Belkin BZ103050vTVL Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger Reviews

• USB a little misleading

  
  By A2DZ0L45LI7CJA on 2008-05-08
  I purchased this surge protector for a great price, I found it online somewhere for $10. The thing is that this surge is a little misleading.
  
  I have only gotten the USB ports to charge my ipod. It does not work with my PSP or with my Treo.
  
  Its supposed to work with mobile phones and mp3 players and virtually any other USB charging device. My Treo is a mobile phone and it does not work. I tested the same cable with my mac and it charges fine, it just doesn't charge with the surge protector.
  
  Its still a great product but it needs more info about it.
  
  

• Far far too big to be useful

  
  By A7VCOSV2P30BW on 2008-08-05
  Belkin has missed the mark with this adaptor.
  
  It simply is not "mini." At least, it is not mini as compared to other three outlet grounding adaptors. It is 4x the size and 4 the weight of a typical cheap (i.e. $3) three outlet grounded adaptor. This means that it cannot easily be dropped into a bag; you have to make room for it.
  
  While it is surely is smaller than most surge suppressors, buyers only need something this small when traveling, and this is so much bigger than what it might replace that it is not likely to be brought along for the trip.
  
  Belkin -- a company whose products I generally like -- clearly decided to make solid and sturdy product. The plastic is thick and strong. I have no doubt that the thing could even hold my weight, where I stand on it or even jump on it. But the trade off there is bulk, both in size and weight.
  
  This is unfortunate because the product is a great idea. Between phones, MP3 players, bluetooth headsets and BlackBerries, there is quite a need for USB charging, especially on the road. Power outlets are usually in short supply in hotels and airports, so carrying this kind of device would be a good idea, if only it was easier to carry and forget about until needed.
  
  

• Glad I bought this handy device

  
  By A1J4W9JJVZSZFG on 2008-05-12
  This is a useful, versatile tool in a compact package--exactly the kind of gadget I like. It charged my BlackBerry fast and was easy to pack in my laptop case.
  
  

• Almost Perfect

  
  By A3TCMJ6GKZJFBQ on 2008-05-21
  This unit is about 30% larger than I thought it would be. But for what it is, it's great! Was able to use the unit to charge my Zune!
  
  

• Mini It Ain't

  
  By A382FKNA5LXFFB on 2008-05-26
  Nothing mini about it. One of those "how do they make it look so small in the product shots". Heavy and bulky...best to check the dimensions twice. Can handle nomadic power needs for the whole family, including the portable VCR and rechargable toaster oven.
  
  Shamefully wasteful packaging. Made in China. Designed for road warriors checking two bags.
  
  
• Doesn't charge iphones
  By A28KGDCDA9SB1J on 2008-08-10
  Not sure what the deal is with the USB but it is tempermental (or doesn't put out enough power)... charges lots of little things but not iphones so for me it is of limited utility.
  
  
• Needs another design iteration
  By A1GDAX6KT6HQHH on 2008-10-16
  Great idea, but not quite there. The USB charger is great -- charged my iPhone 3G, and the surge-protected outlets and swivel plug are just what is needed. However, it's anything but 'Mini' -- it's way too bulky and should be at least 30% smaller. Second, for world travelers it must support 240v (it doesn't). Third, why not throw in another USB port or two? I actually travel with at least three USB-chargeable devices.
  
  
• Great Portable Surge Protector
  By A18YDZ4WVHDWUK on 2008-06-28
  This is a great surge protector for travelers... it is compact, lightweight, and best of all can charge two USB devices. If I could change anything about it, I'd wish it could be a little bit smaller... but considering everything else good about this device, why complain? The plug rotates, too, so you can plug it into an outlet facing in any of four directions. After I saw this previewed, I held off on buying other similar products... it was worth the wait and I carry it with me whenever I travel.
  
  
• Works well
  By A1DZXBGKHUTP90 on 2008-08-18
  Well this is not a compact item but for what it does it would be difficult to make it smaller. I have found that people at airports are more than willing to allow you to plug in for the chance to get surge protection.
  
  
• Works, yes. Mini, no.
  By A16DK2BP9J505S on 2008-06-26
  This charger and surge-suppressor works as advertised, but it's not 'mini'. You wouldn't be able to put it in your pocket. I bought it to charge my iPod Touch when I go on trips and don't want to have to take my laptop. It also came with a mini-USB cable that I can use to charge my cell phone. This is great because I can leave my A/C cell phone charger at home, offsetting the size of this unit.
  
  
• Just what I needed
  By A23XEUZWVI8LYK on 2008-08-11
  The product so far has lived up to it's description. I do agree with another reviewer, that it was larger than expected. I got this unit because of the extra outlets (difficult enought to find one in a hotel room) and USB charger ports. The USB ports alone will come in handy charging my Mp3 player and other gadgets. It has a new home in my suitcase rather than my backpack and will be used during each trip.
  
