Wonderful So Far . . . The Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector Seems To Work!

The Good: Appears to work, Comparatively inexpensive
The Bad: No reset/fuse button, LEDs are incredibly bright, Tight outlets
The Basics: Appearing to work so far, the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector is about the best basic surge protector I can find these days!


Quite some time ago, I found a power strip that truly worked for me. I loved that power strip, mostly because when I worked for a computer repair company several years ago, I had the opportunity to learn about power strips. Most power strips are little more than extension cords, at least after the first power surge they experience. Unless a surge protector has a way to reset the fuse, they offer no protection after the first surge they protect against . . . at least that used to be how they were designed. So, I had a great power strip in the form of a Monster Cable AV600 (reviewed here!) . . . and a month ago, I accidentally dumped a soda onto it. Even with my stringent reviewing standards, I did not expect it to survive that (judging by the electric shocks I received while unplugging my laptop computer . . . it didn't!). So, I immediately went on a quest to replace the AV600 and found that I could not find anything quite like that locally. I did, however, manage to find a surge protector I was willing to spend money on. It was the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector.

After a month of use and at least three power outages, the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector truly seems to be working for my wife and I!

As the name suggests, the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector is a six outlet surge protector, with all six outlets featuring a grounding socket and the safety-constructed slots for safety plugs. For those unfamiliar with most modern appliances, most three prong and especially two prong plugs come with the left prong slightly larger than the right prong so there becomes only one proper and safe way to plug devices in. This prevents electrocutions and destruction of electronic goods.

The six outlets are situated on the top of the eleven inch base of the surge protector. They are evenly spaced and I have had no difficulties with space issues as the only things I have plugged into this have been audio-visual equipment. We found that for standard laptop computer or other basic three-pronged plugs the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector was able to accomodate all of the plugs, but trying to plug in more sophisticated equipment with larger AC power supplies robbed us of some of the slots. As well, I was very surprised by how tight some of the plug slots on the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector actually were. I cannot recall having to force plugs into a power strip before, but some of the slots did not seem to want to accept some of our perfectly standard-sized plugs.

The cable for the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector is eight feet long and ends in a three pronged plug that connects into the wall at an angle. I understand this is supposed to save space, but it still looks funny, unless your outlet is offset by a thirty degree angle. This function only truly makes sense when one is plugging the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector into the same socket as something with a more intrusive cord. This allows the cable to drape to the side of the socket and other cords as opposed to sticking straight out. This is not a key selling point for me, but might come in handy for those who have crowded outlets or are plugging into places that are hard to reach.

The Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector plugs easily into the wall and is turned on with the flick of a switch. The lit toggle switch clearly indicates when the power is on and there are two LEDs between the power switch and the outlets that indicate that the unit is grounded and protected. Presumably, if either one of those LEDs go off, switching the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector on and off will reset the unit. If one of the two LEDs does not come back on, it is time to replace the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector. The Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector is rated for up to 1000 Joules.

The Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector appears to be working. The LEDs are shockingly bright when we have the room darkened (which can be problematic for those using this to ground AV equipment for a home theater). Beyond that, the Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector actually appears to work and it seems to work well. Until there is a surge that destroys my Defiant General Use 6 Outlet Surge Protector and the equipment plugged into it, I am willing to endorse this fairly simple surge protector!

For other power related devices, please check out my reviews of:
GE 34205 HDMI Cable
Canon UL-BP511 battery
Nikon L16 AA batteries

7.5/10

For other electronic device reviews, please visit my Electronics Reviews Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Energizer Succeeds In Making A Charging Station That Workd!

The Good: Durable charger, Easy-to-use, Includes batteries, Batteries retain their charge
The Bad: Only comes with ones style of battery.
The Basics: The Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger is a pretty wonderful charging station.

I was very surprised, a few months ago, when I reviewed the Duracell Go Mobile Charger (reviewed here!) that the product did not really live up. So, I was pleasantly surprised when the Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger actually was an excellent battery charger/recharger. My wife picked herself up one at the beginning of summer and she has been using it very steadily since. I was happy with the fact that the batteries, being rotated each day for a full recharging/draining cycle, continue to hold their charge very well. The Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger is a nice alternative for those who go through a lot of batteries. We found ours for under $15.00 and it has definitely been worth it for how much we have saved in batteries.

The Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger is a full charging system for two types of batteries, though it only comes with one. It comes with the wall charger and 4 AA Energizer rechargeable batteries. The Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger, the physical unit, is 4 3/4” tall by 2 5/8” wide by 1 5/8” deep and it is designed to hold four batteries at any time. As a result, it may hold the four batteries the unit comes with or four AA or four AAA batteries at any time. The Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger is a fairly stylish recharger with clear ports for recharging your batteries in.

The Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger is exceptionally easy to use. Simply look into the battery compartment and check out the etchings inside. They make it clear how the batteries are supposed to be oriented. Place two to four batteries – they must always be recharged in pairs! – into the Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger according to the diagram inside the charger. Then, plug the unit into a wall socket. The front has a light up LED that indicates that the unit is on and charging. When the batteries are not at all charged, the light on the front glows a bright green. Both sides have lights to indicate the charging.

When the batteries are charged, the light turns off and the unit shuts off automatically.

Because the charger worked so well, my wife and I bought more Energizer rechargeable batteries in order to keep a rotating supply of batteries charged and charging. Within two months of normal use, the Energizer batteries that came with the Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger showed no wear as far as charging time or the time retaining the charge. Both internally and externally, these batteries hold up for charging and wear.

Ultimately, the Energizer Recharge AA/AAA Charger works exceptionally well and the batteries for it do what they promise. All I could have hoped for would have been that the unit came with four AAA batteries in addition to the four AA batteries in order to get the most out of the charger!

