Let's start by stipulating that the most effective power protection solution starts with a whole-house surge protector (SPD Type 2) supplemented by plug-in protectors (SPD Type 3) for point-of-use devices. The greatest portion of cost for the whole-house protector is hiring a licensed electrician to install it.
Let me also disclose that I'm not a professional engineer but I have a technical background. I don't have any association with industry vendors or trade groups. I enjoy participating in DIY forums like this one.
For a budget of $40, I recommend the
APC P6N surge protector (link shown below). I like this unit for the following reasons:
- UL1449 3rd edition Voltage Protection Rating (VPR) of 400v for all modes L-N, L-G, N-G. I would be equally satisfied with a VPR of either 400v or 500v.
- Six outlets, two of which have spacing for large plugs.
- Has two indicator lights which are intuitive and easy to understand at quick glance. The green Protection Working light is normally on and shows the device is providing power to the outlets and the thermal fuse is closed indicating that the MOV's are intact. The red Building Wiring Fault light is normally off and only turns on when you have a faulty ground connection. So think ... "green is good and red is bad".
- Has APC "fail safe" feature which disconnects power to the connected devices if the thermal fuse opens and the green Protection Working light goes out. Most other surge protector brands will continue to supply power to the devices without protection, which might be desirable in special cases (e.g., a refrigerator stocked with food) but not for the typical computer setup.
- The outlets are light colored (white). I like this because if there was ever a serious problem that caused overheating/burning with charring of the outlets, it will be visually obvious on a light colored case. You wouldn't even notice such a problem on a black case.
- Has signal protection for Ethernet with RJ45 jacks. You connect the output of your cable modem to the protector, and the protector to your computer. Never insert a surge protector on the cable side of the modem as it will interfere with your signal reliability. In the event you have a destructive cable surge, your modem may be damaged but your computer should be protected. In the case where your modem is damaged, the cable company will probably replace it free. It's also a good idea to check your outside cable junction to confirm that it was properly grounded by the cable installer. (If you were using DSL for your internet service, I would recommend the
APC P7T10 surge protector with RJ11 Telco protection.)
- The joules rating is 1080 joules, but ignore this rating as joules are not regarded as useful for choosing a surge protector despite the marketing. The robustness of this surge protector has met the requirements of UL1449-3 for Nominal Discharge Current of 3KA (or a Duty Cycle test for other brands/models of UL conforming surge protectors).
- Has a $50K equipment protection policy. But good luck collecting on any policy from any surge protector company. You will probably have better luck with your homeowner's insurance or making a claim with your utility. While surge protector companies have a reputation of being difficult on paying claims for protected equipment, they all get positive feedback on replacing a damaged surge protector unit with a new one.
- The AC power cord is only 4' long. The AC plug is a regular straight plug, not a flat right-angle plug. These factors may or may not be an issue for you.
- Price is between $15 - $25 at various online stores.
Here is the link to the mfg product page:
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=P6N