Smart Strip LCG5 Energy Saving Power Strip with Auto-Switching Technology and Modem/Coaxial Surge Protection
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List Price: Our Price: $30.65 You Save: $35.47 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Smart Strip LCG5 Energy Saving Power Strip with Auto-Switching Technology and Modem/Coaxial Surge Protection
Customer Review: After about 5-10 uses, it just functions as a regular powerstrip...
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased two of the Smart Strips because of the good reviews, but very quickly both of my units have reverted to typical power strips after only 5-10 uses. The strips functioned properly and shut off/turned on all devices according to design at the beginning, but the energy saving function quickly stopped "working". At least I have two regular power strips, but the energy saving feature appears to be extremely fragile, and no "calibration" seems to return it to functioning. I would recommend searching for other brands or devices that offer power saving functions, and unfortunately I would not recommend these power strips...Customer Review: Brilliant!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought and returned two APC versions of this outlet, since their shutoff sensor could not be adjusted. The Smart Strip overcomes this with a potentiometer dial and simple instructions.
Note: The adjustment still does not work with very low amperage devices plugged into the master outlet (e.g., small cable box).
Customer Review: Creative Green Strip
Summary: 5 Stars
This Smart Strip works like it promises. Everything you plug into it besides the main control switch area in blue and red will go off once the main blue switch turns off. I have one plugged into my television and one for my main computer. I like knowing that I am not running the other devices when the main switch is shut off. And the price was right.Customer Review: Difficult to callibrate
Summary: 2 Stars
I had recieved an energy audit, and one of the recommendations was to get a couple "smart" power strips to cut down on phantom power draw from my laptop peripherals and stereo.
The good:
* supports lots of outlets
* works great for some applications
* can produce a noticeable energy savings.
The bad:
* very difficult to calibrate
* sometimes "stutters" with equipment that takes variable power.
I bought 2:
The first I attached to my home theater setup, with my receiver as the master. This made sense-- the receiver can have a very high output, and you can't watch/listen to anything without the receiver being on. It took me a little while to figure out where everything should be plugged in. After that, you turn off the master on and off, while you adjust a dial on the side, to determine a threshold for when the switched outlets should be on or not. After playing with it for 3 days, I haven't gotten a good setting so the strip knows when the receiver is on. I've also tried plugging in the receiver and my HD projector... still no dice. I'll likely take out this "smart" power strip, and replace it with 2 "dumb" power strips, so I don't have to fiddle with the knobs every time I turn the stereo on/off. When this works, it should save around 120W of constant power.
The second I attached to my laptop, printer, external monitor, USB hub, and flash card reader. This works better... most of the time. Mostly, when I turn on the laptop, it turns on (and keeps on) the peripherals. Sometimes I turn on the laptop, and the strip can't decide whether the laptop is on or not, and the external monitor is turned on, then off, then on... When this works, it saves around 80W of constant power-- about $6/month where i live.
So... I wouldn't recommend it with a receiver as the master. A big TV might work. A home theater projector is a waste of time. a laptop will take calibration, but should work.
Customer Review: Go Green!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this device for the basement home theater. As with many devices today, many even though they are "off" are really in standby. I wanted a power strip that would turn those devices off. I installed the strip with the TV as the "switch" for the other devices. It worked the first time and does a tremendous job of shutting down all the devices. Highly recommend!