For other power supply reviews, be sure to visit my reviews of:
CB-5L charger
Nikon L16 AA batteries
AV600 Monster Cable Power Protector

8.5/10

For other electronics reviews, be sure to visit my Electronics Reviews Index Page for an organized listing of all the electronics I have reviewed!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The Law Of Diminishing Returns Is Evident In The Duracell Go Mobile Charger.

The Good: Durable charger, Easy-to-use, Nice accessory options, Includes batteries.
The Bad: Batteries do not retain their charge, Poor quality to the batteries.
The Basics: The Duracell Go Mobile Charger is a great idea with good fundamentals, but oddly inferior batteries.


No one is more surprised than I am when I begin a review of a product from a well-established company that is clearly headed in the direction of a panning. And yet, with the Duracell Go Mobile Charger, it is surprisingly hard for me to give an enthusiastic product review. Instead, I found the Duracell Go Mobile Charger to be a worthwhile secondary product for a surprisingly inferior primary product.

Shortly after my wife and I moved in together, it became evident that our battery consumption was going to grow. Between my decorations like lit snow globes and her digital camera equipment, batteries were going to become an annoying expense. So, we talked about it and decided to get some rechargeable batteries. We chose the Duracell Go Mobile Charger when we found it in the store because it could charge both AA and AAA batteries and it came with a pair of both! Considering we paid $7.50 for the Duracell Go Mobile Charger, it seemed like we could not go wrong.

The Duracell Go Mobile Charger is actually a full charging system. It comes with the wall charger, a power cord, a car charger and 2 AA and 2 AAA Duracell rechargeable batteries. The Duracell Go Mobile Charger, the physical unit, is 4 3/4” tall by 2 5/8” wide by 1 5/8” deep and it is designed to hold four batteries at any time. As a result, it may hold the four batteries the unit comes with or four AA or four AAA batteries at any time. The Duracell Go Mobile Charger is a fairly stylish recharger with a flip-top door and clean ports for recharging your batteries in.

The Duracell Go Mobile Charger is exceptionally easy to use. Simply flip open the front cover. Inside, there are clear etchings in the battery compartment that make it clear how the batteries are supposed to be oriented. Place two to four batteries – they must always be recharged in pairs! – into the Duracell Go Mobile Charger according to the diagram inside the charger. Then, close the lid. It snaps closed to indicate it is closed. Then, plug the unit into a wall socket or into a car lighter port using the car charger. The front cover has a light up LED that indicates that the unit is on and charging. When the batteries are not at all charged, the light on the front glows a bright red.

When the batteries are charged, the red light turns to green and the batteries may be removed.

Initially, my wife and I planned to buy more Duracell rechargeable batteries in order to keep a rotating supply of batteries charged and charging. However, within two months of charging and recharging the batteries that came with the Duracell Go Mobile Charger, we discovered we would need another option. Within two months of normal use, the Duracell batteries that came with the Duracell Go Mobile Charger began to show severe external wear and a problematic degree of internal wear. On the outside, the coppertop batteries started to peel. The copper portion actually peeled off and that is the type of wear that the packaging explicitly states one should stop using the batteries for.

As for internal wear, the batteries from the Duracell Go Mobile Charger began to show significant charge degradation. One of the globes I lit with the batteries initially would run for eight hours. After a month of charging the batteries on pretty much a daily basis, the same batteries only lit the globe for four hours and after two, the lights were significantly dimmer than normal. The Duracell Go Mobile Charger seemed to have no problem recharging the batteries, but the batteries themselves seemed unable to retain a charge.

Ultimately, the Duracell Go Mobile Charger works, but not as well as one might hope for a total battery replacement solution that moves one to using all Duracell rechargeable batteries.

For other power supply reviews, be sure to visit my reviews of:
CB-5L charger
Nikon L16 AA batteries
AV600 Monster Cable Power Protector

6.5/10

For other electronics reviews, be sure to visit my Electronics Reviews Index Page for an organized listing of all the electronics I have reviewed!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Truly Shameless Hardware Reviews: The APC Back-UPS ES350 UPS System Is Another Winner!

The Good: Battery back up works, Surge protection appears to work, Reset function, Supposed warranty
The Bad: Plug spacing is inadequate
The Basics: With its wonderful battery backup function, this surge protector is wonderful for all computer equipment!


Lately, I've been venturing out of my usual media areas and reviewing things in the computer and electronics sections and this has honestly been a real challenge for me at times. With my reviews of such things as the MonsterPower PowerProtect AV600 (reviewed here!), I've been discovering just how much one may write about something as simple as a power cord. Today, I set out to evaluate my APC Back-UPS ES350 Battery Backup and surge protector. Considering that I have had two of these and they have been around my house longer than my AV600, I figured I ought to have more to write about it.

I have been protecting my computer and at least as important, my monitor (reviewed here!) on the ES350 for three years now and I am pleased to say that whenever I need a new battery backup, it will almost certainly be another ES350. The nice thing is that occasionally, APC will offer rebates on the ES350 and that makes it even more affordable!

The basics begin with the simple: battery back-up is a system by which computer components connected to it are able to run for a limited time during a power outage. This is essentially a big, bulky surge protector connected to a giant battery. When powered up and operating properly, components plugged into the battery back-up will survive electrical incidents involving surges (see the caveat below!!!) and will operate when the power goes out for a limited time. This is a six outlet battery backup, with the two rows of three sockets on opposite sides of the top of the ES350. All six outlets feature a grounding socket and the safety-constructed slots for safety plugs. For those unfamiliar with most modern appliances (in the last ten years or so), most three prong and especially two prong plugs come with the left prong slightly larger than the right prong so there becomes only one proper and safe way to plug devices in. This prevents electrocutions and destruction of computer components. This is less of an issue with computer components as most every computer component is a three pronged plug and all six of the sockets on the ES350 are three pronged - grounded - sockets.

