Six outlet wall adapters are great since it’s very common to run out of outlets but not actually want to deal with a power strip and another cord hanging around.
These have the center screw that lets you screw the whole thing to the old outlet, so when you try to unplug one device it doesn’t pull the whole adapter out with it. That screw is important and a lot of these adapters are missing it.
The USB-A ports, shrug, I think most of us have enough of those by now. So I don’t think I’m going to order this. Also the phone rest thing makes the whole adapter thicker, which can’t be good.
There is another style where the outlets are on the edge of the box instead of the front, nice when the outlet is behind furniture. Harbor Freight has those for around $3 (no surge protection or USB though). Good to have both kinds, I guess.
At Home Depot I saw a holy grail with outlets on both places, but they were stupid expensive so I didn’t buy.
Overall this is an ok offer if you want the USB ports.
@zachdecker Is the Chicago area the only place that mounts the outlet pairs horizontally?
I know the Union boys made Illinois a conduit-only state. Does that elect. code have something to do with it?
@G1@zachdecker haha I thought it was because of all the trains that go by the apartments and shake them (admittedly, I’ve only ever seen Chicago in movies and via the skyway)
@zachdecker I’ve seen horizontal and “ground prong up” installations in certain places because on a “ground plug down” plug when you drop something metal like a knife or screwdriver on a plug that isn’t inserted all the way it will short the positive and negative terminals and create fireworks. I was of the opinion that this combination of factors would never happen in the real world until I dropped a screwdriver in exactly that way and made a mess. Hopefully there is a real electrician around these parts that can add some real knowledge to my reply
"How (and when) surge protectors wear out
Surge protectors basically work like sponges. But instead of absorbing liquids, surge protectors absorb any unsafe levels of voltage before it reaches (and damages) your appliances. But unlike a sponge, a surge protector can’t just wring out all the voltage it’s absorbed and start fresh.
You see, every surge protector has a specific amount of voltage that it can absorb before it dies. This number is called its “joule rating” (a joule is a unit of energy). Typical surge protectors usually have anywhere from 400 to over 2,000 joules. The higher the joules rating, the better.
Here’s how it works:
If a surge protector with 800 joules takes a 200-joule hit, it has 600 joules worth of protection left. Likewise, if a surge protector with 1,000 joules takes ten 100-joule hits, it won’t offer protection anymore and will need to be replaced.
How do I know how many joules my surge protector has left?
Good question. The answer? You don’t.
Unfortunately, surge protectors aren’t designed to give you any indication of how many joules they have left. Some models use LED lights that cut off when they’re out of joules but these rarely work correctly.
And it’s impossible to estimate how many joules your surge protector should have left because it all depends on:
How many surges it’s absorbed since it was installed
How many joules it can absorb before it “fries and dies”
That said, our professional advice is to replace your surge protectors every 2 years.
However, you’ll want to replace your surge protector now if any of the following has occurred since the surge protector was installed:
Your area has had several power outages
There’s been construction in the area
There have been nearby lightning strikes."
@hchavers@yakkoTDI am I missing something or why is there no photo of the other side of this device? like the metals protruding from it that plugs into the wall.
@hchavers@kus@yakkoTDI, because they probably only have one set of metal prongs that goes into the outlet instead of two sets of prongs. Very cheap on their part, and ineffective for folks like me who have top and bottom outlets on separate circuits (bottom outlet activated by wall switch).
@mrdancer I don’t think you’d want to tie two circuits together like that anyway. If there’s 2 circuits on an outlet, this would not be a good addition to that outlet, whether it had single or dual sets of plugs. If only single, as you pointed out, you’re not able to utilize both circuits. If dual, the switched circuit would be energized all the way back to the breaker, regardless of the position of your wall switch, rendering it useless and possibly dangerous.
@Doooood: no, i was thinking two separate circuits within the plug, not tied together. Then the bottom set would be tied to the wall switch, and the upper set constantly powered. This can be done with those cheap little 3-to-1 outlet adapters, but they don’t have a screw to hold them in place.