  
• Hard to find three-plug surge protector - Perfect!
  By AGNUO64RCQSN1 on 2008-08-15
  Three plug outlet surge protectors are hard to find. I've used many Belkin products in the past and have never had one fail to provide top service. This one handled my HD TV, HD black box and DVD/VCR player perfectly. Can't go wrong with Belkin.
  
  
• Great Surge Protector
  By A2CQRIIXM66YKH on 2008-08-23
  This is truly a great item. It charges my Iphone, Ipod, etc. and also has 3 regular outlets. It can also be tilted in any direction.
  
  
• Good little product
  By A1V198BJJTKJBQ on 2008-09-01
  I use this to plug in my MacBook Pro when I'm at home, although I occasionally take it with me to my local coffee shop. I have no trouble fitting it inside my bag. I hope people realize that to do what it does, this product really couldn't be any smaller. Yes, there are mini power strips that are smaller, but have no surge protection or USB charging. Besides, Amazon does provide the product's dimensions; take a moment to pull out a tape measure to get an idea of what you'll get. Unless you use a really tight fitting sleeve or bag to carry your laptop, I don't see why it would be such a problem to fit this unit inside the average laptop bag. A lot of power supply "bricks" are larger and heavier.
  The rotating plug allows you to fit this unit in any position without covering other outlets. I have not tried the USB outlets yet, as I tend to use AC chargers for my portable gadgets, but the idea is great for road warriors that need all their laptop USB ports.
  
  
• Useful for Travel Professionals
  By A35TWQGS7X20M7 on 2008-10-01
  Helped reduce my travel bag of AC extension, cables, chargers etc. Worked perfectly with my iPhone, iPOD and Garmin GPS. There's 3 AC adapter I could leave home! The plug turns 360 degrees which adapted to virtually any wall outlet I tried it with. Seems pretty sturdy - I'll let you know after it has traveled 50,000 miles - if it holds up as well as me - I'll give it another Thumbs Up.
  
  
• Belkin BZ103050v TVL Mini Surge Protector / Dual USB Charger
  By A363OXUJ35CTX on 2008-07-05
  This is great for the notebook traveler and also has the added benefit of being able to charge USB based devices like an Ipod, Zen, etc. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Good for the Road Warrior
  By A2AYC1CBRIL64C on 2008-07-25
  Great little power strip/charger for travel. A little larger than I'd like, it does take up less space than all the chargers it replaces. The power strip is very handy when hotel room power receptacles are limited. The rotating plug is a nice feature, but the directions don't mention this important feature.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By A1MPXIPG4KD4UX on 2008-08-09
  I'm disappointed with the product.. it's billed for traveling and charging motorola phones, among others. First of all it's WAY TOO HEAVY to carry around traveling considering the weight and size limitations that are being placed by airlines.
  
  As for charging my Razr phone.. when I plug it in it turns the phone on, but does NOT charge it. I purposely let my phone run down and plugged it in overnight and while it did turn on, it did not charge the battery.
  
  I think it misses out on both of it's main advertised claims.. good for traveling and charging motorola phones.
  
  
• works ok
  By A2YORQUPGH1BUM on 2008-08-30
  I'm NOT using this as a PORTABLE surge protector; just wanted a small one for my bedroom. it would be a bit large if you travel lite.
  
  it works well enough. the ability to rotate orientation is a nice feature. my only complaint is that the outlets are only spaced far enough apart to allow regular size plugs; would not accommodate three power adaptors for instance.
  
  
• Just ok.
  By A26GVKHFQHG2XV on 2008-09-06
  I purchased to be able to charge my MP3 player while travelling. The USB ports won't charge the MP# player. It will give power to it to listen while it is plugged in... but... won't charge it. I was disappointed.
  
  It was an expensive power strip... but.. live and learn.
  
  
• Excellent Surge Protector
  By A1M59846UAZEMX on 2008-09-09
  This is an excellent surge protector with 2 USB plugs to charge your various USB-pluggable devices (iPods, cell phones). It works great, but it's pretty bulky, so you don't want to use it for a travel charger.
  
  
• Heavy-duty and compact
  By A3HG0DNFURFXR4 on 2008-09-23
  This is a solid little unit! I have yet to successfully rotate the electrical prongs (the instructions say to push in a button and rotate the plug but I either don't have the hand strength or mine is stuck) but I'm very happy with it otherwise. Hotels aren't known for stellar wiring so I like having a surge protector for travel. I love the extra USB ports for charging peripherals too!
  
  
• Versatile surge protector for home and travel
  By A2GE97ARTWI92F on 2008-09-24
  This successfully charged my iPod Nano, Nuvi GPS, compact Energizer battery charger, and Motorola RazR. I appreciated the rotating plug feature; the main improvement I would seek is a folding plug that would make for a more compact package while travelling. The provided plug protector can be secured to the mini-USB cable, and is otherwise at risk for loss. I found the potential to eliminate several chargers or running my laptop solely to charge portable devices a welcome addition to my travel kit.
  