The six outlets are situated on the top of the just under eleven inch long by seven inch wide base of the battery backup. This bulky accessory is three and a half inches tall, so when plugs are plugged in, this is not a space-saving device. In order to operate it without plug cords getting bent, this needs a bit of space (two to three inches) above the top of the battery backup. The plugs are arranged evenly spaced within the latter six inches (from the cord) of the ES350.

On the issue of the plug spacing, this leads to two important problems with the ES350. Only three of the six sockets are actually connected to the surge protecting function. When the power goes out, all six sockets may be utilized, but only three will protect against surges. Given the unpredictability of power outages and the sudden resurgence of power to a home, this is a huge liability. However, the other half of this apparent problem is this: it's highly unlikely one would have active devices in all six plugs when the device is engaged. I tend to use the three non-surge plugs only for devices that I use sporadically. So, for example, I do not keep my scanner (reviewed here!) plugged in. Moreover, because my Laserjet 1200 printer (reviewed here!) does not have a power switch, I do not keep that plugged in either. When I use them, I plug them in and they tend to go into the plugs that are not protected for surges. Whenever I've lost power while scanning or printing, the first thing I've done is pulled those plugs.

I couldn't plug the scanner into the surge-protector sockets even if I wanted to. That is the second problem with the ES350. When my computer and monitor are plugged in, there is not enough space to plug in the scanner plug. The difference is that the scanner has one of the big, bulky square plugs that takes up a lot of space. My printer does not have the bulky plug and that can be plugged into the third surge protected socket, but so long as the computer and monitor are protected - which they ought to be - the scanner cannot be protected against surges. With the scanner plugged in, I lose the use of the socket next to it, which is annoying.

The cable for the ES350 is six feet long and ends in a three pronged plug that connects into the wall at an angle. I understand this is supposed to save space, but it still looks funny, unless your outlet is offset by a forty-five degree angle. This function only truly makes sense when one is plugging the ES350 into the same socket as something with a more intrusive cord. This allows the cable to drape to the side of the socket and other cords as opposed to sticking straight out. This is not a key selling point for me, but might come in handy for those who have crowded outlets or are plugging into places that are hard to reach.

There is also a jack for the telephone line. You know how when they power goes out, your telephone will often still work? That's because telephone lines carry power as well and those lines power the telephones. Like electrical lines, telephone lines can have erratic surges especially during storms. Those surges can destroy computer components and telephone equipment. The ES350 eliminates that problem by surge protecting the telephone power line that is run through it! This is a remarkably clever and convenient function of the ES350 and one that APC does not capitalize on enough.

The ES350 Battery Backup plugs easily into the wall and is turned on with the press of a button. There is an LED above the button to clearly indicate when the power is on. When turned on, the unit beeps as well to let the user know it is working. According to the paperwork on this, the battery back-up works for about one and a half minutes with components plugged into every socket. I have gotten ten minutes out of the ES350 with just the computer and monitor plugged in when the power has gone out. This is an exercise in annoyance, though, as the device beeps constantly when it is running devices on the battery power. Indeed, it beeps whenever power is out. Sometimes the first way I know I've lost power is by hearing my ES350 beeping from the basement!

But the battery back up works! It has protected my computer components and whenever I have exhausted the battery, I simply unplug it from the wall and turn it off (otherwise it would keep beeping until it fully ran out of power). When power is restored, I unplug everything from the ES350, plug it back into the wall and turn it on. This resets the surge protection function so my equipment is once again protected.

As a side note, I once decided that the ES350 would be great for protecting my microwave, as surges have killed previous microwaves of mine. So, for a while I had my microwave (reviewed here!) plugged into an ES350. This brilliant idea - the ES350 DID protect the microwave from the erratic power surges surrounding my power outages - was trumped only by my decision to try to microwave something during an outage. This battery back up does not - repeat NOT - support power-intensive devices like a microwave. Enough said on that, I think.

The other nice thing about the ES350 is that whenever I leave my house, I am confident my computer components will be fine and I do not need to unplug them. Having witnessed how much it takes to cause the ES350 to need to be reset (indeed, it's only needed it after intense storms when the battery backup function has been exhausted) I have never worried about returning home to find my computer components damaged. That level of confidence is great and quite reassuring. That's what we pay surge protectors and battery backup devices for!

This battery backup has a $50,000 equipment replacement or repair warranty, which I have never had to exercise, which is valid for two years. Presumably, if my system gets fried and it can be shown to be a result of a failure of the ES350 from normal use, everything plugged into it will be replaced or repaired up to a value of $50,000. So, while a microwave might not be protected, the computer and monitor are protected by both the device and its warranty.

This is certainly a better-than-average battery backup and it does a wonderful job protecting all computer components!

For other power-related reviews, please be sure to visit my reviews of:
Hi-Capacity AC Adapter For Acer 5532
DLO Power Bug
CB-5L Charger

8.5/10

For other electronics reviews, please click here to visit my index page!

© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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The Charger, The Canon CB-5L Does What It Promises!

The Good: Does what it promises, Easy-to-use
The Bad: Not grounded, Relatively expensive to replace
The Basics: A product that does just what it promises (no more, no less), the Canon CB-5L charger is a simple, generally well-designed device.


The Canon CB-5L battery charger, is a one-function device with remarkably few bells and whistles. As a result, it makes it exceptionally easy to write about it with an economy of language. Besides, it fits perfectly with my earlier review of the erratic Ultralast UL-BP511 battery (here!) which this is the charger for.

