Belkin BZ103050vTVL Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger
by Belkin Inc.
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List Price: Our Price: $16.06 You Save: $8.93 (36%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $14.81 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Belkin BZ103050vTVL Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger
Customer Review: A great product that could use a couple minor improvements
Summary: 4 Stars
This does what it says it's supposed to do. My only complaints are minor. First, it's a little larger than I expected, although if you are lugging a bunch of electronics around anyway, it shouldn't really be a problem to throw this in your bag also. Second, the slide-on cap that is supposed to keep the surge suppressor flush with the wall when plugged in doesn't actually contact the wall, so it doesn't really do anything. However, it seems to stay fully plugged in just fine without it. These two points are why I give it four starts overall.
On another note, this device is 110/120 volts only, although I knew this when I bought it so I didn't subtract any stars for this. I just wish there were a dual-voltage (110/220 volts) model for use overseas. All you would then need is an appropriate plug adapter, or maybe a dual-voltage model could also come with interchangeable plugs. I would gladly pay a little extra for these features.
Additionally, some electronics will not charge from the USB ports on this or other similar devices, but I chalk this up to a "problem" with the design of these other electronic devices rather than a flaw with this surge suppressor. For example, a friend's couple-year-old Sony Reader requires 5.2 volts to charge and won't charge from the USB ports on this device, although it will charge from a computer USB port. Another friend's iPad would not charge from the USB ports on this device either without an adapter that presumably stepped-up the voltage.
On the positive side, the plug swivels 360 degrees so that you can fit it in a variety of outlets with a variety of obstructions.
Overall, if you need something to protect 110/120 volt electronics and need to charge USB devices without a computer, this is a great product.
Customer Review: Perfect for traveling!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this item to resolve a specific problem when traveling - The lack of available AC outlets in hotel rooms! I travel a moderate amount, and with the number of devices that I seem to carry around (Blackberry, personal cell phone, Bluetooth headset, laptop, iPod), it was difficult or impossible to charge more than one or two devices in most hotel rooms. There just were never enough AC outlets available, or they were behind the desk or the bed, and inaccessible, etc.
This is a perfect solution for traveling, and the USB power ports are a great addition. I charge my iPod and Blackberry via the USB ports, and use the AC outlets for other devices. The AC outlets are NOT spaced very far apart, however, so if you happen to have chargers with those oversized heads on them, you may only be able to use two of the three outlets at the same time.
This Belkin device seems well-constructed and sturdy, I was impressed with it's "heft" when I got it. It's larger than it appears in the photos (at least to me). The units own AC power connector "pivots" so that you can orient the device properly based on the receptacle that you're using. A very nice design feature, HOWEVER! Rotating the power connector (at least on the unit I got) was REALLY difficult. I thought I had received a defective unit, I could not get the thing to turn no matter what I tried. I contacted Belkin customer support, and they got back to me pretty quickly and offered to replace it. I ended up getting it to work, but it was REALLY tight. I thought I was going to break it, but finally was able to loosen it up so that the connector turned a little more easily.
I would definitely recommend this item for those medium to heavy travelers that are loaded down with gadgets, er, I mean "business tools"....
Customer Review: Great surge protector that you can take on the go!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this surge protector.
I wanted something that would allow me and my wife to charge both our laptops on the go as well as my iPhone and her iPod Touch. We like going on weekend trips and plugging all our electronics into different outlets scattered throughout the room is annoying. We don't have that problem anymore, now whenever we go on a weekend trip we toss this into our bag. We can both charge our laptops at the same time and i can plug in my iPhone charger as well and my wife uses one of the USB charging ports to charge her iPod.
We have also come to use this thing as a "charging station" in our home. We leave our laptop chargers, my iPhone charger and her iPod USB charging/docking cable plugged into this unit. When we aren't using it we just simply unplug the unit from the wall - we don't have to unplug 4 different calbes from the wall anymore! At night we just plug it back in and connect our electronics up so they charge overnight. My only issue with this unit is that me and wife can't use the USB ports to charge my iPhone and her iPod at the same time, the USB charging ports don't put out enough current. I just get around this by using the AC charger with my iPhone if the iPod is charging at the same time.
I don't know if this unit is portable enough to throw in your laptop bag, but its definately small enough that i can toss it in my backpack or my small suit case and take it with me wherever i want to go. I will definately buy a couple more of these for my house and travels.
Pros:
Portable
3 standard ports
2 USB ports
Swivels and locks in 4 positions
$75,000 "insurance"
Cons:
Doesn't charge 2 iPhone's or iPhone and iPod touch at same time using USB ports
Customer Review: Great Versatile Product - Saved Me On An International Trip
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great and flexible product for charging up to 3 ac power components, and 2 USB devices simultaneously.
I was recently in Prague, and used this product each day. Iwas able to charge numerous gadgets and gear at the same time. My netbook via AC, iPhone via USB, extra iPhone battery via USB, travel router via AC, and a PDA via AC! As needed, I could also swap my Symbian phone in to a USB port or AC outlet. All this with just one electrical outlet and one international plug adapter!
I have bought several of these for use at my desk, in a guest room, and other places in the house. The item would make a great gift for anyone with gear for use at home or on the road.
The best thing about this device is the flexibility it offers, as you can plug many kinds of usb devices in to it.
Things I would improve, in order of priority:
*Agree with the earlier review that you cannot plug numerous items in with bulky block type adapters. The suggestion to put one ac outlet on the opposite end where the usb plugs are is a good one;
*Make the ac outlet prongs somehow fold in to the unit so they do not protrude out;
*Include retractable usb cables;
*Offer an included or accessory case for the device and associated cables.
This is still the best product in this category that I am aware of, and I would buy it again and highly recommend it! The suggested improvements would just make a great product even better.
Customer Review: Not bad, and my experience is that it WILL charge two devices
Summary: 3 Stars
Bought one at a local discount warehouse store, and it works fine for what we need it for -- charging a Samsung Impression smartphone and iPod Nano at the same time. Others reported that it doesn't have the power (current or voltage) to charge two devices; I can't confirm that.
One caveat: the plastic prong cover (don't throw it out!) is supposed to slide into a slot on the bottom and "provide balance against any surface."[1] Well, any surface in which the outlet is flush with. 99 out of 100 outlets I use have the outlet flush with a baseplate on a wall, and the suppressor (as pictured in the user guide) extends beyond conventional baseplates any way you place it. I think that's an imaginary feature. Really, the prong protector just stows in a slot on the device, and that's thoughtful designing.
It's big. (See my picture in the product photo gallery.) For a portable USB charger, I'd opt for a unit from Belkin or others that the prongs flip into to stow during travel. Or ... I like Apple's $30 charger, which is as small as I've seen anywhere, small enough to fit into a Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case with my iPod and in-ear headphones.
[1] According to the Belkin user guide included with the surge suppressor. For what it's worth, the illustrated guide is very good, showing you the various ways to use it.