@Seeds good to know. I have something similar (looks almost identical) that only has one plug on the back, and everytime the cord gets pulled slightly it pulls the entire unit off the wall.
I think, personally, I prefer the kind you wire in yourself and attached directly to box. Although a central screw should make this more secure than what I have.
@OnionSoup looks like according to Amazon reviews, this one has 1plug, a plastic pin, and the screw. Probably best for behind tvs and stuff like that where things aren’t constantly being plugged in/unplugged, but stable enough for me
@jaynedough What’s a good long cord good for if all your outlets are taken up by other things? I use something like this in my kitchen (it’s from the 90s and only has 3 extra plugins)… but it allows me to have my microwave, coffee pot, and coffee grinder all going at once without having to mess with cords.
I also have a small one (a single plug in with a usb charger next to it) that I use in my room so I can have my lamp, computer, and phone all plugged in at once.
If these had eight outlets, duals sets of prongs on the back for separate circuits, 2.1A per USB port and still retained the center screw, I’d buy a dozen of these, at twice the price. As it is, these won’t do anything more for me than the $2-$3 plugs at the local store will do. No buy.
@ApplePI@mrdancer
also… if these had wings and could fly, I’d buy a couple too.
As it is I have a few of these (or their twins) around. One of which I use as a travel plug since it has 4 USB plugs and 6 outlets. Extremely useful when you are staying in a condo, AirBnB, VRBO etc for a few days as it allows all the electronics to live in one spot (like the kitchen) so you don’t leave chargers behind.
@DoctorOW
I hated that when I lived in my apartment. No lights or outlets. I understand the lights (well not really, it’s just them being cheap) but it’s not like I can bring more outlets to put into the walls.
Ooh la la… Look who can afford an up-to-code apartment.
Touché… though the house I bought in 1988 was definitely NOT code at the time, but is now, after lots of work over the past 33 years. It’s also appreciated by >800%.
When I wired the 16x16ft 2 story building we use for a pool house the inspector asked who did the wiring. When I told him I had (I am an ER nurse… not an electrician) he was floored and told me that it was the neatest breaker box he had seen in a long time. I told him that was because I lived here and wanted to have the place for a long time…
Nope, they have to have the dual plugs on the back for dual circuits with top plug to the top 3 outlets and the bottom plug to the bottom 3 outlets. Hard pass!
@aolshove@mbersiam
I’m in the market for some of these things. I really need it it for my smart tv and cable box and whatever else will be plugged into it. I don’t know enough about this stuff so do I want the ones with one or two prongs on the back? Oh the circuit I’m gonna be using is in the basement and I might have to share with the wine fridge too if that matters.
@aolshove@Star2236 If you’re basement is wired so that both outlets work at the same time it should be ok in that regard. My living room is wired to turn off the bottom outlets with a switch which can be frustrating with things like these.
Depending on where you live, you may want to look into getting something that a little more surge protection. Of course, this really depends on how dependable your electricity is and how stormy your weather is.
All that being said… I bought a couple myself because they’re going to be very handy and I don’t have to worry too much about surges in my area.
I do like that they screw into the outlet for a more secure placement.
@aolshove excuse me but a standard duplex Outlet is only one circuit! It makes no difference whether it plugs into the bottom one or the top one you’re still only using one circuit. So, it makes no sense to plug into both of them!
@aolshove@mbersiam - Because 99.9% of all residential outlets are wired such that the top and bottom (or left and right if you’re in Chicago, apparently) are in parallel anyway.
@doubltap@ashemo@olbaid84 Yes, you’re right but I have three outlets in my house that are switched (zwave) on the bottom and un-switched at the top. But yeah, for the rest of y’all, the single pole is good 'nuff.
@mbersiam@Star2236 For whomever is interested, I bought a pair of these today. 6 outlets each and you can plug two into each plug of a wall outlet for a total of 12 outlets and two surge suppressors per wall outlet! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083LLM6QJ/
@aolshove@ashemo@doubltap@olbaid84 i have three rooms in my house with at least nine switched outlets total. Built in 1973. I guess they were a thing back then.
