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The best portable power strips and surge protectors with USB charging
By Mark Smirniotis This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to portable power strips and surge protectors with USB charging. After researching dozens of models and extensively testing the eight best-specified and -designed, we think the best power strip for travel in North America is sold under two different brands, as either the Accell Home or Away Surge Protector or Tripp Lite Protect It 3-Outlet Surge Protector—they're functionally identical, so just pick the one that's cheaper when it's time to order. Both sell for about $20, have three outlets and two USB-charging ports, and are smaller and lighter than any other travel model we tested, but still fit bulky power adapters without blocking other outlets. This model has been our pick every year since 2015. Although other companies use the same design, we found that the Accell Home or Away Surge Protector and the Tripp Lite Protect It 3-Outlet Surge Protector offer the best capabilities at a price that's usually lower than the competition's. Owners give both versions high ratings, and Wirecutter staffers have used the Accell model since 2015 without issue. If you want surge protection on the go, or prefer a power strip with a cord, the Protect It 3-Outlet Travel-Size Surge Protector is the best choice. It's the only portable model we tested whose ability to clamp down surges is on a par with that of full-size surge protectors—other portable models we tested let more than twice as much surge voltage through, potentially damaging anything plugged into them. The third AC outlet on the back of the unit helps to keep power bricks out of the way, and the right-angle plug easily fits in tight spots, like behind hotel furniture. Our other picks aren't designed for international use. If you're going to be traveling outside of North America, we recommend PowerCube's ReWirable USB. It has two USB ports like our other picks, but provides four AC outlets instead of three. And it has two features that make it ideal for international travel: It's rated for 100 to 250 volts, so it doesn't need an additional voltage converter, and it includes four interchangeable plugs to fit a wide variety of international wall outlets.
Insert Coin semifinalist: Smart Power Strip helps you do home automation yourself
Seems like everyone's trying to get a piece of the home automation action these days. Question is, however, if pricey catchall systems are really the answer. Smart Power Strip offers a simple, affordable solution, letting you control and monitor appliances in real-time using your smartphone. The power strip has outlets that can be managed individual via your handset both at home and remotely. The strip also features two USB ports for charging -- because it's 2013, after all. You can see all of the Insert Coin semifinalists here.
DARPA-backed Power Pwn is power strip by day, superhero hack machine by night
Call the Power Pwn the champion of white hat hacking. Underneath that Clark Kent power strip exterior, there's a Superman of full-scale breach testing that can push the limits of just about any company network, whether it takes 3G, Ethernet or WiFi to get there. Pwnie Express' stealthy sequel to the Pwn Plug ships with a Debian 6 instance of Linux whose handy hacking tools are as easy to launch as they are tough to detect. There's just one step needed to create a snoop-friendly Evil AP WiFi hotspot, and the box dodges around low-level NAC/802.1x/RADIUS network authentication without any help; in the same breath, it can easily leap into stealth mode and keeps an ongoing encrypted link to give do-gooders a real challenge. The hacker doesn't even need to be in the same ZIP code to crack a firewall or VPN -- the 3G link lets the Power Pwn take bash command-line instructions through SMS messages and doles out some of its feedback the same way. While the $1,295 device can theoretically be used for nefarious purposes, DARPA's blessing (and funding) should help keep the Power Pwn safely in the hands of security pros and thwart more than a few dastardly villains looking for weak networks.
Ubiquitous iRemoTap puts your powerstrip in the cloud, turns lights off remotely (video)
It probably won't help you if you leave your oven on, but if you let lights linger after leaving home, Ubiquitous' iRemotTap may help you save a few Kilowatts. This seemingly vanilla powerstip is anything but, boasting the odd addition of a tiny OS embedded in a wireless LAN chip -- all the better to turn your lights off. Users can control the internet-enabled socket stick remotely via a mobile or desktop web browser, allowing them to switch off gadgets and lights after leaving the house. Can't be bothered to log in to switch off? No worries, this plug powers devices down automatically after they reach a pre-defined power consumption limit. If you're forgetful enough to need a light switch in the cloud, Ubiquitous is hoping to sell you peace of mind for less than ¥10,000 ($122) -- whenever these taps get out of R&D, that is. Vid's after the break, if you need convincing.
