Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 63
 Problems with shutting down controlled outlets July 25, 2010
Gary Kitchen (Tampa, FL)
This product really does fill a need in our multi-device electronic world. We seldom think about the phantom idle current our devices use when they are "off". Makes a lot of sense to use this.
I got mine for my computer. Works perfectly straight out of the box. It also alerted me to an incorrectly wired outlet (hot and neutral lines were reversed). Corrected that by reversing black and white leads and now it shows the outlet working properly via the green Ground & Surge light being lit. Tested other outlets in my home to see if any others needed attention.
UPDATE: When I first installed the strip, it worked as provided. Over the past few weeks the setting has drifted, and has occasionally failed to shut down as before. I am in the process of tweaking the dial to find where it needs to be. Didn't realize there was a conditioning period for the unit, or that the setting would drift......annoying.
2nd UPDATE: The strip finally quit responding and will not shut off the controlled outlets, regardless of adjustments. Only if I switch the rocker switch off manually and back on. I called BITS Ltd and got an RMA to return it for an exchange. They agreed something's not working properly, I must have a defective unit. Hopefully the replacement will work right.
 Actually works! July 20, 2010
Seth Hayik (Douglassville, PA United States)
I was pretty skeptical about this product when I first ordered it, but decided to try it anyway. I had recently read online that an XBox wastes around $17/year a receiver around $35/year and a subwoofer more like $50!
I got this, plugged the TV (42" LCD) into the sensed plug, the DVR into an always on plug and everything else into one of the slave plugs since I'm probably not going to watch a DVD or play XBox without the TV on. There is no unusual delay between when I hit the power button on the remote and when the TV and everything else turns on, its all pretty much instant, if I hadn't been so excited about getting this my wife wouldn't even know about it!(not that she really cared anyway) The layout of the plugs is nice, with 4 widely spaced plugs for transformer packs and all the grounds facing outward. I didn't have to fiddle with it at all, but there's an adjuster on the side if its not sensitive enough. I don't have any hard numbers for savings, but at least I feel like I'm doing my small part.
My only complaint, however small it may be, is that the wall plug from this is angled for some reason. This might not be a problem with vertical wall receptacles, but mine are horizontal in the baseboard, so it sticks up and puts some strain on the whole plug and cord system and just generally annoys me. I would definitely recommend this and would would love to see some numbers before and after.
My Review Of Of The Smart Strip Power Strip July 19, 2010
Carl (New Mexico)
I have had the Smart Strip surge protector power strip for about six months now. It works exactly as advertised and shuts off peripheral devices when the primary device like a TV, is turned off. I wrote a review on my energy saving blog here: [...]
Doing the math, at our current utility rate of 12 cents per kilowatt, the Smart Strip will pay for itself in only one year. In the meantime, it is helping your electronics last longer by shutting them down and by protecting them from up to 2850 joules of surge.
 Why aren't all power strips like this? May 23, 2010
Ryan Wallace (Chicago, IL USA)
I absolutely love this product. As someone who doesn't want to pay for excess energy, I used to have to reach behind my entertainment center to turn of the power strip. Now I simply turn off the TV and the rest of the system turns off automatically. I keep my cable DVR plugged into the "constant on" plug to keep the guide and programming up to date.
I love how much the price has come down over time, but the only (minute) knock I have against this product is its price.
 Do NOT use to protect your electronics! April 23, 2010
Bethany G. Malmgren (Los Angeles, CA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this about a year ago and it worked well until my apartment building had an actual power surge--then, not so well.
In my apartment, ever electric item that was plugged in and NOT on a powersurge protector was completely fried. My computer equipment, which was on a regular $8 surge protector was fine (although the surge protector was destroyed).
Now, my TV equipment (Wii, stereo, playstation, etc) was not as good and this was on the Smart Strip. Although all appliances were off at the time of the surge, but television still made a popping sound and started to smoke. It is burned out. Most of the other appliances seem okay, but it is hard to check them when your apartment is being rewired and I don't have a TV to check it all. They all turn on, but the DVD player seems to overheat quickly.
If you want to be eco-friendly and save energy, buy a regular powerstrip and just turn it off when you aren't using it. At least you won't have to put all your equipment in a landfill when your electricity has a freak problem!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 63
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