Belkin's Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger

It's really about time someone released a portable power strip with USB charging. Really, honestly, we don't know what took 'em so long -- it's frigging 2008, everything's been USB-powered for a couple years now. Hat tip to you, Belkin, for the Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger, which goes for $25 or so.

[Thanks, Alex]

[Albert Street @ Mar 11th 2008 2:23AM]

Dialed

[Luke D @ Mar 11th 2008 5:11AM]

Good work on beating 'First' Guy, Albert!

[Darkroom @ Mar 11th 2008 2:33AM]

i wonder if it's really a surge protector... like a real one with product insurance up to a certain amount... i'm buying a home-theater serge protector this week and it costs way more than $25... so not too sure this is a serge protector or if it's just an extension with USB.

[zevdawg @ Mar 11th 2008 2:36AM]

It might have its own internal shutoff switch, but that's about all I would expect out if this thing too...

[yoshi @ Mar 11th 2008 2:55AM]

I wouldn't go solely by the fact that an surge suppressor has insurance to base your purchasing decisions. You may simply be purchasing an insurance policy and gambling that nothing happens to your gear. Google around for the technical details of what to look for and what models offer the good stuff.

[itsnotabigtruck @ Mar 11th 2008 3:05AM]

Belkin claims it has "Lifetime Product and $75,000 Connected Equipment Warranties" and a maximum of 918 J of surge dissipation. I wouldn't trust it to protect anything important though, and surge protector insurance policies are notoriously hard to cash in on.

[itlnstln @ Mar 11th 2008 12:08PM]

I don't see anything in the product documentation about protecting me from a man named Sergio. *rimshot*

[dylan @ Mar 11th 2008 2:36AM]

I am definitely picking up one of those.

[RyanTV @ Mar 11th 2008 12:17PM]

Me too - these type of things make you an instant hit at any airport as well :)

[Chris in CA @ Mar 11th 2008 2:05PM]

Want it!
Might be smart to pick-up an adapter for those inevitable receptacles with no ground.

[zevdawg @ Mar 11th 2008 2:37AM]

out *of*... eyes sure do come in handy ;)

[Sean @ Mar 11th 2008 3:09AM]

FINALLY! THANK YOU BELKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steven Ryland @ Mar 11th 2008 3:09AM]

yea that really is a good point. it does seem like one of those no-brainer products, so i dont know why it took so long for someone to come out with one... too bad that belkin made it though, cause they jack the prices up on everything they make. ^_^

[Ian @ Mar 11th 2008 3:29AM]

got to say that this would probably come in mighty handy on the road so you can charge your ipod with out buying apples separate charger and u dont have to use ur computer to do it. right on

[caramelzappa @ Mar 11th 2008 3:39AM]

I want usb ports right next to the outlets on the wall. I can dream.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Mar 11th 2008 4:30AM]

...along with audio in/out, dvi, hdmi, firewire, esata... I can dream...

[klew @ Mar 11th 2008 4:23AM]

Seems to be a prime travel device for those having trouble finding extra wall outlets in airports and hotels. If I didn't already have the Monster's Outlet to Go device, I would get this for the added value of the USB ports.

[Barstad @ Mar 11th 2008 8:29AM]

Here ya go. This will do nicely. And cheaper, too!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/9124/

[Chip @ Mar 11th 2008 8:49AM]

The problem with that other device is no extra outlets. At airport gates if the outlets are taken and you don't have a multi-outlet adapter, you sweet talk your way to letting them lend you the outlet for awhile OR
with this device, you're everyone's friend. Who wouldn't allow you to expand the outlet to help others? You put this gizmo in, the first person can use one, you get one and there's one extra for someone else. And two USB ports? Sold!

[anonymous @ Mar 11th 2008 10:11AM]

@Barstad:

that device only has a single USB port for $9.99 so it really is much less of a deal than the Belkin device.
3x110 outlets + 2xUSB ports for $25 or 1xUSB port for $9.99.

I'd spend the extra coupla bucks for a much better product.

[gadjitfreek @ Mar 11th 2008 4:47AM]

This arrives just in the nick of time. When i go traveling, I can never find enough outlets to recharge my gear, and with the inclusion of the two USB ports, it is a definite buy for me.

[Luke D @ Mar 11th 2008 5:17AM]

Hmmm, the 2 USB ports provide 0.5A per port. My iPod charger and phone charger provide 1A, so does my Targus USB hub which has 2 high-power 1A ports. My guess is that the higher amperage gives faster charging times so it's unfortunate the Belkin charger only provides half the current.

[Dan @ Mar 11th 2008 5:17AM]

USB chargers have been available for a while:

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!21496

[LondonConsultant @ Mar 11th 2008 5:46AM]

Good spot. I'm going to buy that travel charger now...

[Chip @ Mar 11th 2008 8:52AM]

The point isn't a USB charger. Everyone has one of those. This is a multi-outlet and multi-USB charger.