The Canon CB-5L battery charger is intended for a single purpose: to charge UL-BP511 battery packs, which are used in Canon cameras and camcorders. My partner and I drain her UL-BP511 (or at least as much as it can be in the camera) and have been using the Canon CB-5L battery charger for six months to recharge our two camera batteries.

The Canon CB-5L battery charger is a black plastic battery charger that is so light that until the lithium-ion battery is placed in it, the cord can actually cause it to tip up! It is a 3 ½” long x 2 ½” wide x 1 ½” tall plastic box with a 4 foot cord. This serves as a tray for the BP511 battery and has a track into which the battery slides. The track is neatly designed so that the battery may only slide in the proper way, which connects the leads on the battery to the leads in the charger. The four foot long electrical cord ends in a standard North American two-prong plug and it is worth noting that as a result, this charger is not grounded. I, therefore, always recommend plugging the CB-5L into a power strip or USB to protect the batteries that are being recharged from potential power surges.

Also, the cord detaches from the CB-5L, which seems to imply that other plugs will go into it, making it possible to travel with this and recharge your batteries with the proper accessory cord (or a car adapter). No other cords come with the CB-5L.

When the CB-5L is plugged into a wall socket and the BP511 battery is slid into the charger, there is a red LED that lights up and begins blinking. The frequency of the blinking light on the charger informs the user of how much charge is left in the battery. So, if it blinks once and it takes a while to blink again, the battery is almost completely dead. One of the interesting aspects of using the CB-5L is that it instantly confounded me how the charger could indicate that the battery was so close to fully charged and yet the camera the battery was used in would indicate the battery was dead!

A fully-exhausted battery charges on the CB-5L in about four hours. Use is simple: plug the charger in, slide the battery in and wait. There is nothing else the user actually needs to do to make this work.

One ought to use care with what one puts around the CB-5L, as this is an electronic device with exposed leads. While it appears virtually impossible to get electrocuted by it, spilling things on or near it is not recommended. Spills do clean off the smooth plastic surface easily, though with a damp cloth. Batteries left in the charger do not get hot, nor ruined.

In other words, outside a slight design problem with the plug and the fact that there are generic chargers for the BP511 battery on the market that charge as well, as fast, for less money, this is a fine product.

For other digital camera product reviews, please check out my reviews of:
Fantasea underwater housing
Nikon P5000 digital camera
Nikon L16 camera batteries

7/10

For other electronics reviews, please check out my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


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Erratic Functioning Makes For A Split Decision On The Ultralast UL-BP511 Battery Pack!

The Good: One works wonderfully, Quick recharge time, Durable
The Bad: One has really crapped out on us!
The Basics: The power source for many Canon products, the UL-BP511 becomes more erratic as time goes on.


My original intent was to review my wife's camera (that shall be forthcoming) but it died on her recently, leaving me adrift and unable to review it. That said, I thought it might be useful to write about the battery pack used to power her Canon EOS10D given that we have had two such batteries now. We have been using the UL-BP511 battery pack for three months now and the durability of the battery comes from the fact that we received ours used; a professional photographer had been using both batteries for over two years prior to our acquisition of them.

The Ultralast UL-BP511 is a very specific battery pack. It is a two-cylinder battery that measures 2 1/8" long, 1 1/2" wide and 7/8" tall. It is specifically designed for cameras from Canon and similar camcorders. If your device requires the UL-BP511 it ought to have come with one or the manual will clearly dictate that it is required for the device. The UL-BP511 puts out 7.4 volts and 1600 mAh of electricity, so it is not useful for much other than small electronic devices specifically designed for it. This is a Lithium-ion battery which means two things: it is hazardous to dispose of except through proper channels and it is rechargeable.

This is a plastic-encased battery pack with metal leads only at the end that goes into the device. This makes it very easy to use as the flat bottom of the battery pack puts it on tracks within the Canon products and it may only be slid in one way: the proper way. The plastic case of the battery pack is thick and resists cracking. We've dropped our batteries several times on things like stone and concrete and this has not made a dent in the battery case or damaged the gold-plated leads on the UL-BP511.

As well as fitting into the devices only one way, the UL-BP511 is excellent in that it only fits into the charger one way. The flat bottom is specifically designed with gaps in the tracks so it may only slide in properly. This battery does require a charger and it must be purchased separately. When the battery is exhausted, it takes about four hours to get the UL-BP511 back to full charge.

Using the UL-BP511 is easy; it slides into the Canon EOS10D and when one closes the battery port, the camera may be activated. We have two UL-BP511 batteries, both of which have been in use for about two and a half years, used equally. One of these batteries holds a charge for only about fifteen minutes (if we are lucky). The other is strong and is able to keep a charge - shooting with many different lighting and zooming conditions - for about an hour and a half. There are no differences - cosmetic or functional - between these two batteries, but one works, one doesn't after two years of use.

That level of inconsistency with the battery makes it a tougher product to recommend enthusiastically. Because the longer one uses this the more likely it is to crap out, this can be an annoying drawback of buying it. As the warranty is only a single year, the rechargeable battery losing its ability to retain charge after two years is something the consumer can do nothing about.

But because the UL-BP511 is necessary for operating our Canon camera, it is a necessary evil. However, before purchasing Canon devices that require the UL-BP511, one might want to take to heart that this battery pack may become a financial liability in the future when it needs to be replaced . . .lest you get less use out of your beloved camera!

For other products related to cameras, please check out my reviews of:
Nikon AA batteries for the L16 camera
Nikon P5000 Digital Camera
Fuji Finepix A200 Digital Camera

5/10

For other electronics reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Why I’m Down On Nikon’s Lithium Ion Batteries For The Nikon L16

The Good: They can be used in other things that require a AA battery. . .
The Bad: Expensive, Fails to hold charge in a camera well
The Basics: A poor value, the Nikon Coolpix L16 batteries drain ridiculously quickly within the camera and are not rechargeable, making them a poor choice for photographers.