I’d rather pay a bit more and get something that actually works as a surge protector. I’d trust APC’s USB output power a bit more to be correct and like the side-mounted outlets as well. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MSW5RNM
@haydesigner These rarely exceed 2.1A, so I only use mine (different brand but same thing) for stuff like PS4 controllers & the 34 pairs of BT headphones I got from meh.
What do people use those USB ports for? Almost all my stuff has fast charging. I don’t want to sacrifice that for this.
Ok, here’s a thought. Plug in your 18w charger into one of the outlets (still have 5 left), use the built-in USBs to charge your wireless headphone/earbuds/smartwatch/kindle etc overnight.
YMMV
I’d really like to get rid of all the USB “wall wart” chargers I have, so I’ve been debating buying replacement sockets with built-in USB charging ports, but:
-Everything is headed toward USB-C, so do I really want permanent sockets with USB-A ports?
-We’re considering moving to a different house, so why spend the money to upgrade the sockets here?
In for two pairs of these. I can take them with me and replace them later (or buy adapters) when everything goes to USB-C.
@dbrossard apparently there’s a phone stand thing on it so you can lean your phone on it while charging… rather than on the counter or floor below? I won’t be getting any use from that feature on mine
Wow I bought two pair before even reading the comments. Always can use more of these. So much better than power strips. At least as long as you don’t have power surges.
@ChrisHBelAir and now I just read the specifications… It does protect from power surges! So I change my gripe to… There’s no way you get six plugs on this, four tops given the size of plug heads and adapters these days.
Overall this is an ok offer if you want the USB ports.
@phr TL;DR: “Meh”
Another great Model Number: WH0-0UTL3T-TH3-D065-0UTL3T
/giphy who-let-the-dogs-out
Maybe if I get the blue one and the pink one and cross my eyes I’ll have purple. For that reason alone, MEH!
@katbyter Go Team Purple!
@katbyter Actually they will look 3D
“USB ports for that modern stuff you own.”?
More like, “USB-A ports for that ancient stuff you own.”
I dream of the day when Meh regularly has USB-C products.
@alextheaverage They’ll have USB-C in a few years, and it’ll be the low power less than 18W stuff.
@alextheaverage @bbf by the time Meh has USB-C, the world will have moved to USB-E.
The phone stand on these is useless for people who live around Chicago.
@zachdecker Truly it is a sadness.
@zachdecker Is the Chicago area the only place that mounts the outlet pairs horizontally?
I know the Union boys made Illinois a conduit-only state. Does that elect. code have something to do with it?
@zachdecker today I learned…
@G1 @zachdecker haha I thought it was because of all the trains that go by the apartments and shake them (admittedly, I’ve only ever seen Chicago in movies and via the skyway)
@zachdecker I’ve seen horizontal and “ground prong up” installations in certain places because on a “ground plug down” plug when you drop something metal like a knife or screwdriver on a plug that isn’t inserted all the way it will short the positive and negative terminals and create fireworks. I was of the opinion that this combination of factors would never happen in the real world until I dropped a screwdriver in exactly that way and made a mess. Hopefully there is a real electrician around these parts that can add some real knowledge to my reply
@G1 @zachdecker
Doesn’t everybody’s circuit look horizontal like they do in the picture? Or is the picture showing them vertical?
Surge protectors wear out/get used up.
Regarding surge protectors - fromEnergytoday.biz:
"How (and when) surge protectors wear out
Surge protectors basically work like sponges. But instead of absorbing liquids, surge protectors absorb any unsafe levels of voltage before it reaches (and damages) your appliances. But unlike a sponge, a surge protector can’t just wring out all the voltage it’s absorbed and start fresh.
You see, every surge protector has a specific amount of voltage that it can absorb before it dies. This number is called its “joule rating” (a joule is a unit of energy). Typical surge protectors usually have anywhere from 400 to over 2,000 joules. The higher the joules rating, the better.
Here’s how it works:
If a surge protector with 800 joules takes a 200-joule hit, it has 600 joules worth of protection left. Likewise, if a surge protector with 1,000 joules takes ten 100-joule hits, it won’t offer protection anymore and will need to be replaced.
