Need three 25' cord surge protectors with minimum 8 outlets each

November 10, 2023 10:40 AM

I need to buy three surge protectors with a minimum of 8 outlets each, 25' cords, and flat-head plugs. I'm ignorant when it comes to judging this kind of stuff and I don't know how to choose among what's available.

(I've read the older questions about surge protectors/extension cords, but they're all over 10 years old save one, and that one is about electric blankets that must be plugged directly into the wall.)

I work from home on a platform that continually drops my connection because my wifi's latency is terrible. We've already tried wifi extenders and a mesh network -- nothing helps, and RCN/Astound is useless.

A techie friend suggested getting tp-link Powerline Network extenders. I've bought them, but they're sized such that one takes up both wall outlets, and you can't plug them into surge protectors.

My whole life is plugged into surge protectors. If I plug in the TP-Link by the modem and rounter, I lose two surge protectors that are currently running my computer/monitors/etc. and my TV/DVD player/etc. So I have to run surge protectors allllll the way along the walls from outlets on the other side of a big room. How do I make good choices for this purchase?

I wouldn't say price isn't a factor, but I can afford to spend ~$200 on a solution.

Also it would be great if they could arrive tomorrow, and if anyone could warn me if I'm courting a fire with this idea, that would be great too.

(Wiring was run in 1999 when the building was gut rehabbed for condos)

posted by tzikeh to Technology (11 answers total)

TrippLite.
posted by zamboni at 10:54 AM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Taking a slightly different direction - can you use a short extension cord like this one? It has two receptacles - one on the back of the plug, and one on a ~1 foot cord. The TP link adapter would plug into the back of the plug, and then you would plug in your existing device into the other end of the cord. It's not a surge protector, just wires, and I wouldn't expect it to affect the ethernet adapter's performance much if at all.
posted by yuwtze at 10:54 AM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: can you use a short extension cord like this one?

No. TP instructions say it must go into the wall directly or it won't work, and my readings on internet back this up.
posted by tzikeh at 10:56 AM on November 10, 2023

I suspect the instructions are overly cautious. I have the netlink version of the same product plugged into the equivalent of this. It works great for us. As long as there is no powerfiltering circuitry and the cord isn't long it should work fine.
posted by being_quiet at 11:12 AM on November 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

If this is a home you own, it might make more sense to simply switch out the single outlets (with two plugs) for doubles (with four plugs). Failing that, it might be better to run a long network cable from the other side of the room (cheap, unobtrusive, no risk of fire) rather than running long power cables.

Alternatively, they also sell Powerline adapters that pass power through.
posted by ssg at 11:14 AM on November 10, 2023

What do you mean "flat-head plugs"? The right angle head that hugs the wall and sends the cord right towards the floor?

Also, might I add that I think a reasonably handy homeowner can install a new outlet provided there is access from above the relevant wall or beneath the relevant wall. If you don't have those skills, but know you can get to the top of the top plate via an attic or near the bottom of the wall via a basement, new outlets is an hour long job for a competent electrician. If they're fishing wires through old plaster walls, it's more than that. The cost would be in the hundred to hundreds of dollar range.
posted by AbelMelveny at 11:17 AM on November 10, 2023

Response by poster: I promise to stop thread-sitting after this, but:

If this is a home you own

It's not.

Failing that, it might be better to run a long network cable from the other side of the room

The other TP link extender is going in another room - the workspace and the modem/router are in two different rooms and have to remain as such - hence the problem in the first place. Otherwise I'd run ethernet directly from computer to modem/router. Running a network cable down and across the hallway and bathroom is not an option.
posted by tzikeh at 11:18 AM on November 10, 2023

Running a network cable down and across the hallway and bathroom is not an option.

Maybe I'm not understanding your situation, but it sounds like you have a network extender plugged in near your computer and now you want to run one or more extension cords from an outlet on the other side of the room to that same computer. My suggestion is that instead of running an extension cord around the room, you plug the network extender into the outlet on the opposite side of the room, run a network cable from there to your computer and keep the computer plugged in as before.
posted by ssg at 11:37 AM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I understand now that you are asking about the outlet near the router, but the same solution applies: put the network adapter on the outlet on the other side of the room, run a long network cable to it (these are cheap and easy to run along the top of baseboards) and continue using the outlet near the router.
posted by ssg at 12:08 PM on November 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: Wow ssg - you just saved me a bunch of money. This is why I always ask MeFi even if I think I know how to solve something.
posted by tzikeh at 12:33 PM on November 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

To add - there are long, flat network cables, easier to camouflage and run. If that's ugly, you could also look at wiremold or equivalent (a cable race). You can attach with 3M command strips to make it non-destructive to your walls.
posted by falcon42 at 1:59 PM on November 10, 2023 [2 favorites]