Most of us have expensive electronic equipment at home - televisions, computers and home appliances. All of these are part of our daily lives. Whether we use them for play or work, we have never been more invested in electronic devices that we are today. And the common element in all of these devices is that they need electricity to function. And electricity can be very dangerous and unpredictable.

Things like lightning strikes, power outages, and sudden spikes in the electrical grid can cause expensive damage to that high definition television, or your new laptop. If you want to save money in the long run by protecting your appliances from any electrical damages, and potentially save your home from electrical fires that might start as a result, it acts now and by the surge protector.

Here are the advantages of using a surge protector at home or in your office:

1) A surge protector can protect electrical devices from voltage spikes that might otherwise damage delicate circuitry.

2) A surge protector works as an electrical regulator, making sure that a steady and healthy stream of electricity reaches your devices.

3) Computers are not only kept safe from electrical surges that can damage their circuits, but the data on their hard drives is also safe, ensuring that important documents and records will not be wiped out by electric spikes.

4) Leaving town? Want to unplug all your devices at once? No need to do it individually: surge protectors have a master on/off switch that can shut off all electricity reaching all devices plugged into them.

5) Because it acts as a regulator for electricity, surge protectors can also help keep electrical bills down. And of course they also keep down the bills for any appliances that need to be replaced because of electrical surges!

6) Electrical spikes don't just fry circuits. They can also cause fires in electrical appliances. Thus, surge protectors have the added benefit of protecting other non-electrical things in danger from fire: your home, your family, and you.

There are other bonuses as well. Newer models of surge protectors incorporate various enhancements such as USB drives and connections for telephone lines, fax lines, and ethernet ports. These are devices too that can be damaged by errant spikes and electricity, and should be protected as well. So not only is a surge protector something that can protect your television from short-circuiting, but is also capable of recharging your iPod, too!

If you've spent thousands on a home theater set-up, the latest computer, or a gaggle of kitchen appliances that would make the Iron Chefs swoon with envy, you probably want to think about another $50 or $100 to make sure a power spike doesn't turn your precious possessions into expensive scrap metal. Many higher-end surge protectors come with insurance policies that cover any damage that occurs to your equipment if a power spike somehow does manage to fry that plasma TV (provided the TV is plugged INTO the surge protector, of course). Sometimes these policies cover well over $100,000, depending on the price of the surge protector. Not all carry this warranty, so read the descriptions of what is available when you do purchase a surge protector.