How do I know how many joules my surge protector has left?
Good question. The answer? You don’t.
Unfortunately, surge protectors aren’t designed to give you any indication of how many joules they have left. Some models use LED lights that cut off when they’re out of joules but these rarely work correctly.
And it’s impossible to estimate how many joules your surge protector should have left because it all depends on:
How many surges it’s absorbed since it was installed
How many joules it can absorb before it “fries and dies”
That said, our professional advice is to replace your surge protectors every 2 years.
However, you’ll want to replace your surge protector now if any of the following has occurred since the surge protector was installed:
Your area has had several power outages
There’s been construction in the area
There have been nearby lightning strikes."
I HAVE THE POWER!!!
@yakkoTDI I don’t see an order number.
@hchavers @yakkoTDI am I missing something or why is there no photo of the other side of this device?
like the metals protruding from it that plugs into the wall.
@hchavers @kus @yakkoTDI, because they probably only have one set of metal prongs that goes into the outlet instead of two sets of prongs. Very cheap on their part, and ineffective for folks like me who have top and bottom outlets on separate circuits (bottom outlet activated by wall switch).
@mrdancer I don’t think you’d want to tie two circuits together like that anyway. If there’s 2 circuits on an outlet, this would not be a good addition to that outlet, whether it had single or dual sets of plugs. If only single, as you pointed out, you’re not able to utilize both circuits. If dual, the switched circuit would be energized all the way back to the breaker, regardless of the position of your wall switch, rendering it useless and possibly dangerous.
@Doooood @mrdancer
unless of course they separated them internally so they replicated the outlet you plugged them into. Though this is VERY unlikely.
@Doooood: no, i was thinking two separate circuits within the plug, not tied together. Then the bottom set would be tied to the wall switch, and the upper set constantly powered. This can be done with those cheap little 3-to-1 outlet adapters, but they don’t have a screw to hold them in place.
@hchavers I said I have the power not I have the power divider.
@Doooood @mrdancer Yeah, I don’t think he thought that one through before complaining.
@Doooood @mehwootmania he figured it out about the same time i replied.
Sure
/giphy moldy-open-curry
@dasred that is a super long but incredibly helpful gif! Not only did I order a product but I get dinner plans for tomorrow night!
@dasred That DOES look good!
@dasred I don’t recognize half the ingredients but now I’m very hungry.
SHOW US YOUR BUTT.
Lots of.the same photos of the front, but none of the back.
Does this plug into the wall, is this one we rewire. Is this held flimsily in place by one socket, or is this a double.plug on the back.
SHOW US YOUR BUTT meh!
@OnionSoup it plugs in not flimsily- you can see the screw that holds it in place in the picture
@Seeds good to know. I have something similar (looks almost identical) that only has one plug on the back, and everytime the cord gets pulled slightly it pulls the entire unit off the wall.
I think, personally, I prefer the kind you wire in yourself and attached directly to box. Although a central screw should make this more secure than what I have.
@OnionSoup looks like according to Amazon reviews, this one has 1plug, a plastic pin, and the screw. Probably best for behind tvs and stuff like that where things aren’t constantly being plugged in/unplugged, but stable enough for me
Power to the people
Why would you want this which gives you no extra distance? I want a cord - preferably a long one.
@jaynedough
Don’t we all?!?
@dasred @jaynedough
/giphy long cord
@jaynedough What’s a good long cord good for if all your outlets are taken up by other things? I use something like this in my kitchen (it’s from the 90s and only has 3 extra plugins)… but it allows me to have my microwave, coffee pot, and coffee grinder all going at once without having to mess with cords.
I also have a small one (a single plug in with a usb charger next to it) that I use in my room so I can have my lamp, computer, and phone all plugged in at once.
/giphy wrinkled-creepy-humor
If these had eight outlets, duals sets of prongs on the back for separate circuits, 2.1A per USB port and still retained the center screw, I’d buy a dozen of these, at twice the price. As it is, these won’t do anything more for me than the $2-$3 plugs at the local store will do. No buy.