Ever since I did my rigorous testing on the Nikon L16 digital camera (reviewed here!), I’ve been hoping for the proper venue to tell more of the story which helped steer me away from that camera. That takes the form of the batteries. The shop I was at where I tested the Coolpix L16 took everything very seriously, as did I because I am looking for a serious piece of photographic equipment for my wife.

While testing the Coolpix L16, I took two test pictures and the camera died. I turned to the sales professional and as he popped the two Nikon AA batteries out of the camera, he shrugged and said, “They were old. Try these.” He then went into his refrigerator – film is preserved best in the cold and batteries, which operate on a chemical reaction, last longer when they are chilled to slow that chemical reaction – and returned with a four-pack of Nikon batteries designed for use with the Coolpix L16. They were cosmetically identical to the two he had removed from the camera. One of the nice things about them is that they are a lithium-ion battery which is AA size and they have very clear markings for the positive end (for those who might not want to feel their way through finding the + or – end of the battery.

But that’s all I have good to say about them. A pair of Nikon L16 batteries lasted 113 pictures before they were unusable in the camera. When that happened, the salesperson looked a little irked, but he dutifully popped the last two batteries from the four-pack into the camera and let me keep doing my test shoots. The “low battery” light came on with the first pair after the ninety-third picture. With the final two batteries (which had been sitting out), the low battery light came on after one hundred eleven pictures. For the $17.99 he wanted for a four-pack of Nikon’s special batteries, I managed to get less than three hundred pictures!

The problem here is that the Nikon L16 batteries are specifically designed and marketed for use with the Coolpix L16 camera and with a four pack being more expensive and working so poorly, it is impossible to recommend these. Serious photographers would do well to steer away from a battery that is so inefficient at holding the charge and users who need batteries for other purposes will find less expensive ones elsewhere.

The Nikon L16 batteries are not rechargeable, so this battery is both an environmentally problematic product (when it comes to disposal) and economically unviable for serious photographers.

For other power supply-related reviews, please check out my takes on:
Monster Cable AV600 Power Protector
Kyocera Travel Charger IV
Cables Unlimited KaBLING Pink Power Cord PWR-1000-06P

1/10

For other electronics reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Five Years With The AV600 And Still It Works Wonderfully!

The Good: Reset button! Color coding is all right, Seems to work, Supposed warranty
The Bad: I honestly do not know if it works, even after years of use (seriously).
The Basics: With its alleged surge suppression capabilities and the reassurance of a reset button after electrical incidents, the AV600 appears to be quite adequately protecting my computer equipment!


Five years ago, I bought my first television of my own. I splurged on a pretty amazing HD-TV and when I made this hefty purchase, I knew I wanted to protect it. The store where I bought the television offered only one type surge protector, the Monster Cable PowerProtect AV600 which was noted as the Monster Multiple SurgeGuard. My only questions when I bought it were: does it work and if it doesn't, what recourse do I have? I was told that it does work and if it didn't, there was a warranty. Truth be told, I picked it up there because it looked sturdier than any other surge protector (but not battery backup!) I had ever used, so I figured it was worth giving it a fair shakedown.

Well, a year and a half and at least three power outages later, my television remains intact! The only thing that seems remotely changed by the power outages was the display on my DVD player (reviewed here!) which might just be a result of it being kind of cheap as opposed to a fault of the AV600. I lean toward blaming the DVD player because, while the first time the display panel on the DVD player stopped working, it was right after an outage, the display comes back on and off sporadically with seemingly no relationship with the power.

Let's start then, with the basics. This is a six outlet surge protector, with all six outlets featuring a grounding socket and the safety-constructed slots for safety plugs. For those unfamiliar with most modern appliances (in the last ten years or so), most three prong and especially two prong plugs come with the left prong slightly larger than the right prong so there becomes only one proper and safe way to plug devices in. This prevents electrocutions and destruction of electronic goods.

The six outlets are situated on the top of the just under eleven inch base of the surge protector. They are evenly spaced and I have had no difficulties with space issues as the only things I have plugged into this have been audio-visual equipment. If using this same surge protector for computer equipment (it's not forbidden, but not exactly designed for computer equipment - the warranty implies that it might only cover audio-visual equipment) I suspect it would be impossible to get all one's goodies plugged into this protector. The AV600 could not accommodate (for example) a bulky scanner and speaker plug right next to one another. As many as four outlets might become unusable with big, square power adapters as opposed to the usual three-pronged plugs that are found on most A-V equipment.

The cable is eight feet long and ends in a three pronged plug that connects into the wall at an angle. I understand this is supposed to save space, but it still looks funny, unless your outlet is offset by a thirty degree angle. This function only truly makes sense when one is plugging the AV600 into the same socket as something with a more intrusive cord. This allows the cable to drape to the side of the socket and other cords as opposed to sticking straight out. This is not a key selling point for me, but might come in handy for those who have crowded outlets or are plugging into places that are hard to reach.

The six outlets are color coded and labeled for different equipment. There is an out outlet each for: TV/Monitor, Receiver/Amp, Cable(Box)/Statellite (Receiver), DVD/CD player, VCR, and a Spare. Presumably these are the things that are warrantied to be used in this, though the Spare outlet certainly opens it up. I thought this function was cheesy, stupid, and kind of dictatorial (no Monster Power engineer is telling ME where I'm plugging in!) until the night when I was swapping out receivers, DVD players and VCRs, and the coding became incredibly handy for directing my efforts. It's much easier to instruct someone on what cord to pull or to plug in when there's a place clearly labeled. It's certainly easier to yell "Pull the one from the red socket!" as opposed to waiting for someone to trace a power cord back to its component appliance. That night proved its worth to me and I'll admit I've fallen in line since then. In all honesty, my new AV600 is what I am using to protect my new Playstation 3 (reviewed here!).

