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: Good Luck- I threw mine away
Summary: 2 Stars
I wanted to use this with my Mac Mini. I have lots of peripherals like powered speakers, printer, powered USB hub, scanner, tape deck etc. Unfortunately the current draw from the Mac Mini isn't enough. The result is that despite tweaking the sensitivity settings the device, the outlets I was using for the peripherals wouldn't turn off. This problem is noted on their web site. Maybe I should have read it before buying? Anyway I called customer service got a call from a nice person and sent the unit back. I paid shipping, of course. When they received the unit they shipped the replacement. Perhaps I should mention that I spent a lot of time trying this and that trying to make it work.
Unit 2 arrives and sort of works. That is I would get it to turn the automatic outlets on and off using the Mac Mini in the "control" outlet. When I started plugging in peripherals I got all sorts of strange behavior. Cycling on and off in the automatic outlets for one. Sometimes the automatic outlets just wouldn't switch off. It actually worked properly on occasion. The instruction manual tells you how to set the sensitivity but nothing about this sort of unexpected behavior. It seemed that it functioned better with fewer devices plugged in so I tried that using various combinations. I cycled the computer on and off dozens of times trying to find a consistent workable combination. I tried moving the Mac's external transformer away from the device, thinking there might be some sort of electromagnetic field interference. Ultimately nothing helped. Maybe it was defective but I didn't want to spend another $8 sending it back for a replacement.
What I have ended up with is the use of a conventional power strip. I plug the computer into an "always on" outlet so that I can switch the peripherals without waiting for the computer to power down. That had been my goal from the start and a little thinking before ordering would have been a good idea.
I did buy a "Kill a Watt" and found that the standby power draw of the peripherals is pretty low. Still, I like being able to easily shut them off.
So after much time and frustration I discovered that I didn't really need a smart strip. I was happy when it came in the mail from Amazon and equally happy when I decided to cut my losses and frustration and toss it.
Customer Review: Good idea, strip to small for electronics
Summary: 3 Stars
I like the idea of the strip turning off and saving me money, but the plugs are too close together. The point of a big power strip with so many outlets is to plug in lots of things in an area that is relatively dense with power needs. Generally things such as cable modems, cell phone chargers, portable phones, routers, computer speakers, etc. have a larger plug. When you have more than one of these on this strip, it presents an orgnization challenge as many of these things need to be on constantly, but will not fit next each other due to the lack of room. You can really only fit one large plug on the portion for "always on." my solution was to take my last normal power strip and plug that into the "always on" socket. So it works now, and I'm sure that it will save me money, but I thought that I would be able to use just one power strip.Customer Review: Good strip
Summary: 4 Stars
If you have a lot of peripherals, this is what you're looking for: a healthy amount of spaces, several large enough to make room for the oversized computer cables. Instructions were in several languages, but with simple trial and error, you'll be able to figure this out. Compact and portable.Customer Review: Great concept
Summary: 4 Stars
It works as it promised,First off when you use Control outlet make sure to
connect Device(Computer,Receiver,TV)that use at least use over 1 Amp or 100 Watts of power to work properly,otherwise it will not control any Device connected to Switch outlet..example if you connect Cable,Dvr,DVD Player in the Control outlet it will not work because those Device does not draw much Electricity to activate Switch Outlet.
Then the Design is sucks compare to Apc,Belkin,other products and Adjustment Nob is hard to adjust..u need a Philip Screw Driver,Coin etc
and it only has 2875 Total Joule protection as well as does not have AVR
(Aotomatic Voltage Regulator)...
Customer Review: Great idea!
Summary: 5 Stars
This power strip is a great idea! I purchased it as a gift for my father. It's a nice energy saver, and it's great to be able to push one button (in his case, the computer) and have everything turn on. It works just like I would have expected, and he uses all the time. I may purchase another for me!