Review: You too can have the power with Powercube
I am still surprised that extension plugs dont have USB ports included as standard. So I was intrigued when I found Allocacoc, and their PowerCube line of power outlets. Anyone reading this, will probably have as many devices—smartphone, tablets, media player —that rely on USB cables for charging as they do hardware that needs an AC power cable.
You can mount the PowerCube Extended USB to the top or bottom of your work surface to gain five additional outlets and two USB charging ports.
The first major point people should know about the entire PowerCube line is that they don’t offer any power conditioning or surge suppression. These devices are designed primarily for the convenience of the people using them. They are equipped with a resettable fuse, so they will provide some protection to the devices you plug into them. But unlike other companies that manufacture true surge suppressors, Allocacoc doesn’t provide insurance to cover your devices should their product fail to protect them from AC power transients.
The PowerCube Extended USB has two USB charging ports and four AC outlets. Each USB charging port delivers 5.0 volts and 2.0 amps to a connected USB smartphone, or tablet, so I could power six devices at once. There were no USB cables in the box, which isn’t a bad thing as it keeps costs low, and everyone has a USB cable.
The Extended model was my favourite as it comes with a docking port that allowed me to fasten it to my work surface. I could do this using the provided screws or an adhesive pad, but I found that would block one of the cube’s four outlets. There is a small plastic collar with a screw hole, that slides up and down the cable, so if I was a handyman I could fix the cable to the wall. Allocacoc also has PowerCube Extended cables in 10-foot lengths.
The cubes shape and design in all four of Allocacoc’s products means that one plug won’t block any of the other outlets. I really like these products and think that they are a great idea. I would highly recommend buying these next time you are looking for an extension cable.
Check out their website for more details – allocacoc.com
