Individual switches
Kill one device without unplugging the rest, and stop standby draw at the source. Lit switches show what's live at a glance.
SHOP SWITCHED STRIPSPower Strip Buying Guide
Buy it like an engineer.
Most listings throw numbers at you with no context. This guide decodes every spec โ then matches a strip to what you're actually plugging in.
CH 01
THE SPECS THAT MATTER
Eight numbers worth checking.
Every legitimate power strip publishes these. If a listing hides one, that's an answer too.
Surge energy
measured in JOULES (J)
How much surge energy the strip can absorb over its life before it stops protecting. Think of it as a fuel tank for spikes.
Look for 1000J+ for small electronics, 2000โ4000J for workstations, AV, and tools.
Amps & watts
15A ยท 1875W max
The total load the strip can carry. A standard outlet is 15A (โ1875W at 125V). Add up your devices and stay under it.
Match the 15A breaker rating; never daisy-chain to exceed it.
Wire gauge
AWG โ lower = thicker
The thickness of the copper. Thicker wire carries current cooler and safer. Bargain strips quietly use thinner wire.
Want 14AWG for a 15A strip; avoid 16AWG or copper-clad aluminum.
Outlets & spacing
count ยท inches apart
Not just how many outlets, but how far apart. Wide spacing fits bulky wall-warts without blocking neighbors.
Look for 1.5โ2.6" spacing if you run lots of AC adapters.
Cord length
6 โ 15 ft
Reach without tension or coiling. Measure the run to the wall before you buy โ too short strains the plug, too long clutters.
Pick the shortest cord that reaches comfortably; mountable strips help.
USB & USB-C PD
watts of Power Delivery
Built-in USB saves adapters. USB-C with Power Delivery (PD) fast-charges phones and tablets at its rated wattage.
Phones are happy at 20โ30W; laptops 45W+ should use their own brick.
Housing
metal vs. plastic
What surrounds live parts. Metal dissipates heat, resists impact, and won't feed a flame the way thin plastic can.
Prefer a metal housing with flame-retardant internals for heavy loads.
Protection features
MOV ยท thermal ยท breaker
The safety hardware: a real MOV for surges, a thermal cutoff for overheating, and a resettable breaker for overloads.
Want a protected-status light and a low clamping voltage (โ330โ400V).
A spec only counts if it's verified. Numbers like joules and clamping voltage are meaningful when the strip is listed to UL 1363 & UL 1449 โ see how certification works โ
CH 02
LOAD CHECK
Will it all fit on one strip?
Tap everything you'd plug in โ and how many. The rule: total draw stays under the 15A / 1875W rating, and under 80% of it for anything running continuously.
Everyday gear
1
1
1
1
1
1
Workstation & play
1
1
1
1
1
1
Heavy draw
1
1
1
TYPICAL DRAWS โ CHECK THE LABEL ON YOUR DEVICE FOR EXACT WATTAGE.
LOAD METER ยท 15A / 1875W
STANDBY
Total connected load
0W
0.0A
of 15A
0%
of rating
1875W
headroom
Tap the devices you’d plug in. We’ll total the draw against a standard 15A / 1875W strip.
Shop the lineโ
CH 03
FEATURES THAT EARN THEIR COST
Six features worth paying for.
Past the safety basics, these are the differences you'll feel every day โ and the ones bargain strips fake or skip.
Mounting hardware
Screw bracket, 3M adhesive, or keyhole โ power off the floor and exactly where you work. Essential for benches and garages.
SHOP MOUNTABLE
USB-C fast charging
Built-in USB-C PD charges phones and tablets without a wall brick โ freeing AC outlets for things that need them.
SHOP USB MODELS
Wide outlet spacing
Bulky adapters block neighboring sockets on cramped strips. Wide spacing means every outlet you paid for stays usable.
SHOP SURGE STRIPS
Cord management
Wrap ears and keepers take up slack instead of leaving it pooled on the floor โ fewer trip hazards, less strain on the plug.
SHOP CORD REELS
Metal housing + breaker
An aluminum-alloy shell shrugs off knocks and heat, and a press-reset breaker turns an overload into a two-second fix.
SHOP HEAVY DUTYCH 04
MATCH IT TO YOUR SETUP
Two questions. Your shortlist.
Q1 โ Where will it live?
Q2 โ What matters most?
YOUR SHORTLIST
Home officeHome office & desk
- Surge energy1000โ2000J
- Outlets6โ8 + USB
- Key featureUSB-C ยท cord wrap
WorkshopWorkshop & garage
- Surge energy2000J+
- Buildmetal ยท 14AWG
- Key featurebreaker ยท mount
AV / rackAV, network & rack
- Surge energy2100โ2800J
- Ratingtrue 20A ยท 2500W
- Key featurerack-mountable
GamingGaming setup
- Surge energy2800J+
- ChargingUSB-C ยท 5V/3.4A
- Key featurebreaker ยท keyhole
GarageGarage & charging wall
- Mountingscrew ยท off floor
- Buildsteel housing
- Key featureUSB-C ยท hanging hole
Mobile powerJob site & moving around
- Reach50 ft retractable
- Build14AWG/3C SJTOW
- Key featurerolls away clean
CH 05
COMPARE THE LINE
Every CRST strip, side by side.
