Picture of the Utilitech Surge Supressor 0090996 Side Back View

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review

The Surge Tap Protector from Utilitech, model 0090996 is a single-outlet device. that can absorb 900 joules of gizmo-hurting surge power, and we review it here.

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Summary

It comes with a $100,000 connected equipment warranty. It’s a light-weight and rugged surge suppressor. It offers a sense of security when applied.  That is, you know that your equipment is safe from power surges from nearby lightning strikes and other surge sources.  The 0090996 also keeps spikes from machines switching on and off out of your stuff.  Even after at least five years, the 0090996 still rides a popularity high.

Picture of the Utilitech Single Outlet Surge Protector, Front View, plugged In and operating.
Utilitech Single Outlet Surge Protector, Front View, Plugged In and Operating.

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Benefits, Pros, Features, and Advantages of the Utilitech Surge Protector 0090996

Cheap to Buy

Priced low at less than $8 per copy, this single outlet surge protector is great for those pinch-hit times.   When you need protection in a hurry, or where you wish to protect a single appliance, call on Utilitech. We use these on our washing machine and microwave ovens.

With even the most rugged appliances nowadays having delicate components, it’s best to protect it all.  This Utilitech surge arrester makes surge protection on everything quite cheap to do.

Protects Anything you can Plug Into It

But use this to add protection to non-surge power strips to guard computers, routers, modems, and external hard drives; when these all plug into the same power strip.  Just plug this surge guard device directly into the wall, and then plug the power strip into it.  It’s an affordable means to add surge suppression to cheaper outlet strips that do not provide it themselves.

Note however that when used like this, no inter-device interference protection occurs.  Noise-generating devices attached to the same power strip may still interfere with each other.  So, to solve this problem, if you have it, use a device isolating sort of power strip.

Connected Equipment Warranty

The $100,000 connected equipment warranty gives peace of mind. How so?  Because it covers connected appliance failure due to surge spikes. If a power surge caused the problem, then Utilitech replaces that appliance, with certain limitations of course.

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Red LED Power Light

This single outlet surge protector sports a red LED pilot lamp to show that the protective circuitry is functioning properly.  It’s bright enough that you can easily tell if you’ve added this protector to your appliance plugs.

Loud Alarm Signal if you Lose Surge Protection

The 0090996 also includes an audible alarm signal, should the protective circuitry stop guarding against voltage spikes.  Thus, it notifies you when it’s time to replace this unit. Plus, you can position the unit out of visual range, since the alarm will sound if a problem occurs.  You can put it behind appliances where the pilot lamp is not visible.  Yet, rest assured that you’ll still hear of problems by the beep sounds.

Electric Noise Filter

This unit includes a 40 DB EMI / RFI filter for frequencies between 100 Khz. to 30 Mhz. This is nice for ham radio operators, who transmit on frequency bands in this range. But also, who want to keep that signal out of  other nearby electronics.

900 Joules of Surge Protection

Diverts up to 900 joules of surge energy, preventing that much surge power from reaching the protected equipment.

The surges can come from lightning or arcing inside other appliances.  Static electricity, dirty switch contacts, et al all make surges.  But this suppressor diverts all of them.  It doesn’t care about where they come from.

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Has No Power Cord to Hassle With

It looks like a wall-wart transformer, as it plugs into any standard household AC plug.

Needs No Mounting

Requires no mounting to the wall or onto the host outlet.  You just plug it in.

1875 Watts Capacity

Can supply up to 15-amps of AC.  We used these on televisions, dryers, refrigerators, and freezers, that draw anywhere from 0.5 to ten amps.  No problems.

Picture of the Utilitech Surge Supressor 0090996 Side Back View
Utilitech Surge Supressor 0090996 Side Back View

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Disadvantages, Cons, Problems, and Limitations

Limited Surges Suppressed

This unit only absorbs 900 joules.  But  when the surge guards considered “best” by leading industry experts, absorb 3000 joules and up. But this protector costs very little. So this low joule count is likely no big deal. Why?  Because should this unit fail, you can pick up another, cheap.

Kind of Big

When plugged into a 2-outlet receptacle, this device can block the other outlet. So, to cut strain on the plug prongs, plug this into the bottom outlet.  That way  the bulky part can hang down, and does not cover the top wall outlet.

Does Not have a Circuit Breaker  

But hey.  What do you expect for a sub-ten dollar spike suppressor?

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Made of Plastic

Constructed in a hard plastic case; not metal.

No Other Lines Protected

Does not protect phone, audio, cable TV, or Ethernet lines; just for power line spike protection.

Can Burn Up

Some customers have reported that certain failures within this power protector can be rather violent and charring.  They report that the alarm may not sound during said failures. Also, the LED lamp, showing protection workin, keeps glowing, even when the unit looks burt.  E.g. When the outlets themselves appear black and damaged.  For situations like this, we prefer these devices encased in thick metal, rather than plastic.

Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review: Our Rating

Given the high degree of practicality of this surge protector, We recommend it for all your delicate electronic devices. This device lives up to its specs.  It is cheap to buy, and is conveniently small. The implied equipment insurance policy is a cheap but reassuring presence in any Internet-connected work space.  Though its a modestly-sized device, the 0090996, in addition to surge protection, also offers RFI filtering.  It’s a great value therefore, and so, we’d rate this surge protector at 95 out of 100 therefore.

Where To Buy

Look for this cheap but effective home surge protector in bigger grocery and electronics stores. It comes in a plastic package with a white, blue, and red label. The Surge Tap Surge Protector itself is white.  Plus, it sports the Utilitech logo in red letters just beneath its three-prong outlet.

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References for this Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996 Review

  1. What is a   Surge Protector?   on Wikipedia
  2. Where to Buy the Surge Tap Protector Utilitech 0090996