What surge and USB protection system does the 10$ power strip have?
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Today we are checking out another extension strip, this time with five coloured sockets with separate switches. In addition, the strip has one main collective switch. The strip is advertised as having an "anti-surge system" and a "protection system for USB-charged devices" so it's bound to be interesting.
I showed a similar strip (but with a USB charger) 2 years ago in a topic:
Power strip with separate switches for sockets and USB charger - interior, quality... .
Let's start with a screenshot of the offering:
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The model of the strip is the Interlook BA-3505-WHITE.
Parameters:
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Description - surge protection strip:
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System anti-surge and anti-corrosion connector:
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Once again - anti-surge system:
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And the icing on the cake - another system - this time to protect USB-charged devices (what USB?):
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Inside of the strip in practice... .
An ordinary Phillips screwdriver is required to get inside:
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Interior - well, at least the ground is connected:
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It looks like the switches are cutting off one conductor - in theory they are supposed to cut off the phase....
Soldering joints are looking a bit bad.
And here we have our "anti-surge system":
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Let's take a look at it:
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This is a 14D471K varistor:
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By the way, the solder joint here is especially bad:
Summary
The mysterious two systems ("surge protection system" and "USB charged device protection system") turned out to be a single 14D471K varistor soldered loose at the strip switch. Apart from that, the solder joints are conspicuous, one looks like it is about to let go. They do not look like they are rated for 10A. Overall, I can hardly recommend this product.
By the way, I once bought a strip of this type for testing and it turned out that... after a year of use, the earthing pin fell off. Maybe I'll show its condition at some point.
And then there's the short-circuiting of the phase output to zero when the socket in question is switched off.... I hope no one accidentally plugs in the plug the other way round, because then it won't work, and there are also such sockets.
In conclusion - I am not convinced, what do you think?
p.kaczmarek2 wrote 11880 posts with
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Comments
They short circuit to the other? You mean they make a short circuit? Sounds ridiculous, it's more of a backlighting of the switch :) [Read more]
You are probably right, thanks for the correction. [Read more]
Can a colleague carry out a small practical test? This involves measuring the voltage at one of the sockets: A. Without any consumer connected. B. With a load connected that is close to the declared... [Read more]
. You can guess that there will be quite a difference between the voltage on the first and last sockets, looking from the main switch. [Read more]
@mateuszkonstruktor This is something I did quickly on a "brother" strip, because I have just this one at hand (separately I have two other corners to work) Without kettles 237V not much, with one 232V... [Read more]
Obviously, such a quality 'strip' should not be allowed on the market. It is ridiculous that for so many years the authorities have been allowing this to happen and that probably one per cent of all cases... [Read more]
If that wasn't enough, identical skirting boards can be found in chain stores such as Biedronka from time to time. I was tempted to buy one because of the possibility of switching off / on a particular... [Read more]
Interestingly, a very similar extender is on offer from the Polish company Elgotech - one would be tempted to compare it and see what it looks like inside. The model is EPS-501.5W6. [Read more]
. There are single-pole switches there too. [Read more]
I'm happy with mine, which I bought from Ladybird about four years ago. Nothing has fallen off and none of the switches have lost their ability to light up. I am also satisfied. [Read more]
Many times I have encountered that a Chinese product was reasonably good in the beginning, but the subsequent 'series' of the product is worse and worse inside and looks the same from the outside. [Read more]
Different quality control, different materials, the Chinese can do well, it just costs more. It has been known for a long time that this sales portal gets the biggest crap, which is also evidenced by... [Read more]
Probably the sockets would have to be additionally protected with varistors? I wonder what's inside the server racks? [Read more]
Quite possibly. It cannot be ruled out. [Read more]
. Measuring at the socket will tell us little because we do not know what the voltage drop is between the meter and the socket into which the strip plug is plugged. You need a comparison of the voltages... [Read more]
I've had this model in my garage for a good 5 years now, used more than once with tools of 1kW and better, so far everything works, apart from the protection in the first socket, it doesn't go through... [Read more]
@chemik16 I in my older copy of this trim simply removed this protection. It also became increasingly difficult to walk with time [Read more]
No fuses on the 230V supply side and, as usual, thin cables, for small power outputs still manageable. [Read more]
Notification to the OCCP will not result in this being withdrawn from the market? [Read more]