The PowerProtect AV600 plugs easily into the wall and is turned on with the flick of a switch. The lit toggle switch clearly indicates when the power is on and a small light above that indicates that the surge protector is working and it is safe to plug in appliances. According to the paperwork on this, this surge suppressor is rated for up to 550 Joules. As I understand the literature, this device takes the spikes out of AC power that would otherwise damage the audio visual components.

When I was sold the AV600, I was told that a lot of the newer equipment, like the HDTVs and sound systems are very sensitive to changes in the alternating current power supply. The Monster Power PowerProtect was the only system the knowledgeable folks where I bought the surge suppressor and television from trusted because it supposedly eliminates even the slightest variances that can be seen in some of today's sophisticated equipment. When I bought the television, they asked, "You know those wiggly lines that sometimes appear on your television screen or monitor?" I said, "Umm . . . no." "Well, this prevents that," I was told. To be fair, my HD-TV has never had squiggly lines, my sound system has never suffered from any form of power-related static, so I'm pretty well convinced this is a quality, well-shielded devices.

When I purchased my MacBook Pro (reviewed here!), I was told that a surge protector like this one is a good idea to have along when recharging at places like hotels and wherever the wiring might be questionable. That seemed like a good idea to me and the AV600 allows me to run and charge my MacBook Pro (and a friend's cell phone!) without worry. I have never seen any squiggly lines on my laptop monitor either, so I assume the surge protection and A-V protection works on the computer monitors as well. I decided to use the AV600 for this function because my laptop has a battery in it (obviously), so getting another battery back-up like the one I have for my home computer seemed redundant.

I live in a place that has frequent power outages and I've lost microwave ovens as a result. Since the moment I bought my HD-TV and related paraphernalia, it has been plugged into the AV600. Does it work? Well, it seems to. I've run my MacBook Pro on the AV600 during a thunder storm and while the lights flickered, my computer was absolutely fine. That's a lot of risk to take, but my experiences with the AV600 before proved to me it was worth the risk and now with my prized computer equipment, it is not letting me down.

Honestly, I can't prove this is working and that's why I believe it is. My system has never failed me and all of the equipment plugged into it is still up and running just fine. Added to that, what makes this above average (surge protectors are pretty average equipment in my book) is a Reset button. When the surge protector is hit with a surge that engages its function, it (presumably) loses the ability to take another hit and protect the appliances without being reset. When the light above the power toggle goes off, press the reset button, it comes back on and your equipment is once again being protected!

Because of the nebulous repeatability (the reset has been necessary one when a lightning storm hit and I was home) of the AV600, I still unplug the PowerProtect when I am going to be away from home for more than a weekend, just to be on the safe side. This surge protector has a $10,000 equipment replacement or repair warranty, which I have never had to exercise. Presumably, if my system gets fried and it can be shown to be a result of a failure of the AV600 from normal use, everything plugged into it will be replaced or repaired up to a value of $10,000. I honestly do not know if this warranty would cover computer components like my laptop and customer service at Monster Cable's 800 number is supposedly looking into it and getting back to me.

The bottom line for me is I don't know if it works, but the lights and the survival of my equipment suggest to me that is has been. At the end of the day, one wants a surge protector that looks like it can handle the job and appears to do that. I've risked my system on this one and I have not been disappointed yet. And with lesser surge protectors, when it's hit once, it loses its value. The reset switch on this one assures me it continues to work and my equipment it protected.

This is certainly a better-than-average surge suppressor and it's bound to protect your high priced electronics, too.

For other power or computer related devices, please check out my reviews of:
Acer Aspire laptop computer
DLO Power Bug
OrionGadgets Synch and Charge USB Cable For iPad

9/10

For other electronic device reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Cables Unlimited Pink Power Cord PWR-1000-06P: Basic Function, Twice The Price!

The Good: Simple to use, Appears to work
The Bad: Very much not my style, Expensive for what it is
The Basics: Overpriced and pointless for most consumers, the Cables Unlimited Kabling Pink PC Power Cord takes a basic functioning device and tries to make it stylish.


Sometimes, I find myself baffled by some of what exists in the world. In some ways, I am a very simple person: I look for what works and I go with it. I would never, for example, attempt to make a fashion statement out of a power cord. But, when I went out looking at electronics products for a breast cancer write-off and found the pink flash drive (click here for that review!), I also found the shocking Cables Unlimited KaBLING 6 Foot Pink PC Power Cord. I was stymied, until I noticed the price tag: $11.95. When I saw that, I was just cheesed off: who would pay $11.95 for a computer power cord which ought to, at best, cost $4.99?! Not I!

Power cords are pretty ubiquitous devices and it is hard to get one wrong. And to be fair to the Cables Unlimited Pink Power Cord, my main beefs against it are that it is pretty ugly and it is twice as expensive as it ought to be. The 6 Foot PC Power Cord is an essential device to operating a personal computer and a few other electronic devices. The KaBLING Pink PC Power Cord is nice in that the ¼” in diameter computer power cord is actually six feet long, so the cord is a little longer with the two ends which connect the cord to the wall and to one’s personal computer.

