Utilitech Surge Supressor 0090996 Side Back View
The Utilitech Surge Protector, model 0090996 is a single-outlet device. that can absorb 900 joules of gizmo-hurting surge power, and we review it here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It looks like a wall-wart transformer, as it plugs into any standard household AC plug.
Requires no mounting to the wall or onto the host outlet. You just plug it in.
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.
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.
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.
But hey. What do you expect for a sub-ten dollar spike suppressor?
Constructed in a hard plastic case; not metal.
Does not protect phone, audio, cable TV, or Ethernet lines; just for power line spike protection.
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.
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.
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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