Belkin Mini Surge 3 Outlet Wall Mount with USB Charger by Belkin Components
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Digital camera reviews of Belkin Mini Surge 3 Outlet Wall Mount with USB Charger
Digital camera Review: Not Good Enough To Recommend
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this and use it for travel. Hotels often don't provide enough plugs. Especially in Europe, and then you will need a plug converter for each device...or just one if you use a power bar like this.
I used to travel with a cheap power strip which would give me six plugs, but I didn't need all six, and I didn't have surge since the surge adds weight and size. With a power strip in one's travel case, one can often plug it into the single desk outlet that hotels provide, and instantly have enough outlets for your laptop, phone, headset, media player, etc.
I got the Belkin to reduce the size, and add surge. In particular, I like the notion of the USB ports, since I can then carry small/light 12 inch USB charge cables for my gadgets instead of bigger AC adapters. Before, I would often leave my laptop on to get powered USB ports.
From my high expectations, these were the setbacks:
- The USB ports are under-powered. The specs say it will deliver .5A to each port, but I think it does less. In fact, I think it only delivers decent current to one of the ports at a time. When I plug in two WinMo phones, in the morning, one is always charged, the other always dead.
- It's big. Maybe not too big, but big. OK, it has surge, but because of the plug layout, and the power limitations mentioned above, it turns out to be a two-plug, one USB device...and it's too big for what it offers.
- Won't charge iPhone reliably, since iPhone wants 1A, and this offers .5A
- The outlets are too close together for inserting AC adpaters. They could have designed this better by placing an outlet one of the blank sides of the unit.
Cheers!
djk
Did you know?:
Soon, laptops will be shipping with USB ports that are powered-up even when the laptop is off. It is called "Sleep-And-Charge". It is in response to the growing number of devices that recharge from USB ports. Cool. At that point, I'll get rid of this Belkin. But bear in mind, it will still be mostly the 500mA standard power limit that doesn't satisfy iPhones.
Digital camera Review: Not a good fit for 'valets'
Summary: 2 Stars
I was hoping to use two of these in my charging valet but it had several drawbacks that weren't obvious until I tried it.
1) three prong - all my bricks are two prong, as is my extension cord. Now a heavier cord or an adapter is needed.
2) Bigger / bulkier than expected
3) Daisy-chaining two together - the USB's on one conflict with the end plug on the other
4) Bricks overlap adjacent socket.
Net is that with two of these, I get three usable outlets and four USBs, but it doesn't fit anyway given the bulk, the heavy cords, and the three-to-two prong adapter.
Digital camera Review: Not acceptable as a travel charger
Summary: 2 Stars
Belkin has missed the mark with this adaptor.
It simply is not "mini." At least, it is not mini as compared to other three outlet grounding adaptors. It is 4x the size and 4 the weight of a typical cheap (i.e. $3) three outlet grounded adaptor. This means that it cannot easily be dropped into a bag; you have to make room for it.
While it is surely is smaller than most surge suppressors, buyers only need something this small when traveling, and this is so much bigger than what it might replace that it is not likely to be brought along for the trip.
Belkin -- a company whose products I generally like -- clearly decided to make solid and sturdy product. The plastic is thick and strong. I have no doubt that the thing could even hold my weight, where I stand on it or even jump on it. But the trade off there is bulk, both in size and weight.
This is unfortunate because the product is a great idea. Between phones, MP3 players, bluetooth headsets and BlackBerries, there is quite a need for USB charging, especially on the road. Power outlets are usually in short supply in hotels and airports, so carrying this kind of device would be a good idea, if only it was easier to carry and forget about until needed.
Digital camera Review: Not quite what I expected, but good.
Summary: 4 Stars
I really liked the idea of this product and purchased it soon after it was released. My first impression, upon receiving it, was that it was bigger than expected (so check the dimensions to make sure it is what you are envisioning). It hangs just a little clumsily from the wall. Its size was enough that I wasn't overly happy with it in a place like the kitchen, as intended. But we have found plenty of uses for it over time and it has earned its keep.Digital camera Review: Not so MINI, but a good surge product overall.
Summary: 4 Stars
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.