Get a FREE fully-working copy of Steganos Security Suite 7 (worth £49.99) when you sign up to the Practical PC Newsletter. Review: Belkin's Concealed Surge Protector
Don Bradbury rates this new power distribution and mains cleaning device
| Product | Concealed Surge Protector (Belkin Ref: BZ108130uk2M) |
|---|---|
| Company | Belkin |
| Web | www.belkin.com |
| Price | Around £24.83 incl VAT (Dabs ) |
| We like | Good design; wall mountable |
| We don't like | No voltage regulation; no backup power |
| Rating | 9/10 |
| Requirements |
Belkin have a thing about power cleaning and distribution. Indeed, they offer a range of devices that cover every eventuality in the computing and home entertainment scene, ranging from simple power distribution with clean-up, plus surge protected auxiliary sockets, as in this case, to full power backup provision for important computer installations featuring automatic voltage regulation and high quality surge protection. We've looked at some of these in the past and been impressed.
So the new concealed surge protector is a relatively simple device that provides eight standard BlockSpace power sockets, plus coax in/out for TV and similarly fed input, and RJ11 in/out sockets for such devices as modem, fax, or telephone, all similarly surge protected, with everything neatly integrated into a closable unit that measures just 18.5 inches wide and which can be screwed to a wall.
The power sockets are intended for all your device power bricks as well as standard three pin plugs, but the combined output current is not intended to exceed seven amps. That, of course, is because power bricks, in particular, generate heat which must be dissipated while enclosed within the unit. Indeed, for this reason, it's recommended that power bricks should occupy only alternate sockets, with standard 13A type plugs in the rest of the sockets to maximise air circulation.
Cable management
Management of the cabling features large, with both input mains cable and all your power taker cables being run through their own hole which lead into a holding compartment. From either end of this compartment the cables may be taken to either the mains wall outlet or to your applications.
This arrangement is intended to be not only neat and tidy but also act as a deterrent against tampering by pets and children. Access is quick and easy when necessary, though, by simple depression of plastic lugs at each end of the box.
Check the power consumption
It's recommended that, in terms of power consumption, the user should tally the total input current by adding up the amps taken by each device and making sure this does not exceed the recommended 7A. This amperage figure is usually marked on the power brick, or the device itself, or in the user manual.
Finally, Belkin point out that the Concealed Surge Protector should not be daisy-chained downstream of surge-protected extension cords. That, as we've mentioned before in these pages, can lead to destruction of the surge protection circuitry in the downstream device. Of course the same applies to extension cords that are upstream of this device if they are to remain viable for very long.
All your power plugs will be upside down within this unit, but that's insignificant compared with the protection that's on offer. We could, perhaps, have wished that the in and out cabling was taken from the bottom on the unit, rather than the top - as it will generally be screwed to a wall - but otherwise the unit keeps everything neat and tidy.
When all is connected, turn on the mains switch with integral LED, check that the discrete little green "protected" LED is indicating that everything is fully surge protected, and that's about it.
In conclusion
While there's no battery backup or voltage regulation built into the Belkin Concealed Surge Protector, its surge and spike protection is vital if precious equipment is to be protected from mains nasties and lightning strikes. With 3560 Joules maximum energy dissipation, 90,000A spike current protection, EMI/RFI noise filtration up to 70dB between 150kHz and 100MHz, and with a response time of <1 Nanosecond, your equipment should be in safe hands. What's more, the not insignificant Belkin connected equipment warranty extends to a very useful maximum of £175,000.
