Spike Guard Guide: What It Protects, Which to Buy and How to Use It Safely

What is a spike guard?

A spike guard is a portable strip of sockets on a flexible cord, with a switch, that lets several light appliances run from one wall socket; in the strict sense the name also promises protection against brief voltage spikes, and in Indian shops the word is used for almost any multi-socket strip with a switch on it.

Whether people type “spike guard”, “spikeguard” or “spike guard extension board”, at the counter they mean the same object: a moulded box with four or six sockets, one or more switches, and a cord ending in a plug.

That loose naming is where most buying mistakes start: two strips that look alike can be built for different jobs, and neither is meant for a heater or an iron.

Spike guard vs extension board: what is the difference?

An extension board only carries power from a wall socket to a few outlets further away, while a spike guard in the strict sense does that and also contains a protective component meant to absorb or divert brief voltage spikes before they reach plugged-in electronics, though in everyday Indian use the two names overlap. Read the specification, not the label.

Extension board A socket box on a cord, sometimes called a flex box. Our flex boxes are this kind of product. Spike guard A strip sold for electronics, often with a surge component. Same look From outside you often cannot tell them apart. Read the spec A real surge rating is printed as a figure, usually in joules; the word “spike” on the box is not a rating.

What does a spike guard protect against, and what does it not?

A spike guard with a surge component protects plugged-in electronics against short, sharp voltage spikes, such as those caused when heavy loads switch on and off or by disturbances on the supply line, by diverting the excess energy away from the sockets for the tiny fraction of a second the spike lasts. It does not stabilise low or high voltage, keep power on during a cut, or make an overloaded strip safe.

Brief spikes The job it is built for. Sustained high voltage That is a stabiliser’s job. Low voltage Brown-outs pass straight through. Power cuts Only a UPS keeps a computer running. Wears out Surge parts are typically used up a little by every spike, with no outside sign when they are spent. Earth Most designs need a sound earth at the wall socket.

Our spike guards: Classic, Classic with USB and Royal

We make 21 spike guards in the VIYONA range, in three lines. Each code tells you the switches, the sockets and the cord length: “1 x 4” is one switch for four sockets, “4 x 4” is four switches for four sockets, and “1 x 6” is one switch for six sockets.

291–299 The Classic ABS socket spike guard: 1 x 4, 4 x 4 and 1 x 6, each in 1.5, 3 and 5 metres. 301–306 The Classic ABS spike guard with two USB: 1 x 4 and 1 x 6 with two USB ports, in the same three lengths. 311–316 The Royal ABS spike guard: 1 x 4 and 4 x 4 in three lengths, catalogued as 6A units. ABS body The catalogue prints ABS as the body material for all three lines.

Spike guard price: what the MRP buys

Our spike guards have an MRP of ₹370 to ₹880, inclusive of all taxes. The cheapest is a four-socket, one-switch strip with a 1.5 metre cord at ₹370; the dearest is a six-socket strip with two USB ports and a 5 metre cord at ₹880. Price rises with sockets, switches, USB and cord length.

₹370 1 x 4, 1.5 m (codes 291 and 311). ₹480 4 x 4, 1.5 m. ₹495 1 x 6, 1.5 m. ₹650 1 x 4 with two USB, 1.5 m. ₹880 1 x 6 with two USB, 5 m. Classic and Royal strips of the same layout and length carry the same MRP.

How many sockets should a spike guard have?

Buy a spike guard with one or two more sockets than the devices you use now, so you never add an adaptor later: four sockets for a TV, set-top box and router, six for a computer desk with a monitor, printer and chargers. More sockets does not mean more capacity; the strip’s total rating is shared by all of them.

1 x 4 Four sockets on one master switch, the everyday choice for a TV wall. 4 x 4 A switch per socket, so you can cut standby power to one device without disturbing the rest. 1 x 6 Six sockets on one switch for a work desk. Adaptors An adaptor in a strip socket overloads its contacts. Total load Count what runs at once, not holes filled.

Heavy duty spike guard: 6A vs 16A loads

A spike guard is a light-load accessory: it is meant for electronics, lamps, chargers and small fans, the loads a 6A socket carries. Heavy appliances that heat or drive a big motor, such as a room heater, iron, geyser, microwave or AC, need a fixed 16A wall socket on a suitable circuit, not a portable strip, however “heavy duty” it is called.