  
• Great Item!
  By A2DAUFXX04ROQ5 on 2008-09-30
  This is a great item it is small enough to use anywhere. My husband really likes the usb access on the end so he can charge his ipod and not have to use his computer. The cord which came with it also works with my motorola cell phone and will charge that. You can not get a cell phone charger from the dealer for less than this item. We like it so much I am going to order another one with my next purchase. Great product all around!
  
  
• Awesome for travelers!
  By AA9HBAAIF24C1 on 2008-10-09
  I travel with quite a few electonic devices and this surge protector/USB charger is the best thing I have purchased to help keep all of them fully charged and ready to take on the road. This thing rocks!
  
  
• Not so MINI, but a good surge product overall.
  By A2HXE29CU1I24Y on 2008-11-16
  I've been searching for a product that can extend the outlet on my bathroom for the electrical products that I use. I finally came across this Belkin mini surge protector and features:
  
  - 3 AC power outlets
  - 2 USB outlets ONLY for charging (not data transfer) at 5V / 500mA at each port
  - Surge protection on all 5 outlets
  - 918 Joules Energy Dissipation
  - 125V / 15A / 1,875W Continuous Duty Electrical Rating
  - 36,000A Maximum Spike Current
  - Lifetime Warranty on product
  - USD75,0000.00 connected equipment warranty
  - 360 degree rotating plug lockable into 4 possible positions
  
  Simple, elegant design in a smooth plastic casing of white and light grey colour. Once plugged, the green LED light will indicate if the power source is grounded.
  
  The box comes with one USB to mini-USB cable to get you started in charging your USB devices as well.
  
  DO NOT throw the prong cover that initially comes attached to the surge protector prong. As the manual states (for those who still care to read the User Manual these days), you can use this plastic prong cover to help further balance the device against any surface. You do this by inserting the plastic prong cover on the bottom of the surge device via a small notch. Also, the plastic cover is handy to use when traveling. Before dumping the surge protector along with your other devices, cover the prongs to prevent it from scratching other objects.
  
  The prongs can be rotated 360 degrees loosely. However, there are 4 positions that enable you to lock it so it doesn't flail along clumsily in any direction. You do this by pressing into the rear a "release button". It's not a raised button, but a flat plastic portion that you have to press hard in order to release the lock. It's quite difficult (at least with the model I received) at first and feels like I'm going to break the plastic button. But I guess if this is normal then it can be construed as a safety measure so it doesn't easily rotate with a simple touch.
  
  IMPROVEMENTS:
  
  The term "mini" is subjective. It isn't really that compact as I would assume from seeing the photo. It is small, yes. However, as a surge protector that can take 3 AC and 2 USB outlets, I will give Belkin the benefit of naming it a mini device.
  
  I would STRONGLY prefer the re-design of the spacing on the AC outlets by allowing larger plugs connected side-by-side. As it is right now, only normal AC plugs and not block-style plugs are allowed without loosing all three outlets. So my proposal is to delete the middle AC outlet and move it to the end-cap of the device (opposite to the 2 USB outlets). As of now, there is nothing there so rather than cramp the 3 AC plugs, then move the third at the end and thus allowing for block-style plugs to be used and still retaining the 3 AC functionality.
  
  OVERALL:
  
  I would not hesitate to recommend the purchase of this surge protection for compact spaces as well as travel purposes especially with the lifetime warranty and amount of protection is offers.
  
  Take note of the selling price Amazon and the others are selling this at. It's ridiculous to see the selling price of this exact device can range anywhere from USD10 to USD30.
  
  Lastly, BE AWARE of the SPECS so you know if the USB device you are plugging is capable of being charged.
  
  
• quick ship - great price
  By A2U1J1CD1X7IX2 on 2008-06-26
  Great product that fits in a very tiny space. Quick shipping and good communication
  
  
• Big Enough to Leave Behind
  By A1UEL5C1N6E5SE on 2008-08-17
  Hey, it really is big. So big that you'll hesitate to take it with you. Best to wait for v2, whenever that will be.
  
  
• Great for cooling your Laptop!
  By A3VGOSF8S6MYOA on 2008-10-29
  I've seen those cooling plates for laptops for sale all over, but I didn't want to buy something that would strain my laptop's power supply. This little beauty allows me to have surge protection for my laptop -and- run a USB powered fan cooling plate directly, without straining the Power supply of my laptop! If your laptop has issues with heating, get a cooling plate and this device!
  
  
• Handy
  By AHQRU3MRORIWQ on 2008-10-30
  It is helpful to have a little device like this because I can use it directly in a wall outlet or along with an extention cord. It would be nice if it had two more USB charging jacks on the other end, or maybe set it up so that there are four jacks - two on one side, two on another side becasue very often, when you are taveling, you have equipment that requires 'wall warts' it can really help make the best of a small number of available outlets in a hotel room.
  Belkin Mini Surge 3OUT Wall Mount 75K 918J with USB Charger is similar
  
  

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