@mrdancer If these had all those things they wouldn’t be very meh…
@ApplePI @mrdancer
also… if these had wings and could fly, I’d buy a couple too.
As it is I have a few of these (or their twins) around. One of which I use as a travel plug since it has 4 USB plugs and 6 outlets. Extremely useful when you are staying in a condo, AirBnB, VRBO etc for a few days as it allows all the electronics to live in one spot (like the kitchen) so you don’t leave chargers behind.
@ApplePI @chienfou i have a couple compact travel power strips that i use for that purpose - very handy.
I also have a dozen foot-long extension cords to make these crowded outlets handy. It would be nice if Meh offered those, and they are truly meh.
Meh I’m still holding out for that 8 outlet deal that had a few years ago
These are super useful for someone like me. My apartment is super lacking in outlets
@DoctorOW
I hated that when I lived in my apartment. No lights or outlets. I understand the lights (well not really, it’s just them being cheap) but it’s not like I can bring more outlets to put into the walls.
@DoctorOW @Star2236
That is why the electrical code dictates number of outlets per X ft of wall space and how many are in a kitchen/bathroom etc.
@chienfou @Star2236 Ooh la la… Look who can afford an up-to-code apartment.
@DoctorOW @Star2236
Touché… though the house I bought in 1988 was definitely NOT code at the time, but is now, after lots of work over the past 33 years. It’s also appreciated by >800%.
When I wired the 16x16ft 2 story building we use for a pool house the inspector asked who did the wiring. When I told him I had (I am an ER nurse… not an electrician) he was floored and told me that it was the neatest breaker box he had seen in a long time. I told him that was because I lived here and wanted to have the place for a long time…
Here for the butt talk. Based on what others are saying, this is a 1:6 adapter? Would have been insta-buy if it was 2:3.
Woot has same one for same price but you only get one
Nope, they have to have the dual plugs on the back for dual circuits with top plug to the top 3 outlets and the bottom plug to the bottom 3 outlets. Hard pass!
@aolshove I tried hunting some down and couldn’t find any. Where can I find the ones with dual plugs on the back?
@mbersiam I found one at Home Depot of all places. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-15-Amp-6-Outlet-Grounding-Tap-White-YY-6ZA/203456720. I don’t understand why 2 circuits isn’t standard for these things.
@mbersiam Oh! Found this one on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/GE-Grounded-Charging-46852-Standard/dp/B07ZK6B3X6 However, I don’t think we’ll ever find surge suppressors with dual prong sets because then they’d have to make one with dual suppressor circuits and I don’t see that ever happening, sadly.
@aolshove @mbersiam
I’m in the market for some of these things. I really need it it for my smart tv and cable box and whatever else will be plugged into it. I don’t know enough about this stuff so do I want the ones with one or two prongs on the back? Oh the circuit I’m gonna be using is in the basement and I might have to share with the wine fridge too if that matters.
@aolshove Aren’t most outlets wired with both outlets on the same circuit anyways?
@aolshove @Star2236 If you’re basement is wired so that both outlets work at the same time it should be ok in that regard. My living room is wired to turn off the bottom outlets with a switch which can be frustrating with things like these.
Depending on where you live, you may want to look into getting something that a little more surge protection. Of course, this really depends on how dependable your electricity is and how stormy your weather is.
All that being said… I bought a couple myself because they’re going to be very handy and I don’t have to worry too much about surges in my area.
I do like that they screw into the outlet for a more secure placement.
@aolshove @mbersiam
Thanks
@aolshove excuse me but a standard duplex Outlet is only one circuit! It makes no difference whether it plugs into the bottom one or the top one you’re still only using one circuit. So, it makes no sense to plug into both of them!
@aolshove @mbersiam @Star2236
The total wattage of everything plugged in shouldn’t go over 1500 watts. It’s probably on a 15 or 20 amp circuit, too.
@aolshove @mbersiam - Because 99.9% of all residential outlets are wired such that the top and bottom (or left and right if you’re in Chicago, apparently) are in parallel anyway.
