Tripp Lite 12 Outlet Bench Power Strip, PS3612

If you’re a ‘power user’ of computer equipment and always have more devices than outlet receptacles on your battery back-up (even if it’s a large UPS), this is the type of power strip that you want to connect to that UPS, NOT a regular power strip.

Millions of people probably use regular power strips on UPS battery back-ups and they are risking their equipment by doing so, in the mistaken belief that the surge suppression on the UPS totally protects that equipment. It does, from surges, but you can also damage equipment with uneven and inadequate amps as well, and this is what regular power strips plugged into a UPS will do – send inadequate power to some receptacles on the strip. These Tripp Lite strips send an even amount of power to each receptacle, preventing such damage. This is how I found Tripp Lite strips in the first place: having run out of outlets on the UPS (even though it is a large tower), I wondered about using a regular power strip to expand. NOT recommended, as I found out.

These strips are pro-quality all around: heavy-duty metal housing, a 15-amp breaker, heavy-duty 15-foot cord, a lighted on/off switch with clear cover to prevent accidental shut off, plenty of space between the 12 outlets (about 2 1/2 inches), and hardware to mount the strip in almost any configuration. Excellent: have had it for months now and plan to get the 16-outlet model in the near future.

Great product. Easy to install. Super long cord. Perfect for mounting on the underside of a sit/stand desk for powering everything. Mounts easily with the included clips. The way it mounts is great because it leaves a tiny space behind the strip. So for example, if you have the strip facing down and you plug in a wall wart, you can easily secure it to the strip with a velcro tie-down. The outlets are strong enough to easily hold my Macbook power adapter without falling out, with the strip facing down. Built-in circuit breaker and switch are nice features. I opted for a “power strip” with no surge suppression or other circuitry because mine plugs directly into a huge UPS.

This unit is well made and a welcome change from the cheap, Chinese outlet strips that seem to be all you can find at the big box stores these days. I purchased one of those Wun Hung Lo wonder-strips from a large electronics retailer. The fist time I went to plug something in, the socket plastic cracked, exposing the raw (charged) conductor underneath. No thanks! I tossed the junk and ordered one of these.

After getting this strip, and opening the box, the difference in construction was immediately obvious. This unit is very well put together. The outlets are very tight, so that you can hang it upside down without worrying about even the larger wall-warts falling out. It comes with all the mounting hardware that you need to attach it to anything you don’t mind drilling a few holes in.

The only complaint I have with it is that I wish the outlets were rotated 90 degrees, so that wall-wart adapters could be oriented so that you could fit more of them in. Also, be aware that htis unit provides no surge protection, so if you need that you’ll need to make sure this is plugged into some sort of surge protector or UPS.

We have needed one of these things for years. So much better than the stopgap tangle of power strips under a shared working desk in our home office. Now everything is plugged in securely across the back wall behind the desk and I don’t have to futz around with plugging and unplugging random devices to have the right number of outlets. Well worth the expense!

I use these in a couple of places in my shop. I’ve found the outlets to remain reliable after a lot of use. Some others loosen up quickly and get iffy. These don’t.

Muy buen producto de buena calidad

Very nicely made aluminum construction with matte silver finish. I most like that the outlets have a very strong, positive ‘grip’ when plugs are inserted, which should assure gravity will not work devices loose from the strip. The orientation of the outlets does mean that larger chargers or plug-in power supplies will possibly block the neighbouring outlet, however, it’s a tradeoff for the number/density of outlets on this strip compared to those I’ve seen in stores.

It wasn’t mentioned in the product description how the strip is wall mounted, etc. I initially assumed it might have holes/slots in the back, into which screw heads fit, common with most smaller power bars. It doesn’t. Instead, it ships with two shallow metal clips that screw/bolt to whatever surface you intend to mount the strip, and clip into the shallow slots that runs the length of each side. The clips, two screws, two bolts and two washers are included in one of the end caps of the box, so be sure to open the other end if you don’t see them when first opening the box!

I was initially skeptical whether the clips would be strong enough to hold the bar off the ground for vertical mounting because the instructions only mention horizontal mounting. I wanted the cord and on/off section positioned near the floor, and at that end of the bar is the circuit breaker reset button. I was concerned the clips would let the bar slide down and end up resting on the button. But, the clips have a very strong grip and I expect will hold the strip firmly in place even with a number of devices in the outlets. Mounting is very easy and with only two clips, perfect alignment is not that critical, compared to mounting power bars with slots in the back, where accurate measurement of screw placement is important.

The only aspect about which I’m not so thrilled, for my application, is the cord. It’s very long and very thick. But I can appreciate the manufacturer erring on the long side as it would be frustrating to have to add an extension cord if it was too short.