Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving Surge Protector with Autoswitching Technology, 10-Outlet
by Smart Strip
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List Price: Our Price: $28.42 You Save: $23.30 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $27.00 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving Surge Protector with Autoswitching Technology, 10-Outlet
Customer Review: Simple way to kill power to a problem TV set
Summary: 5 Stars
This device works wonderfully in my situation; a wonderful TV set that has a troubled standby mode. My television searches for updates to cable channels. Constantly. With a LOUD high pitched whine. As long as it is plugged into power. The issue is that I don't watch broadcast or cable TV of any kind, and as a result it isn't hooked up to an antenna or cable. As the TV cannot /find/ any signals, it remains in autopgramming standby as long as it is plugged in and not fully on. (This is an issue with this discontinued Phillips TV.)
This simple device, with the TV on one of the power dependent outlets, allows me to easily kill power to it when our home reciever isn't on. A far cheaper solution than ditching an otherwise wonderful movie/game room TV. I'm not convinced that it does much to reduce our power bills, but it is an effective solution for devices that don't handle standby mode well.
The unit worked right out of the box, but also has a potentiometer that can easily be adjusted to dial in the sensitivity on the controlling powerport. This might be necessary for a controlling device that doesn't draw a lot of power. Keep that in mind.
Easily a 4.5 purchase, with half a point deducted due to the garrish bright red and blue on some of the switches. I'm glad it is hidden behind a large mahoghany cabinet.
Customer Review: I had high hopes for this device, BUT....
Summary: 2 Stars
After hearing about the "vampire" effect of leaving things plugged in, I ordered two of these thinking I could use one for the living room and one for the home office. I couldn't get either of them to work with my computer even after calling tech support and adjusting the sensitivity settings.
Oh, I also purchased a Kill-A-Watt meter after the fact to measure this vampire effect and I was shocked at how LITTLE energy all these appliances use in the off position. Most of my appliances and electronic devices didn't even register a tenth of a watt while in the off/standby position. I measured my whole home theater system with my former power strip. All of the electronic devices combined barely registered a watt.
So, I could go on about what works and what doesn't with this product, but the bottom line is that it really isn't worth the extra money. Remember, having this thing shut your electronics down by powering off another device is like pulling the plug of each device out of the wall. There are many modern electronics that are not designed to be turned off in that manner.
This thing is fine now that I have worked around all the kinks, but I don't believe I am saving any money and I would not recommend this to anyone. A good surge protector is all anyone needs.
Customer Review: Nice product...not exactly what i was expecting
Summary: 4 Stars
This is clearly a nice quality solid and well designed surge protector power strip. The energy saving features get some taking used to however, the blue outlet is your "control" outlet....and the blank background outlets all are "controlled" by the blue control outlet....so for example, i plugged my tv into the blue control outlet and all my video game systems and dvd player etc into the blank background outlets.
So when i turn the tv OFF...that means the power to the other outlets is automatically turned OFF with the tv (the control)...and turned ON when i turn the tv back ON. Its kind of annoying because i used to turn the dvd player on before i turned on the tv to get it started...but now you have to turn the tv on first obviously...same thing with the video game systems....sometimes i like to leave a game on and do something else...but turn off the tv...so you can't do that anymore.
Having said that, you can plug the accessories that you simply MUST have on into the RED outlets...those are constantly "hot"...which of course is nice but defeats the purpose....
So i have gotten used to the auto switching off of my accessories...and it is nice that i can have so many extra systems that i RARELY use plugged in yet not be using any energy when the tv is off...
Customer Review: Reality Check: You may not save much
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought one of these and it's a good quality product. I'd give it 5 stars if it was a little more cost effective. I also bought a Watt meter with this so I could find the best place to put this device to use. I found that most devices only use a watt or less on standby. You computer speakers if you leave them plugged in and on use 8-10 watts (with computer off of coarse), my small HP printer uses about 4 watts in standby. So with a computer you might save 14 watts. If you pay 20 cents a kWH (which is high) you'll save 18-20, assuming you use your computer on average 4 hours a day: 14 * (24-4) * 356 / 1000 * 0.20 = $19.94 in a year. So this won't pay for itself in a year, but it is like getting a surge protector for $10.
The best place I found to use this was the cable TV box in my bedroom. It's not a DVR so I have it switch off now with the TV. In standby mode, the box alone uses about 30 watts, and the receiver uses 1 watt. It's also nice to just switch off the TV and have everything switch off at once. This should save me about $44 a year.
One last note, I found my sub-woofer eating up 10 watts 24/7 because I had it plugged directly in to the wall instead of the outlet in the back of the receiver. If you use one, you may want to check where you plug in yours.
Customer Review: Very cool power strip
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered a couple of these power strips, along with the Kill-A-Watt device, and have been very happy with the function and value!
I used one on my entertainment center. The Kill-A-Watt helped me identify my DVD carousel player was vamping about 4-5W in "off" mode. Plus some other devices.. 1W here, 1W there. My sub was already plugged into my switched outlet on the receiver so that wasn't an issue. Although I previously had it in the wall.. But you may have a similar situation.
So now I've got my receiver plugged into the control port, everything else is in the switched. Works great.
With the other unit I had planned to plug my laptop into it.. and while my laptop draws anywhere from 24-40 watts, it didn't seem to be enough to actually "switch" the unit. So I'm back to my regular power strip there. Now I just turn it off when the laptop is off. It seems this might be the same problem reported by the previous "iMac" user. Seems if the device doesn't draw enough power it won't switch the switch. And yes I tried the adjustment knob maxed both ways.
All in all very satisfied with the unit. Works for my entertainment center and that's what I was most concerned with. And the payback will be < 1 year.