@doubltap @ashemo @olbaid84 Yes, you’re right but I have three outlets in my house that are switched (zwave) on the bottom and un-switched at the top. But yeah, for the rest of y’all, the single pole is good 'nuff.
@mbersiam @Star2236 For whomever is interested, I bought a pair of these today. 6 outlets each and you can plug two into each plug of a wall outlet for a total of 12 outlets and two surge suppressors per wall outlet! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083LLM6QJ/
@aolshove @ashemo @doubltap @olbaid84 i have three rooms in my house with at least nine switched outlets total. Built in 1973. I guess they were a thing back then.
I’d rather pay a bit more and get something that actually works as a surge protector. I’d trust APC’s USB output power a bit more to be correct and like the side-mounted outlets as well. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MSW5RNM
(Also available without the USB ports.)
Most dangerous kind of Surge: The Border kind.
2.1amps? (According Amazon). Meh.
/giphy 2.1
@haydesigner These rarely exceed 2.1A, so I only use mine (different brand but same thing) for stuff like PS4 controllers & the 34 pairs of BT headphones I got from meh.
@haydesigner Faster charging degrades your battery. If you charge your phone overnight, it will last langer.
@haydesigner @jmkiii sauce for that?
What’s the surge protection ratings?
@mike808 Minimal. 300 joules.
A pink or powder blue power strip? I thought they were only found in dark rooms with seedy bosses.
@hchavers wut
So…is the plug on top or bottom? No pictures of the back. I have some 1/2 switched outlets in my living rooms.
@Wimateeka amazon has reviews where customers posted pics. Plug is on the bottom.
Had to go digging on amazon for “Total USB Output 2.4A”…that’s 1.2A per port. Not terrible…but that’s no quick charger…
/image domestic-large-paper
/giphy domestic-large-paper
I caved. In for a pair.
/giphy cruel-tangy-dancer
What do people use those USB ports for? Almost all my stuff has fast charging. I don’t want to sacrifice that for this.
@dam091 We’re patient?
@dam091 I avoid technology upgrades so i’m ancient and so is all my stuff
@dam091
Ok, here’s a thought. Plug in your 18w charger into one of the outlets (still have 5 left), use the built-in USBs to charge your wireless headphone/earbuds/smartwatch/kindle etc overnight.
YMMV
@chienfou “kin”… someone actually remembers the Kin!!!
@TimW
with paperwhite screen no less…
I’m plugging in ALL of my stolen electronics now!!!
I’d really like to get rid of all the USB “wall wart” chargers I have, so I’ve been debating buying replacement sockets with built-in USB charging ports, but:
-Everything is headed toward USB-C, so do I really want permanent sockets with USB-A ports?
-We’re considering moving to a different house, so why spend the money to upgrade the sockets here?
In for two pairs of these. I can take them with me and replace them later (or buy adapters) when everything goes to USB-C.
/giphy mentionable-clever-learning
Now I know I made a wise purchase!
I prefer my usb devices to charge fast so nope.
Its weird, like ALL THE WATTS ARE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!! USE SOME!!!
/giphy mythical-roasted-substance
Why is an iPhone Photoshopped on the top of these?
@dbrossard apparently there’s a phone stand thing on it so you can lean your phone on it while charging… rather than on the counter or floor below? I won’t be getting any use from that feature on mine
Specs
What’s Included?
2x Aduro 6-Outlet Multi-Station With Dual USB Ports
Price Comparison
$33.98 at Amazon for 2
Warranty
1 Year Aduro After Product Registration
Estimated Delivery
Wednesday, Apr 28 - Monday, May 3
Not smart? Durrrrr! No way, meh.
Wow I bought two pair before even reading the comments. Always can use more of these. So much better than power strips. At least as long as you don’t have power surges.
/giphy rigorous-tolerable-cheese
@ChrisHBelAir and now I just read the specifications… It does protect from power surges! So I change my gripe to… There’s no way you get six plugs on this, four tops given the size of plug heads and adapters these days.
@ChrisHBelAir
I’m so dumb when it comes to this stuff (I’m a girl) why are they better than power strips?
/giphy fascinated-logical-flame
