REVIEW – As the number of devices that need to be charged and then recharged grows, so does the number of power strips I have lying around my house. Most of these power strips are just that: strips. The JACKYLED vertical power stip mixes things up by changing the form factor from a strip to a tower.

What is it?

The JACKYLED vertical power tower is a rectangular power strip. It has a total of 10 outlets with three on the left and right side and on the back of the unit. It has a single outlet on the front with four USB charging ports along with a non-detachable 6.5-foot power cable. The outlets are spaced far apart such that most non-standard sized plugs can be used next to each other without being blocked.

What’s in the box?

• JACKYLED Vertical Tower Power Strip
• A tiny sheet of instructions

Hardware specs

• 5.6 inches deep by 3.7 inches wide by 8.7inches tall
• 10 outlets
• 4,  3.0A USB ports
• 1080J of overload protection
• 6.56 foot 14 gauge non-detachable power cable
• Case made of fire retardant PVC material

Design and features

The JACKYLED power strip is more at home on your desk then on the floor behind it. It’s rectangular shape houses 10 outlets that I’ve not been able to block no matter how oddly shaped the power adapter I’ve plugged into it. The top of the unit has two power buttons. These allow you to turn off power to either of the side outlets. The is a useful feature when you want to leave items plugged in but don’t want to trickle charge things such as monitors and printers.

There are three outlets on the left that are mirrored on the right side. The back has three more. The front only has one outlet and four USB charging ports. The power cord is nicely built and has strain relief both at the box and the plug. The plug itself is somewhat ordinary and inserts straight into the wall. I’d prefer one that comes out of the wall at 45 degrees or drops down, but this one gets the job done.

I set the JACKYLED up behind my monitor on my desk. I transferred everything I’d plugged into two strips on the floor to it. While it started to look a little octopus-like, with cords jutting out from all sides, it allowed me to get rid of two strips and clean up the floor around my desk. Additionally, the fact that it was on my desk allowed me to unplug things without having to lie down on the floor.

What I like

• A form factor that allows all outlet to be used without blocking adjacent outlets
• On/Off switches for alternate side outlets
• 10 outlets mean you can plug in a whole bunch of stuff.

What needs to be improved

• It’s rather light, so when you have a lot of things plugged in, it tends to shift around a bit.

Final thoughts

the JACKYLED Tower Power Strip is a great unit with loads of outlets and tons of space to use them. The addition of 4 USB charging ports on the front and the ability to turn on and off power to the outlets only increases its value. The only negative thing I can offer is that it is a bit light and can be pulled around a bit if you plug in devices with a bit of heft behind them.

Price: $38.99
Where to buy: Amazon or ARACKY
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Amazon

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Surge protector with USB power outlets

JackyLed Tower Power Strip review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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You’ve all probably used a powerstrip at some point in your life. Heck, you’re probably using one right now at home or work. I have one under my desk at work, but at home, I have been using the BESTEK 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector for the last few weeks. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The BESTEK Power Strip Surge Protector 8-Outlet is just what it sounds like it is. It’s a power strip with 8 outlets and a surge protector. But, it also includes 6 USB ports.

Specs

Input Voltage : 100-125V
AC Rated power: 1875W(125V 15A)
Surge Protection: 1500J
USB Output: 40W 8A(Total), 5V/2.4A Max(each port)
Size/Weight: 4.8*4.8*5.7 in / 2.14 lb
Cord length: 6 Feet (14AWG)

Design and features

The BESTEK doesn’t look like most traditional power strips which are usually a horizontal row of outlets with a switch and a cord. The BESTEK is shaped like a cube with 2 outlets on each side of the cube and 3 USB ports on two corners.

The power strip (I don’t know why it’s even called a power strip since it’s not a strip…) is 6 inches x 6 inches in size.

There are two buttons that can be used as toggles to turn the power off the 3-prong AC outlets on each level of the strip. A small LED lights up in green when the outlets are active.

A reset switch is located on the base of the power strip near the 6ft long heavy duty power cord.

I’ve been using a Coalesse Power Pod as my on-desk power setup for the last 6 years. I like it because the power cord is attached to the bottom of the pod which hides it when I run the cord through the grommet on my desk.

