic cover
- Limited space for wide chargers
Wrap-up
Our first pick is for the best budget wireless surge protector. We have chosen the WiFi Smart Power Strip. The cord is long and there are more outlets. We, therefore, prefer it due to its fire-proof materials. But besides that, we hope more producers will start giving more information about protection.
The Bestek and the POWRUI are both excellent for protection and energy saving. But they are specific in their design/use. Bestek is ideal for an office desk to keep things tidy. POWRUI is great for outdoor use and festive decorations.
The Tripp Lite would be our top pick because the price wasn’t enough to put us off. But saving on our electric bill was not enough to risk the potential health issues.
Our winner for the best energy-saving surge protector is the CyberPower P705G. It’s similar to the APC P8GT, however, it’s cheaper at the moment! It has a great price tag and comes with the right amount of protection against power surges. There aren’t as many outlets as the others but 7 is still a lot. It is easy to use and has an impressive lifetime warranty with $250,000 connected equipment.
For more information on Surge Protectors…
Check out some of our other awesome articles:
- Surge Protector for Personal Computers
- Surge Protector for 4K TV
- Surge Protectors for Space Heater
- Surge Protectors for your Home Theater
- Surge Protector For Electric Panel
- Surge Protector vs Power Strip?
When choosing your surge protector, read the instructions and recommendations. Most importantly, products have gotten a bad reviews because people didn’t understand how they worked. They plugged a printer into the master outlet and can’t work out why their computer isn’t on!
And also, if you’re into it, take a look at our other reviews on Surge Protector for Travel Trailers (RVs)