[stromm @ Mar 11th 2008 7:44AM]

"i'm buying a home-theater serge protector this week and it costs way more than $25."
Your surge protector also filters specific RF frequencies which many AV groups believe affects the quality of video and sound you see and hear. Personally, I can't tell a bit of difference, so I don't see any reason spending more than $60us or so for a surge strip with coax connections.

As to them going .5A, I'd have to say it's because if they went 1A, they'd get sued by some idiot who fried their .5A device. Yea, this device will take longer to fully charge a "1A" device, but it'll work.

[Pretend Geek @ Mar 11th 2008 8:49AM]

Are amps not drawn by the device? Meaning you can give more amps and not fry something.
Not an Electrician

[ericisshort @ Mar 11th 2008 12:13PM]

It is electrically possible but dangerous. No USB device (that I know of) has the ability to draw more than the source provides.

[wodheila @ Mar 11th 2008 8:54AM]

Still has the deficiency of fixed outlets too close together for anything other than standard width plugs.

[oakie @ Mar 11th 2008 9:43AM]

cant they produce one with 6 or more USB ports and only 1 or 2 110v outlets? every pocketable device i have has a USB charging adapter. it would be perfect for a clutterfree charging station.

[Chad @ Mar 11th 2008 10:57AM]

Sold

[Tomahawk @ Mar 11th 2008 11:20AM]

Where's the Mini Surge Protector with built in UPS. It kills me that it's 2008 and there still isn't non-ugly surge protector/ups device anywhere on the market. Doesn't APC or Tripp Lite have any decent product designers, maybe not as good as Jonathan Ive, but someone that knows something about good design.

[craig @ Mar 11th 2008 11:49AM]

Paloooz adds "rather lie than admit I'm wrong" to the list of characteristics he willingly demonstrates on Engadget.

[craig @ Mar 11th 2008 11:49AM]

Paloooz adds "rather lie than admit I'm wrong" to the list of characteristics he willingly demonstrates on Engadget.

[craig @ Mar 11th 2008 11:54AM]

I have no idea how that comment appeared nor why it got posted twice.

My comment actually was that a UPS requires a battery of sufficient capacity. A mini surge protector with a built in UPS is a "UPS".

[AlphaTeam @ Mar 11th 2008 11:43AM]

I would use an extension cord; not a fan of plugging blocks into the wall; I do like the USB idea, but I hope they make one with a lot more, plus a way to connect it to the computer.

----

PS: Stop being douche bags and stop trying to post useless shit like "FIRST." All it says is
1) You obviously have no etiquette about commenting on blogs
2) You fail at life
3) You might want to get up earlier if you care so much (another indication of #2)

[craig @ Mar 11th 2008 11:56AM]

"PS: Stop being douche bags and stop trying to post useless shit like "FIRST." All it says is"

I wonder what a handle like "AlphaTeam" says about you? Perhaps you fail at life as well.

[AlphaTeam @ Mar 11th 2008 12:35PM]

"Perhaps you fail at life as well"

Yeah I do. What can I say right?

[Brian @ Mar 11th 2008 11:53AM]

Does this thing run the USB at 120/240V? I would hope so, but it doesn't state it anywhere in the specs sheet on the Belkin site...?

[zach @ Mar 11th 2008 12:12PM]

Good thing Apple didn't make this-- it would be $99. I wish they had this out before I dropped $29 for an iPod wall adapter.

[joe @ Mar 11th 2008 12:52PM]

Anyone notice that in the photos it looks like this would plug in so the expanded chords would "hang" down?

If you go to Belkin's product page, the "in action" shot shoes the product hanging sideways from the plug, but makes no mention of a swivel component of the actual plug on the unit.

If that shot is doctored, and this does hang straight down, that means the usb ports are useless if something is plugged on top of it.

That being said, I'm still going to get one.

[jsupes @ Mar 11th 2008 1:15PM]

The "features" tab says: 360-degree rotating plug with 4 locking positions.

Cool.

[tiuk @ Mar 11th 2008 1:50PM]

Great idea. I usually bring a dollar store three-outlet tap (no surge) and a usb charger with me, but this has an extra USB port, surge protection (better than nothing), and the rotating plug is a great idea.

And, despite being Belkin, it isn't as overpriced as it could have been. I'd buy one.

[engadgetier @ Mar 11th 2008 2:51PM]

wonder if it would work with iPhone???

[Mike @ Mar 12th 2008 1:39AM]

Looks great, but I'm not a fan of their plug layout. It'd be great to have the top and bottom plugs face outwards, with the middle one pointing to the side like it currently does.

Obviously I'm thinking of wall adaptors here.

[wixostrix @ Mar 21st 2008 5:11AM]

now all we have to wait for is usb ports in our wall sockets!!!

[First Guy @ Mar 28th 2008 5:49AM]

FIRST!

[Shull @ Mar 11th 2008 2:38AM]

First dumb post?...

[CL @ Mar 11th 2008 2:37AM]

So this is your first post with this stupid name, and it's "first" which you didn't even make it to the top, talk about an epic fail.

[AlphaTeam @ Mar 11th 2008 11:39AM]

Welcome to the Idiots' Club