May 102013
Belkin 3-Outlet Mini Travel Swivel Charger Surge Protector with Dual USB Ports (1 AMP / 5 Watt)
- Superior power protection from damaging voltage fluctuations, surges, and spikes
- 2 powered USB ports for charging your digital cameras, smartphones, MP3 players, and portable hard drives
- Wall-mountable for 3 extra AC outlets without extra cords
- 360-degree rotating plug with 4 locking positions for a compact, lightweight design
- Damage-resistant housing protects circuits from fire, impact or rust, and prevents dents and scratches
Hotel rooms and airport terminals never seem to have enough power outlets to charge all the devices today’s traveler brings along. Now you can add outlets and peace of mind on business trips and vacations with the Belkin Mini Surge Protector. AC Plug Style: Wall Mount, EMI/RFI Noise Filtration: 150kHz ~ 100MHz up to 40 dB reduction , Joule Rating: 918J, Maximum Spike Current: 36,000A , Number of Outlets (total): 5 (3 AC, 2 USB), Powered USB Output: 5V/500mA each port, Responses Time:
List Price: $ 21.99
Price: $ 10.00
Not so MINI, but a good surge product overall.,
I’ve been searching for a product that can extend the outlet on my bathroom for the electrical products that I use. I finally came across this Belkin mini surge protector and features:
- 3 AC power outlets
- 2 USB outlets ONLY for charging (not data transfer) at 5V / 500mA at each port
- Surge protection on all 5 outlets
- 918 Joules Energy Dissipation
- 125V / 15A / 1,875W Continuous Duty Electrical Rating
- 36,000A Maximum Spike Current
- Lifetime Warranty on product
- USD75,0000.00 connected equipment warranty
- 360 degree rotating plug lockable into 4 possible positions
Simple, elegant design in a smooth plastic casing of white and light grey colour. Once plugged, the green LED light will indicate if the power source is grounded.
The box comes with one USB to mini-USB cable to get you started in charging your USB devices as well.
DO NOT throw the prong cover that initially comes attached to the surge protector prong. As the manual states (for those who still care to read the User Manual these days), you can use this plastic prong cover to help further balance the device against any surface. You do this by inserting the plastic prong cover on the bottom of the surge device via a small notch. Also, the plastic cover is handy to use when traveling. Before dumping the surge protector along with your other devices, cover the prongs to prevent it from scratching other objects.
The prongs can be rotated 360 degrees loosely. However, there are 4 positions that enable you to lock it so it doesn’t flail along clumsily in any direction. You do this by pressing into the rear a “release button”. It’s not a raised button, but a flat plastic portion that you have to press hard in order to release the lock. It’s quite difficult (at least with the model I received) at first and feels like I’m going to break the plastic button. But I guess if this is normal then it can be construed as a safety measure so it doesn’t easily rotate with a simple touch.
IMPROVEMENTS:
The term “mini” is subjective. It isn’t really that compact as I would assume from seeing the photo. It is small, yes. However, as a surge protector that can take 3 AC and 2 USB outlets, I will give Belkin the benefit of naming it a mini device.
I would STRONGLY prefer the re-design of the spacing on the AC outlets by allowing larger plugs connected side-by-side. As it is right now, only normal AC plugs and not block-style plugs are allowed without loosing all three outlets. So my proposal is to delete the middle AC outlet and move it to the end-cap of the device (opposite to the 2 USB outlets). As of now, there is nothing there so rather than cramp the 3 AC plugs, then move the third at the end and thus allowing for block-style plugs to be used and still retaining the 3 AC functionality.
OVERALL:
I would not hesitate to recommend the purchase of this surge protection for compact spaces as well as travel purposes especially with the lifetime warranty and amount of protection is offers.
Take note of the selling price Amazon and the others are selling this at. It’s ridiculous to see the selling price of this exact device can range anywhere from USD10 to USD30.
Lastly, BE AWARE of the SPECS so you know if the USB device you are plugging is capable of being charged.
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|USB output too low,
To get directly to this items flaw… It cannot recharge/power more than one USB item at a time. So what’s the point in having two USB outputs?
The 120V outlets work as advertised. The ability to rotate the prongs is a plus as it can be adjusted to most if not all outlets.
The USB power fails if more than one item at a time is plugged into the surge protector. Even if, say your phone is fully charged, if you go to connect another item to run or charge, the surge protector will not supply the power that both items demand. The items that are connected will act as if they have been disconnected from their power source, then once the surge protector accumulates enough power(not certain, but seem to act as if there are capacitors)to start supplying power once again the items connected to the USB ports start to operate briefly until the surge protector cannot supply enough power for the two items.
As stated before, it will supply ONE item with power, without a problem. But will not supply enough power for two, even if one item is fully charged.
** Thank you Jeff Backe, I’ve been putting off editing this post in response to all the people saying that ’500mA is the standard’ for quite some time. This 500mA WAS the standard well before i made this purchase. The newer standard for wall chargers, which I believe this falls under, has been out since around mid 2007. This new specification UP TO 1800mA(1.8A) per port.
When I made my purchase there also weren’t the nice pictures the show you the current rates. So there really wasn’t any way for me to know this until I received it.
Another thing, this item is rated at 500mA(.5mA) per port but is not actually limited to 500mA at the port if you only plug in one item. In other words, the way this item is configured it will actually put out the full 1000mA(1A)through one port, hence the reason you can plug in a high current draw device using one port. But when you plug in that second item the 1000mA is now split in half or however much each device is trying to draw. It is only able to keep up with this high demand for a short while until its capacitors are drained and cuts off supplying power, then quickly recharges the capacitors and re-establishes the supply of power once again. I doubt this cycling can’t be good for either device.
**edited
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|Nothing Mini about it,
Nice hotel room companion for plugging in the laptop, cell phone, iPod, and iPhone when you only have one outlet. The 5v outputs are regulated very well. It’s quite a bit larger than it appears in the photograph as well as modestly heavy. Calling it ‘mini’ is deceptive. It’s also rated up to 125v so forget using it anywhere except North America (not mentioned in the technical specs). Otherwise, it’s built sturdy as a brick and will endure any punishment your travels may inflict upon it.
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