A surge protector is different from a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator that you use for you computers is a device that regulates inconsistent voltages caused by heavy usage in and around your area. This occurrences happens mostly in densely populated areas or areas where there are lots of factories or workshops that guzzles up lots of current. What a voltage regulator does is it regulates the voltage of the current to keep it steady. If the voltage drops to a below acceptable level, the regulator will step it up so you experience any unnecessary blackouts.
The surge protector serves to protect your devices from a sudden surge of current. The most common surge is caused by lightning. This sudden surge in electricity will fry almost every electrical gadgets that you are using at the time of the surge.
The most common gadgets that are prone to damage are your TV sets, computers, modems, and the fax machine. These are very sensitive devices because of all the semiconductors and transistors inside. A small surge will cause these tiny IC, to burn out. Bigger items like the refrigerator stands a better chance, but in recent years, refrigerators have also been computerised so much that it has also became part of the surge sensitive family.
The good news is not everyone is prone to these surges. It’s strange and I will never be able to explain why other than say it is a geographical thing. Some areas attracts lightnings more than other areas. Some houses can be struck by lightning a few times a year but some don’t experience a single one in their entire live.
Surge protectors comes in many forms. The most common ones are those you see in some supermarkets. They look like an extension chord except it is more bulky. When buying try to get one from a respectable electrical shop. Some are plain fakes that does nothing when a surge occurs. It is hard to tell how a good surge protector looks like so the best bet is something manufactured by well known companies that have a reputation to keep.