The Cables Unlimited KaBLING Pink PC Power Cord is a standard computer power cord, save that it is sheathed in a pink plastic casing. The plastic casing is flexible which allows one to coil up the cord’s excess length or stretch it as needed. The plastic casing also acts as an insulator protecting the user from the current carried by the conductive power wires insider. Like all Cables Unlimited PC power cords I’ve encountered, the pink one shows no predilection toward becoming brittle and exposing the wires inside. The power cord was appropriately supple for unwinding, but seemed stiff enough to be durable. The plastic casing is waterproof, though it is never recommended one submerge a power cable. If something like coffee spills on the KaBLING Pink PC Power Cord, it may be wiped off with a damp cloth.

The six foot PC power cord ends with two hard plastic ends, both of which are cast in hard pink plastic. The male end is a standard three-prong North American plug with two flat tines and one cylindrical one which grounds the electronic device. The KaBLING Pink PC Power Cord terminates in a silver-colored (presumably nickel plated plug) which plugs into any three-prong outlet, which is good because any device using the PC Power Cord ought to be grounded to protect the components.

The “female” end of the KaBLING Pink PC Power Cord is a standard PC jack. This end might be less familiar to consumers, but it is surprisingly universal. Virtually every power supply in a PC has a male end which includes two pointed tines 5/8” apart (not flat like those on an electrical plug, more blockish) and a third between and below the others. It looks similar to a three-pronged plug arrangement, but the spacing is a bit different. The round cord terminates in a female end which is 2 ½” long, 7/8” wide and 5/8” tall at the terminus. This is a hard plastic end which has over an inch of gripping surface which allows it to press easily into the recessed male end in a PC’s power supply. Rather interestingly, I noticed that my Playstation 3 (click here for that review!) has the same power supply arrangement, which means the KaBLING Pink PC Power Cord would allow a Playstation 3 to plug into the wall as well. Because the female end is a universally-molded product, much like the male end will fit into any electric socket, the female end will fit into any 3-prong North American power supply unit.

It is worth noting that this is simply a power cord, designed to connect a computer or Playstation to a power supply. It has no surge protection capabilities and it is not intended to. It adequately carries electricity.

Beyond that, I found it pointless and overpriced. The KaBLING 6” Pink PC Power Cord is something most consumers will stick behind furniture and most people I know do not try to draw attention to their cords and cables. This, however, is one which is designed to be seen and that makes it a weird fashion statement. As well, unless one has painted or purchased their PCs casing pink, this will clash with most electronic devices. As such, it was very easy for me to not recommend it. The only thing that saves it from an “avoid it” rating by my standards is that it actually works and Cables Unlimited makes quality products, even if this one is frivolous and overpriced.

For other electronics support product reviews, please check out my reviews of:
Kyocera Travel Charger IV
DLO Power Bug
OrionGadgets Synch and Charge USB Cable For iPad

3/10

For other electronics reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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More Mediocre Than Extraordinary, The DLO Power Bug Is A Simple Device.

The Good: Easy to clean, Easy to use, Durable
The Bad: Not grounded, Expensive, No surge protection.
The Basics: If you're shelling out for an iPod and need a way to recharge it on the road, the DLO PowerBug offers an unfortunately risky way to do it.


Because of my wonderfully weird aunt, my house is currently rolling in the iPod products. The latest free acquisition which has arrived on our doorstep was a pretty cool 16 GB iPod Nano (click here for my review!) which has since gotten a decent amount of mileage around the house as my mother, brother, wife and I all find reasons to play on it at various times. With so many of us using it, the battery has gotten appropriately taxed, but we were fortunate (or so we thought) because my aunt shipped with the iPod a DLO PowerBug with the iPod Nano.

Usually, one may easily recharge an iPod by connecting it to a computer through a USB Port with the Apple connector for iPods (click here for that review!), which comes with each and every iPod. That connector is a very specific device because of the unique port on iPods, but it does connect to a USB port (the U stands for universal and it is truly a worldwide port type). The Digital Life Outfitters PowerBug (DLO29983) Charger is just the plug which connects into the iPod Connector and a wall socket (American) electrical outlet. Yes, the DLO29983 is intended specifically for the recharging of iPod products, but it doesn't even come with the connector to bridge the power supply with the iPod. This, however, does come in handy when one is using one's USB ports on their PC or laptop for other purposes and one still wants to charge their iPod or when one it traveling with the iPod.

The DLO PowerBug Charger is a 2 1/2" tall by 2" wide by 1 1/2" thick plug which is like shaped generally like an egg, but then split lengthwise. The flat side has the actual plug prongs and the round side, which faces the user, has a light to indicate when the PowerBug is connected to a power supply. The little green light is bright enough to be visible in virtually all levels of lighting and it is a nice way to assure users that it is working. After draining the iPod Nano to the point where it came up continually with warnings, it took six hours to recharge the battery to full capacity using the DLO29983 Charger.

To protect the PowerBug, the two-pronged plug on the PowerBug folds into the unit. When flat in the slots in the backside, the prongs are protected and unbendable. Also, because we've been using this in the common kitchen, I discovered that the DLO Powerbug's plastic casing is very easy to clean. If one were to, for example, spill soda on the face of this, it would wipe off easily with a damp cloth.

Unfortunately, the care that DLO puts into protecting the PowerBug is not put into protecting the iPod product one might connect the PowerBug to. Instead, users are recharging their expensive technological toy with an ungrounded recharger. I had a real scare when we lost power here, but I managed to unplug the PowerBug before the power came back on and surged through the socket. This was unsettling for me, but it is also an unacceptable risk for those who cannot be around (or awake) while one is recharging using the PowerBug. It makes the device far less practical when one has to carry a surge suppresser with the DLO29983 in order to actually protect their iPod products.

Ultimately, when I learned that people are compelled usually to pay $25.00 for this simple, ungrounded charger, it became absolutely impossible for me to recommend it. Anyone who relies upon their iPod for entertainment will want to protect their hardware much better than this offers.