Pivot Power strip starts shipping, folks who ordered a year ago rejoice
Don't you hate it when you preorder something and it doesn't show up for, like, a year? We know of at least 960 early adopters who can feel your pain. The Pivot Power strip, which lets you rearrange six outlets to plug in adapters of any size, went on sale in June of last year for $23 a pop. But, because the community-driven website Quirky is selling it, the ordering process wasn't as simple as paying and waiting for it to show up on your doorstep: the company would only ship them when 960 people "committed" to buying them -- not unlike how a certain number of people are needed to activate a Groupon deal. Well, the company quickly met its goal, the strip is at last shipping, and Jake Zien, the inventor (that's that giddy fellow up there) couldn't be more pleased. When we first reported on the Pivot Power strip's availability, more than half of those pre-sale slots had already been filled so we're not sure just what took so long. Since then, Zien & Co. have been spending their time seeing the thing through the manufacturing process. In any case, if you missed the boat the first time, it looks like there might still be additional units up for sale. [Thanks, Dan L. and Zo] %Gallery-123507%
Motion sensor-equipped HiSAVER power strip cuts power when you leave the room
You probably wouldn't want to use it for all your electronics, but we're guessing that most folks could find a few uses for this new motion-sensor equipped HiSAVER power strip, which can automatically cut off power when you leave the room. To avoid too much powering on and off, the strip only shuts off power if it doesn't detect any motion for ten minutes, and it includes a master outlet and a second selectable outlet that can be kept on all the time if you like. No word on US availability just yet, but Tomauri has just announced that it'll be distributing the strip in Canada, and it promises that it'll save you between $30 and $50 a year on your power bill -- good thing, considering the power strip itself costs $110. Head on past the break for a quick video demonstration.
Universal USB controlled 'Power USB' strip turns on when your PC says it can
Needlessly annoyed by how much energy is being wasted in your home thanks to vampire draw? Regrettably, it looks as if you'll have to just tough it out for the remainder of summer (or winter, depending on hemisphere), as the device you're peering at above won't be on sale until August. The USB controlled "Power USB" power strip is a rather unique device, housing a grand total of four universal power sockets (hello, travelers!) and a single USB port; as you may expect, the USB port links the strip to your computer, giving it the power to turn a given socket on or off. Two of the plugs are actually on at all times (a good thing -- trust us), while the other two can be turned on automatically when triggered by a software program or a print job, for example. There's no mention of a price just yet, but even more alarming is the omission of a 12 socket version for the hardcore users among us.
Wet Circuits waterproof power strip presented by all-time best dubbed videos
Can't say we're any keener on the idea of blasting our outlets with Super Soakers, but Wet Circuit's water resistant power strips boast its ability to withstand just such a defiant action -- occasional rain and snow, wet hands, temporary flooding, and accidental water spills (assuredly intentional, too). $35 is the asking price, and while the company claims you can put metallic objects in the socket without fear of electrocution, you probably shouldn't press your luck. Check out a plethora of demonstrations after the break -- no really, we beseech you. Crank the speakers for this one.
Community-developed Pivot Power strip now available to order
The community-driven Quirky website has already managed to bring products like the Space Bar and DigiDude camera mount to market, and it's now offering what may well be its most useful product to date: the Pivot Power strip. That, as you can probably surmise, is a power strip that pivots, which lets you plug in up to six power adapters or chargers of any size (within reason). This being Quirky, however, things are done a bit differently that your usual retailer -- only 960 units are available for pre-sale right now, and you can "commit" to buying one for $23. If all those are sold, the Pivot Power will go into production, and its designers and top "influencers" will receive a small percentage of each sale. That goal should be easy enough to meet in this case, though -- more than half of the pre-sale slots have already been snapped up as of this writing. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and head on past the break for a video and the complete press release. %Gallery-96571%
Belkin Conserve lineup will make you feel even worse about all the electricity you're wasting
Belkin's just made four new Conserve products available for pre-order. The Conserve Insight tracks your actual devices' electrical usage and tells you how much they cost you on a yearly basis. It also calculates CO2 emissions produced by usage of a given device on either a monthly or yearly basis. The Conserve Smart AV is a greener power strip with five regular outlets and one green outlet for your television, which can auto-detect the power state of your teevee and turn off your peripherals. The conserve Valet is a four device capacity charging station which turns off automatically once devices are finished juicing up. Finally, the Conserve Socket is plugged into your wall outlet and boasts a timer for automatic power offs. The Conserve products will all ship mid-July, and they range in price from $9.99 to $39.99. Gallery of all four devices below.
Sanwa rolls out wattage-watching power strip
Devices that keep watch on the amount of electricity you're using are hardly anything new, but Sanwa has managed to refine the idea somewhat with its new 700-TP1052DW power strip, which is considerably more compact and a tad less unsightly than some other similar options. Nothing too complicated here -- just plug in your devices, switch on each outlet as needed, and keep watch on the total wattage being used on the handy built-in LCD (it'll even alert you if you reach a critical level). No word on pricing or availability just yet, but you can check out an enthralling 21 second video of the power strip after the break.
Completely useless extension turns laptop adapter into power strip
It's 2:30pm at your favorite cafe, and not a single power outlet's available to save your dying laptop from its fate. You're screwed, but a world away, your Japanese counterpart knows just what to do. They pull out this tiny little brick, stick it into the end of their laptop power supply, and deferentially ask another patron if they would kindly share. For the low, low price of ¥1,400 (about $15) for a two-prong version or ¥2,000 ($21) for three prongs, it's a fantastic idea... for mooching money off those who've never heard of a triple tap.