The BESTEK has 2 more outlets than the Coalesse and it has 6 USB ports, which makes it more useful, but it doesn’t look nearly as nice on my desk.

The layout of the AC outlets could be a little problematic if you need to plugin large modules like my Eneloop battery charger. But with the built-in USB ports, I don’t find that I need to use AC adapters very often.

A green LED above each USB port lights up when the port is in use. Each USB port can supply up to 2.4A per port, 40W/8A total. 

There are also 2 status indicator LEDs for ground protection and surge protection on the base. You can barely see them in the image above.

BESTEK has built-in short circuit protection and over current protection, but nowhere on the device is a UL certification.

As an added safety feature, there are safety doors inside the AC outlets that have been added to protect kids from trying to stick their fingers in the sockets.

Final thoughts

The BESTEK Power Strip Surge Protector 8-Outlet offers a lot of power in a compact package. It’s just too bad that it’s not UL listed. But if that doesn’t bother you, this is a nice power “strip” that will keep all your gadgets juiced and running without depleting your wallet.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by BESTEK. Please visit Amazon for more info and to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Surge protector with USB power outlets

BESTEK Power Strip Surge Protector 8-Outlet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 3, 2017 at 6:22 pm.

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I doubt there’s anyone reading this who doesn’t have at least one multiport power cord in their work area. Between computers, monitors, task lights, phone chargers, headset chargers and the like, it’s almost impossible to have enough outlets. Add to that the fact that most of those things are sensitive electronics that need to be protected from surges and spikes, and you see the inspiration for Witeem’s latest product, a ten-outlet, four USB port surge suppressor.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

Specifications:
• USB Output: (Smart Port): 5V/ 2.4A*4 (Max 3.4A)
• USB Input: 125V AC, 50/60 Hz
• UL, FCC and ROHS Certified
• Item Dimensions: 12.20″ x 3.78″ x 1.42″
• Electrical Rating: 125V AC, 13A, 1625 Watts and 550 J Energy Rating
• Cord Length: 6ft (1.8M)
• Weight: 17.28 OZ

Any true Gadgeteer will know the value of a surge suppressor. This device swallows those spikes in power that come about on every grid, causing damage to devices that are not sipping smoothed-out electrons. It’s not a UPS or a line conditioner or a lightning arrestor, so don’t expect miracles in the middle of a lightning storm. But those are not usually the things that cause damage to your devices. It’s the occasional surge that hits when an AC or microwave, refrigerator, or dishwasher pulls voltage into the local circuit. That sudden influx takes a few milliseconds to calm back down, but during that time, everything is just a little hotter. A surge suppressor is designed to regulate the incoming spike and put out just the required 110 volts. Inside the Witeem power strip, there is also a circuit breaker, which will flip off the power if the spike is too high. Resetting the device is as easy as flipping the switch back on.

The Witeem Surge Suppressor has ten outlets in five pairs down each side of the top side of the unit. There is one pair that has 2.25″ center-to-center of space, which means you can attach “wall warts” without covering other outlets. The other pairs are on 1.125″ centers, which is still roomy enough for most heavy-duty plugs. Across the very end of the top are 4 USB ports. They are “smart” ports that sense whether, say, you’re charging an iPad Pro or an Apple Watch, and supply the needed voltage in the right amount as the device asks for it, 0V up to 2.4 V.
On the rear of the unit, there are two mounting slots, which allow you to mount this to a wall, desk, or even (as we do at work) under the desk, so it’s out of the way. No screws are included in the package, but the opportunity is there. There is also an abundance of flat space on the back if you’d rather mount it with foam tape or Velcro tape.
I was not able to test the short-circuit or overload protection (I leave that to electroBOOM on YouTube), but I really appreciate that this unit doesn’t have a bright LED or jumpy power light, so it can be used in a bedroom or entertainment center, without drawing attention to itself.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Witeem. Please visit their listing on Amazon for more info.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Surge protector with USB power outlets

Witeem Surge Protector Power Strip review originally appeared on on June 7, 2017 at 11:56 am.

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