Full-gauge copper โ 14AWG on 15A models, 12AWG on 20A โ and independent certification across the line. What changes is capacity, reach, and features.
| Product | Outlets | USB | Surge | Cord | Mount | Switches | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2ร USB | 1200J | 6 ft | Yes | Lit per-outlet | $36.99 | View | |
 CRST 12-Outlet Metal Power Strip Surge Protector โ 1800J, 2.6" Wide Outlets, MountableBest for ยท Most sockets |
12 | โ | 1800J | 6โ15 ft | Yes | Breaker | $37.99 | View |
 CRST 8-Outlet Mountable Metal Power StripBest for ยท Value + mount |
8 | โ | 2100J | 6 ft | 4-way | Lit master | $26.99 | View |
 10-Outlet Metal Heavy Duty Surge Protector Power Strip, 2800 Joules ProtectionBest for ยท Max protection |
10 | โ | 2800J | 6โ15 ft | Yes | Master | $24.99 | View |
 CRST 12-Outlet Mountable Metal Power StripBest for ยท Bench & rack |
12 | โ | 2100J | 6 ft | Yes | Master + breaker | $37.99 | View |
 CRST 10-Outlet Heavy Duty Metal Power StripBest for ยท Gaming |
10 | A + C | 2800J | 6โ15 ft | Keyhole | Breaker | $32.99 | View |
| 3 (tap) | โ | โ | 50 ft | 180ยฐ swivel | โ | $74.99 | View |
ALL MODELS ยท FULL-GAUGE COPPER (14AWG 15A / 12AWG 20A) ยท ETL/SGS ยท UL1363 (UL1449 ON SURGE MODELS) ยท 18-MO WARRANTY (FREE EXTENSION TO 3-YR ON REGISTRATION)
CH 06
WHAT TO AVOID
Four red flags on a listing.
The bottom of the market competes on price by cutting what you can't see. These tells give it away before you buy.
No certification mark on the unit
A UL/ETL logo in the listing photos means nothing โ the mark must be molded or printed on the strip itself, with a file number you can look up.
"Surge protected" with no joule number
If the listing won't state a joule rating โ or a clamping voltage โ assume there's no real MOV inside. It's a power strip wearing a surge protector's label.
12 outlets for the price of lunch
Copper, breakers, and certified MOVs have a real cost. A rock-bottom price is paid for with thin copper-clad aluminum and untested internals.
No wire gauge listed
Gauge is the cheapest spec to print and the most expensive to honor. Silence on AWG almost always means 16AWG or thinner behind a 15A label.
We cut one of each open so you don't have to โ see the teardown comparison โ
CH 07
BUYER QUESTIONS
Asked before every order.
How many joules do I need in a surge protector? +
For phones, lamps and chargers, 1000โ1200J is plenty. For a computer, TV or AV stack, choose 2000J or more โ higher ratings protect better and last longer, because the MOV inside depletes with every surge it absorbs.
What's the difference between a power strip and a surge protector? +
A power strip only adds outlets. A surge protector adds a joule-rated MOV circuit that clamps voltage spikes before they reach your gear. If a listing has no joule rating, it's not a surge protector โ it's just more sockets.
What does 14AWG mean and why does it matter? +
AWG measures wire thickness โ lower numbers are thicker. A 15A strip should use 14AWG copper, which carries a full load without overheating. Bargain strips quietly substitute 16โ18AWG or copper-clad aluminum, which runs hot under the same load.
Is it safe to plug a power strip into an extension cord? +
Avoid it. Every added link raises resistance and overload risk, and daisy-chaining can exceed the first strip's breaker rating. Plug strips directly into the wall โ if you need reach, buy a strip with a longer cord or a cord reel instead.
How long does a surge protector last? +
Until its joule budget is spent โ every surge it absorbs uses some up. That can be years on a clean circuit or months in a storm-prone area. A protected-status light shows when the MOV is exhausted and the unit should be replaced.
Can I run a space heater on a power strip? +
No. A 1500W heater alone consumes nearly the entire 1875W rating of a 15A strip, and its sustained draw overheats shared connections. Heaters, kettles, and other high-watt appliances should plug directly into a wall outlet.
What certifications should a power strip have? +
Look for a UL or ETL listing mark on the unit itself โ for surge protection specifically, listing to UL 1449. An unlisted joule number is a marketing claim, not a tested rating. CRST displays every certification on the product page, with full certificates available on request.
PUT IT TO WORK
Now you can shop by the numbers.
CRST product pages list these specs in full โ measured and verified. Filter by use case and compare like-for-like.