Multi-Tab concept elevates power strips to an art form
We've seen plenty products both real and imagined that promise to improve on the standard power strip, but few as elegantly designed as this so-called "Multi-Tab" concept from designer Soon Mo Kang. Not only is it modular to accommodate as many plugs as you need, but each module also has its own release mechanism to eject the plug without pulling on it, and it would come with a set of stickers to let you label each plug for minimal confusion. About the only drawback is that it might not be able to handle larger plugs, but that's nothing a little fine-tuning can't fix -- optional brick modules, perhaps? Either way, you likely haven't seen a better video of a power strip than the one after the break.
Ask Engadget: Best 'green' power strip out there?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Randall, who isn't ashamed of his unbridled love for Ma Earth."I just moved into a new apartment and have been reading about all of the new power strips out there, especially the green ones. I was wondering if you had any suggestions about which "green "power strips are out there with decent joules ratings. And when I say green, I mean power strips that have the remotes or switches to turn off all electricity flowing to certain plugs and with at least 2 plugs that are always on. I was looking specifically at sub $50 because I will need two, but if that is not possible I could be convinced otherwise. Thanks!"Don't be afraid to wave your green pride around here, folks. If you've got a power strip that nixes vampire drain and fits the bill, spill the details in comments below. It helps everyone to help the planet, ya heard?
Power Bridge flips the strip upside-down, instantly kills ugly
Oftentimes it's the most complex of designs that leads into the next level of a technology. Other times, it's the simplest of tweaks that completely revolutionize things. Take the Power Bridge concept, for instance, which simply takes the conventional power strip, turns it upside down and calls it a day. Designed by Hyukjae Chang, the immensely simplistic device keeps those gaudy plugs underneath the top bridge, and it also makes routing the connecting AC cables all sorts of simple. There's no telling when this thing will finally leave the drawing board and enter the production line, but you can rest assured Monster Cable will figure out a way to throw a "power conditioner" in there and charge two or three C-notes for it.[Via Unplggd]
Spy Ear power strip lets you listen from the floor
Yeah, it's not the wildest power strip design we've ever seen, but the Spy Ear has a secret: a hidden SIM card slot and cell radio that allows you to monitor what's happening in your absence. Just dial in and listen away -- we're not sure how much you'll hear from the usual places a power strip is hidden, but it'll be better than nothing, nosy.[Via Red Ferret]
Movable Power, like Paris, is a conceptual feast
We're suckers for power-strip designs. As gadget nerds, we're constantly faced with overloaded circuits and blocked ports. For the latter, there's this design by Jeff Carter that neatly overcomes the limitations presented by the ubiquitous (and ridiculous) side-by-side strip design. Regarding our excessive power issues, that's easy: more interns to shovel the coal and kittens.
Furutech intros $700 F-TP615 power filter / AC distributor
Ah, there's the Furutech we know and love! The company made famous for charging obscene amounts of cash for AV items that cannot possibly be worth their weight in gold is back in full force, pumping out a power filter / AC distributor for $700. For those untrained in mathematics, that's around $116.66 per outlet. Of course, these aren't just any outlets, as each one is tested with its own α (Alpha) cryogenic and demagnetizing process and is plated in 24k gold. You'll also notice a proprietary Axial Locking System which purportedly lowers receptacle resonance by a factor of ten, and the high-grade aluminum chassis effectively shields against RFI and alien radiation. If you believe all of that, you can gleefully give your cash away right now in exchange for one.
A Holiday Gift Guide for the frequent traveler
If the favorite people on your holiday gift list spend more time in hotels and airports than they do hanging out with you, then we can help. This guide to gifts for the frequent traveler is sure to put a smile on the face of your friends or loved ones wherever their travels may take them in 2009. Power on the go With rare exceptions, it's almost impossible to find an airport or hotel room with enough power outlets for all of your electronic gadgets. Rather than challenging someone to a duel with presentation laser pointers to see who gets to use the one available airport outlet, I've come up with a more peaceful solution -- carrying a compact multiple outlet with me. Belkin's Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger (at right, above) can handle three AC and two USB devices simultaneously. It's tiny and light, and fits just in just about any laptop case. My personal favorite is the Monster Cable Outlets To Go Power Strip (below), which fits six widely-spaced grounded AC outlets in a very flat 8.5" x 2.25" x 1.8" box. This one works very well with those obnoxious adapters that cover two or three outlets by themselves, and is perfect for sharing a single power outlet with five total strangers. If more people carried these in their laptop cases, there would be world peace...at least in airports. It's also available in even more compact 3 and 4 outlet models. Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger: $24.99 Monster Cable Outlets To Go Power Strip -- 6 outlet: $29.95 More below...
Power strip monitors your usage, makes you feel bad
Energy conservation and gadgetphilia are tough to combine, but this Power Cost Controller power strip might be just the ticket for those looking to monitor -- and potentially cut back on -- their power usage. The strip's display counts kilowatt-hour power usage and tracks by hour, week, month, and year. It also monitors line quality with voltage, line frequency, and power factor readings. We're just not sure if we really want to know how much power we're using, but if you're ready for the bad news, the strip is $99 and available now.
