Surge protector: A surge protector with six outlets and a 4-foot cord costs about $15 to $20. A simple outlet adapter surge protector with two plug-ins (and no cord) costs about $10.

As useful as surge protectors are, you might find that one just isn't enough for all the electronics you need to plug in. The solution may seem obvious: plug one surge protector into another to ...

When you plug one surge protector into another, they can exceed this capacity, especially the one closest to the wall outlet, which ends up bearing the brunt of the load.

A good surge protector will have a certification logo from UL, ETL, or another Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), usually on the back side. Sarah Witman/NYT Wirecutter Here are some ...