Smart Strip SCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology
by Smart Strip
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List Price: Our Price: $24.98 You Save: $15.08 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $21.00 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Smart Strip SCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology
Customer Review: A REAL Simple Energy Saving Tool
Summary: 5 Stars
If you want something to help you save a few buck on your energy bill while also prolonging the life of Equipment, this is the tool for you.
I had an idea what this SmartStrip could do but i really wanted to see it for myself. This guy is as simple as it sounds and just as convient.
You have 1 outlet that you plug your switching device in. The switching device is the device that when you turn on or off turns everything else on or off. You also have 2 Always ON outlets (for DVR boxes or Broadband Modem, etc). And 4 "Controlled" outlets, 1 of which is an extra wide one. Now, the 1 outlet for the switching device is an Always ON outlet.
There is a little knob on the side for helping you tweek the switching setting that power off everything else when you put the main device into a low power state or off. Because some things draw power even when turned off so you may need to tweek it.
I bought this to try it out at work. If you want something to definitely help at home or at the office, this is perfect. At work, i had my Laptop at the switching port. I plugged the Monitor, the Speakers, the Desk Lamp, my cell chargers, any and all accessories into the controlled ports. I tweeked the knob on the side so that when I put my laptop into Standby, that it will also shut off everything else as well. To tweek it, you must put the computer into Standby mode and adjusted the knob until all the devices turn off.
This is great because the moment i shutdown the computer at night, it turns everything off and i don't have to forget about turning anything off. All that littles of electricity its saving is great.
You could easily use it at home. You can have it setup where your TV is the switch, your DVR is in the Always ON, your DVD, VCR, Game Consoles, Stereo, Home Theater, etc are all plugged into the Controlled Ports, So that the moment you turn the TV off, everything else turns off. No more nagging the kids to make sure they turned everything else, no need to round through remotes to make sure everything else is off.
The price is right as well, you are going to pay about the same price for something that also does about the same amount of Surge Protection, so why not get something that will save you in long running cost as well. It could pay for itself in the first year alone.
Customer Review: Effective and easy to use
Summary: 5 Stars
We ordered this smart strip about ten months ago to use for our entertainment center--which is not that big, consisting of a flat-screen TV, DVD/VCR and occasionally used antennae. The strip has been great for cutting our electricity consumption. We have not run into any problems in using it. We use the TV in the control plug, such that when we switch it on / off, everything else follows. Definitely a great way to save energy. The only drawback, which is related to cutting power to the DVD and not a function of this strip, is that we have to remember where we are in a movie (either by minutes or scene) as the DVD player does not retain a memory of where to restart a DVD. Our DVD player is also a little older, so perhaps new DVD players can do this. At any rate, we haven't found this to be an issue, and if you typically watch your movies straight through (we have a baby in the house, so that's unusual for us) this won't be an issue. Definitely highly recommend this product.
Also note that the plug is built at an angle, so make sure that will work for you.
Customer Review: Mac Mini, Laptop Users and Smart Strips
Summary: 5 Stars
Note to Mac Mini users
Notice from the bitsltd website:
All Mac Mini and Dell 800 Series Laptop Owners!
Please order only 3rd Generation Smart Strip Models as Mac Mini and Dell 800 series laptops tend to have very irregular power consumption traits that are incompatible with our standard Smart Strips.
What can I use the Smart strip on?
The Smart strip can be used to save energy on Computers, TVs, & Home entertainment systems. they can automate lights & vacuums on your shop equipment. They do not save energy on phones, washers, dryers & Kitchen appliances.
I read a review elsewhere by R. Gressick who did use a laptop computer as the switching device by adjusting the knob on the side of the Smart Strip until the other devices switched off.
I have not bought or used the Smart Strip yet.
Customer Review: What an amazing product!
Summary: 5 Stars
This product will benefit you two-fold. It will turn off your extra peripherals attached to your computer, TV, etc, and it will block plugged in electronics from using power when they are turned off. Any one of these benefits would make buying a product worthwhile, but the SmartStrip has both of these features combined into one package. The price is a bit expensive for a power strip, but keep in mind you will be saving much more on your power bill over its lifetime.
I did have to adjust the sensitivity of the strip to make sure it came on when I powered up my computer and turned off when it was shut down, but this took less than 30 seconds and was as simple as turning a knob.
Please note that this is the smaller version of the strip! An even larger one can be purchased with more plugs.
Customer Review: Power saving strips
Summary: 5 Stars
Energy is expensive. A power strip like this can help you not only save money but save the environment. I added one to my entertainment system. ow my always on powered speakers only come on when the amplifier does. These strips are wonderful ad the company's customer support people are outstanding.
Check the company site if you are planning to use this strip with a low power computer such as a Macintosh Mini. The version Amazon carries isn't sensitive enough to work with that computer. However, the company sells one that is sensitive enough and it also works like a charm.
I hate to think how much power I wasted in the past running power bricks and powered speakers when I wasn't using them for weeks and weeks. I love these strips!!!