For other iPod products, please check out my reviews of:
iPad (64 GB)
iPod Touch
iPod Shuffle

4/10

For other electronics reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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No Surge Protection Makes The Hi-Capacity Cord Just Another Laptop Cord.

The Good: It adequately powers the Acer Aspire 5532
The Bad: Expensive, No surge protection, Jack cord falls out
The Basics: The Hi-Capacity AC Adapter is a very expensive plug which offers laptop users no real protection and only occasional power to the computer.


Ever since my brother purchased his Aspire 5532 laptop computer (click here for my review!), I’ve been bugging him to get a surge protector. Because of the neighborhood he lives in, I figured this was a good idea as there are frequent brownouts and power outages. I suppose I should have advised him to secure his purchase better because after a month of having his laptop, someone stole the power cord to it. I thought this was a bit silly until we went to try to replace it and discovered laptop cords (power connectors which simply connect one’s laptop to a wall) are insanely expensive off-line. They tend to cost $60 - $100 each and that blew me away considering his computer only cost something like $400 to begin with.

Rather than buy Gateway’s full priced power cord, we went with the Hi-Capacity AC adapter for the Aspire 5532. This was the least expensive AC power cord for the laptop on the market and we figured they were pretty much the same as one another. The Hi-Capacity AC adapter is a standard two-prong power cord and it comes in two parts. The first part is a four foot cord with a simple two-prong plug. This cord connects to a fairly weighty box which makes the AC current into DC current so as not to fry or confuse one’s laptop computer. The second part is the box and attached simple cord which takes the power that has been converted and connects it to the laptop with a male jack. The male jack only fits into one point on the ACER 5532, so use of this power cord is pretty much idiotproof.

Sadly, use of the cord is not as simple as it ought to be. It’s a cord, right, how complicated can it be? The end that connects to the computer is a solid piece, so one attaches it to the computer or removes it from the “power in” socket. Unfortunately, the half that plugs into the wall appears to be part of Acer’s effort to meet international standards and the cord half with the plug actually plugs into the converter box. More than any other cord I have used in recent memory, this cord continually slips out of the converter box and causes power failures. In other words, if one nudges the box, the cord is likely to stay plugged into the wall and plugged into the computer, but the junction where the cord connects from the wall to the box tends to slip out.

This is a huge problem, though it can be easily fixed with electrical tape. Still, when one pays $60 for an electrical cord, it should not need to be taped together to work properly.

Finally, the Hi-Capacity AC Adapter for the ACER Aspire 5532 does not offer any surge protection and I find that problematic and annoying. Add to that, it does not offer the most basic surge protection that a three-prong plug offers, by having the plug grounded.

For other computer products, please check out my reviews of:
HP ScanJet 3570c
Apple iPad 64 GB
OrionGadgets Synch and Charge USB Cable For iPad

3.5/10

For other computer or electronics reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



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A Very Average, Very Basic Phone Charger For A Very Basic Cell Phone!

The Good: Convenient for travel, Does what is it supposed to.
The Bad: No surge protection.
The Basics: A very basic cell phone charger for the Kyocera TNT!, the Travel Charger IV does what it promises, no more, no less.


When my wife picked up her inexpensive cell phone, I was actually quite happy for her. It allowed her to keep in touch with the friends she left behind in Michigan and that has been real nice for her and us. For us, wanting just a very basic cell phone, the Kyocera TNT! (click here for my review!) was actually a decent choice. We wanted something that was a very basic communications device and that's what we got. However, it seems our rabbit, Rowe, was also interested in getting into the cell phone age and she decided to chew the cord to the charger for the TNT!, which forced me to go in search of a replacement.

The Kyocera Travel Charger is the standard charger that comes with the TNT! and it can be found separately from the cell phone for about $5.00 in the U.S. This is ironic, because the cell phone with the charger was only $10 on sale at Target! Nevertheless, this very basic charging device is pretty much indispensable to users of the TNT! or other, similar, models of Kyocera cell phones.

The charger is a black plastic box which is 2 1/2" long, 1 5/8" wide and just over 3/4" thick. The charger has a simple cord which is an inch short of six feet long. The cord ends in a male jack which slides into the female port on the TNT! This is a unique (as far as I can find from other, similar, appliances around my house) jack and it is specially designed for the cell phone. It is metal-wrapped at the leads, so it protects the leads and anyone using the charger (from getting electrocuted).

The charger itself is a standard two-prong cell phone charger and it is called a Travel Charger because the tines of the plugs fold into the plastic box. This protects the tines in travel and after months of using the cell phone and (our first) charger, the fold-out function never caused the tines to get loose and did adequately protect the plug from getting bent while in transit. Unfortunately, this key feature of the Kyocera Travel Charger also is its greatest weakness in my book. Because it is designed for a two-prong outlet, it offers no surge protection, not even the most basic protection that comes from a grounded plug (three prong).

Use of the charger is absolutely simple. Fold the tines down so the plug may be plugged into a standard U.S. house socket. Then, plug the jack into the port on the phone (it can only go into the one port, it quite simply cannot fit anywhere else) and let the cell phone sit. The amount of time the charger takes to charge the phone is based upon battery depletion, so the charger may be in use for up to six hours (longer if one charges while they sleep). It does not get noticeably hot while charging.

All in all, this is an exceptionally basic device that does what it promises to do. It is lightweight for travel, charges as it is supposed to and protects the tines. The only thing it doesn't do for cell phone users is protect itself from bunny teeth!

For other electronic devices, please check out my reviews of:
Acer Aspire 5532 Laptop Computer
iPod Shuffle (3rd Generation)
OrionGadgets Synch and Charge USB Cable For iPad

5/10

For other electronics product reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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