6A loads Electronics, chargers, lamps. 16A loads Heaters, irons, geysers, microwaves, ACs. Royal = 6A Our Royal line is catalogued as 6 amp. No 16A strip Our catalogue does not list a 16A spike guard; for heavy loads we make 16A sockets instead, such as the VIYONA 16A switch and universal socket.

Spike guard with USB port: is it worth it?

A spike guard with USB ports is worth it on a desk or at a bedside where phones, earphones and tablets are charged every day, because the two built-in ports free two of the strip’s sockets that would otherwise be taken by separate charger adaptors. It is not a replacement for a fast charger: a phone that needs a particular charging speed should still use its own adaptor in a normal socket.

Two USB Our Classic ABS spike guard with two USB (codes 301 to 306) has two USB ports alongside four or six sockets. ₹650–₹880 MRP across the six codes. Charging speed Our catalogue does not print a USB output rating, so do not expect fast charging; check with the dealer if speed matters. Fewer adaptors Two sockets stay free.

Cord length: 1.5 m, 3 m or 5 m?

Choose the shortest cord that reaches the wall socket comfortably without being stretched tight, bent sharply at the plug or run across a walkway, because a longer cord costs more, is easier to damage and trip over, and gives no benefit once the strip reaches. For most TV units and desks 1.5 metres is enough; 3 metres suits a bed or sofa away from the wall; 5 metres is for a room where the only socket is on the far side.

Shortest that reaches Less to trip over. 1.5 m, 3 m, 5 m Every one of our spike guard lines is made in these three lengths. Under rugs A cord under a carpet or mattress cannot shed heat and gets crushed. Coiled Uncoil the cord before use. Door gaps A cord shut in a door gets cut over time.

Spike guard for TV, computer and router

A spike guard is the usual way to power a TV, set-top box, sound bar and router from one wall socket, or a desktop, monitor and printer on a desk. Keep the strip within the load of its wall socket, switch it off when you are away for long, and add a UPS for a computer that must not lose work in a power cut.

TV wall A 1 x 4 strip. Desk A 1 x 6. Standby A 4 x 4 lets you switch off what you do not use daily. UPS for computers A UPS, not a strip, keeps a desktop running through a cut. Hidden strips Do not bury a strip where heat collects and you cannot see it.

Spike guard safety: what never to plug in

Never run a room heater, iron, geyser, kettle, induction cooktop, hair dryer, microwave or air conditioner from a spike guard. They draw heavy current for long periods, which a portable strip, its cord and its plug are not built for.

Heating appliances The most common overload. Chaining No strip into strip, no adaptor into a strip. Wet areas Keep strips away from bathrooms and sinks. Loose sockets A strip whose sockets no longer grip the plug should be replaced. Switch off Switch the strip off at night and when you go out. MCB behind it The wall socket’s circuit should be protected by a correctly rated MCB; see choosing an MCB for home.

Spike guard manufacturers in Mumbai: who makes ours

Vinayak Electricals is a Mumbai manufacturer of electrical accessories, including spike guards, founded in 1995; every product is made at our own works in Marol, Andheri East, under an ISO 9001:2015 certified process, and sold through more than 500 dealers across India rather than online.

Since 1995 More than 30 years in electrical accessories. 100% in-house Nothing is outsourced; Marol is our only manufacturing site. ISO 9001:2015 Certified quality management. 2000+ products Spike guards share a catalogue with our switches, sockets, flex boxes and MCBs. Our switches are made to IS 3854 under ISI licence CM/L-7567794. KEMPS, VIZA, VIYONA Spike guards sit in VIYONA.

More in how Vinayak Electricals ensures quality and electrical accessories made in Mumbai.

Where to buy our spike guards

To buy our spike guards, ask an electrical shop that stocks Vinayak products, call us, or visit us in Mumbai. We do not sell online, so there is no cart or courier order, and the catalogue MRP is the most any shop may charge for the code you ask for.

500+ dealers Our dealers are in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata and many smaller cities. Call or visit The contact page gets you the nearest dealer. E-catalogue Every code and MRP here is in the e-catalogue. Take the code Walk in with the code, for example 291 or 304. Multi plugs Our multi plugs and the rest of the product range are in the same catalogue.

Shops wanting to stock the range can start at how to become a dealer or distributor; dealer support varies by region and market.