What's your best travel power strip?

May 19, 2023 2:42 PM

I've been using this one for two years. It was great but it's about at the end of it's rope. Nothing stays plugged into it. Requires multiple wiggles for connection and so forth. What do you nomads use?
posted by rileyray3000 to Technology (8 answers total)

For a lower-end, all-in-one that's sort of like you have, I recommend the Anker 332 USB Power Strip. For twice the price you can get the 525 which has 100W, plenty to charge a laptop and several smaller devices.

Personally I like a more modular solution because an all-in-one can break. I've been buying pivot "pigtail" cords that are 6-12" long, just a very short extension cord. Then into a 3-way splitter, and individual chargers. I would recommend the Anker 511 30W USB-Charger, which is shockingly small and 30W is enough for a smaller laptop. With this modular system, it's no big deal if one part breaks, you can always buy a replacement charger, splitter, etc.

I don't entirely know how to answer this question because the linked device in the post is likely not legal for sale in the
US.
posted by wnissen at 3:53 PM on May 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

I came to post the same solution as wnissen, 6" cord with a 3-plug tap. Allows me to use my preferred charger, allows easy sharing with others, and the components are dirt cheap.
posted by token-ring at 5:50 PM on May 19, 2023

Curious how hard of a requirement the multi-standard sockets are? They'll likely narrow the field of acceptable options somewhat; I personally think you'd be better served with a separate adapter for that.

I personally use this travel surge protector and It's pretty decent and compact. The flat plug is sometimes difficult to plug in to all outlets if there isn't enough clearance below it and the cord is on the short side compared to other options, so it doesn't get my wholehearted recommendation.

If I were to do it over again I'd probably go for something like that Anker 332 power strip wnissen mentioned instead as the USB ports it provides are woefully inadequate for USB fast charging or power delivery and I use a separate wall wart for USB charging anyway.
posted by Aleyn at 6:39 PM on May 19, 2023

I've never found a good multi-plug power strip option that is both portable and 100-240v compatible, so I just travel with a couple of small multi-USB Anker chargers like the one wnissen listed.
posted by photo guy at 9:12 AM on May 20, 2023

I've always used the Belkin Surge Protector, which has a rotating plug so you can turn it 4 ways, and it has 3 AC ports plus 2 USB ports. Though it's a bit old fashioned nowadays.
posted by kschang at 9:48 PM on May 20, 2023

Just a quick note that "Multi-Standard" sockets of the type on the product you linked are known as "Death-Dapters" within the hobbyist electronics field (well the BigClive corner of it anyway).

There are lots of ways you can plug things in that yields extreme danger to the user. For example, on the product you linked, you could connect a UK plug to the end socket (nearest the cable) at 90 degrees rotated with the earth pin in the live hole. That'll make the metal parts on some appliances live. Or there is the fact it has earth receptacles at all when it doesn't connect to earth along its own flex. If an appliance is designed to have an earth connection then you really need to supply one to it, and where your socket can't then that socket should lack the hole to stop you trying to use it.

I mean - use these adaptors if you want. Lots of people do. But be aware that anything with those multi-standard sockets is almost certainly not complying with any safety regulations. But if you are going to use one then a travel scenario where you're more likely to be in unfamiliar surroundings, tired, have poor socket access etc etc ... that is probably the most dangerous use case other than giving on to a child.
posted by samworm at 8:43 AM on May 21, 2023 [3 favorites]

Couple things, I have that Anker, also a good choice but a bit dated when everyone seems to have a a bunch of devices. It's 4-way pivot plug is great but I have run into cases (especially in Europe) where the plugs are at a 45-degree angle and none of the 90-degree orientations work. The freely rotating plugs are more flexible.

The OP's link, I realized, also claims that it has 18 gauge wire for up to 10 amps, but that is twice what 18AWG is rated for. The only UL-listed extension cords you'll find that even have wire that small are, literally, for indoor Christmas tree light applications where you don't want more than 5 amps going into your tree anway. I would also note that AC to DC converters, while they seem harmless, are actually the most dangerous type of device because they inherently require fatal levels of AC wattage to be in close proximity to low-power DC contacts. AC to AC is relatively safe, DC to DC is very safe, but not the combination.
posted by wnissen at 5:15 PM on May 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Out of curiosity, I bought the Upwade device from the original post. It was, to my surprise, even more hazardous than I expected. None of the listed safety features are present: no surge supression, no overcurrent protection, no thermal protection, no Underwriters Labs (UL) listing. It is an unpolarized, ungrounded extension cord hooked up to sockets that are supposed to be polarized and grounded. When I received it, my unit had already had a severe short, pitting the plug and scorching the interior. While the sockets are spaced far enough to prvent plugging in hot-to-hot, that is the only good thing. That and the industrial design, it's beautiful. The contacts in the sockets are very lightweight, making it easy to cause sparks. This product, unfortunately, is trying very hard to kill you.
posted by wnissen at 10:01 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]