VCT - 220V/240V AC 13A Universal Surge Protector / Power Strip with 6 Universal Outlets. 50Hz/60Hz - 450 Joules. Max. 4000 Watt Capacity - Heavy Duty European Cord

This is pretty much a big EU to US converter power strip, but you will be happy to have this if you travel often internationally. I used this in Europe, and found it extremely useful when 2 of us where in a hotel room with only one available empty outlet. At the same time, we both were able to plug in our US or EU phone chargers, a kettle, and an electric toothbrush without any problems. It has been used by someone in the family traveling to Europe maybe 2 times a yr over the last 3 years, and so far no problems!

I bought this before moving to Burkina Faso in Africa. I needed a solid surge protector that would accept European and American plugs without daisy-chaining a bunch of adapters together. I needed a surge protector that would be substantial enough to protect all of my electronics--4 laptops, an Ipad, cell phones, assorted camera batteries, a combination battery (AAA, AA, C, D, and 9-volt) battery charger, and a couple of power tool battery chargers. This strip does the job and feels like it is built to last. It is well worth the money. I have one regret--I didn't buy at least two, maybe even a bunch--some to resell in in Ouaga. After playing with the simple ones in France, this strip is a dream and I don't write many product reviews. Update: 13 Avril 2017. I am ordering more. After five years in hot, dusty Africa every other multiprise has bit the dust (literally) only these surge protectors keep on working. Of the first three I've owned, only one problem--the neon lamp in one on/off switch burned out, a minor inconvenience. We have so many power disturbances --failures, brownouts, surges, spikes, dips, high frequency noise, rotten grounding, etc., I have had to install an AVR with autotransformer ahead of the multiprise to take the load off of the surge suppressors. I'm hooked on these. Update: 17 Juin 2018. These multi-outlets/surge protectors have and continue to prove their value and utility. Over time one weakness has arisen; the neon indicator lamp in the on/off switch begins to flicker and die. An LED replacement lamp MAY prove more durable, but the required ancillary electronics to support the LED lamp would surely increase the cost and themselves experience potential failure.

I recently purchased this power strip at the recommendation of an acquaintance in one of my lava lamp forums. The pinnacle of lava lamps, Mathmos, are actually born in England. They were the first and are still made there, but not sold directly in the United States. I purchased a couple of lamps through a third party and wanted an extension cord that would work with my lamps under their original components. This strip does not have an American plug and is meant to be used during travel in Europe. I had to purchase an up converter with an American plug. I plug the strip in the Up converter, plug the lamps into the strip, and everything works beautifully from there. I have to say, I do very much like that the spacing between the plugs. I've discovered that most UK plugs are wide and flat. This strip is designed so that every plug has its own space - no overlap like you might see in American power strips. You're really getting more bang for the buck that way.

Used this in Paris, Amsterdam and Bruges in the summer of 2012 and it worked well. Travelling family of 4 with 2 laptops, 1 iPad, phones, Gameboy, electric toothbrushes and the 6 outlets cover them all. I would suggest the 4 outlets one (smaller) from other manufacturers for most families as the laptops don't need to be charged at all times, or you charge the laptops while you are out touring. Paris and Bruges use the same EU standard plug. Amsterdam uses the German Schuko plug standard but they are compatible so no problem there. I didn't have this in the Summer of 2011 when in Italy. Note that Italy does not use the EU standard plug (at least not yet in 2012) so you must bring an adapter for this strip. The EU pins are larger in diameter than that of the Italian so you will not be able to plug this into the Italian socket. You can bring an adapter but I doubt if you will be able to find an adapter that has a ground pin for this strip. It will plug in an adapter w/o a ground pin but without the ground it kind of defeats the purpose of this strip. This is more a home product than a travel surge strip. Point is, it could have been smaller and even lighter. The size probably turned off a lot of people. I have no use of it at home here in the US (I haven't been able to find a EU to US adapter that has a ground for the plug on this strip.) On top of that it is intended for 220V tho. it can be used in our 110V system. It is thus stored in the suitcase for the next trip to Europe. Someone living in Europe can use this for the home and abroad and can get the money's worth. Note also this is not a transformer and is designed for 220V surge suppression. Your appliances that are 110V must still have a transformer to convert 220V to 110V. We had to bring the travel transformer for the toothbrushes and the Gameboy. All of my other electronics are "autovolt" - they self adjust between 100-240V. So the laptops, the iPad, the phones chargers all can plug directly in (univeral sockets) and they self adjust to the 220V system. The toothbrushes and the Gameboy had to wait in turn for the transformer, I only have one. But once charged they last for days so we just charge them in succession. The kids were warned that they were not to plug the toothbrushes and Gameboy in directly so they hand them to me when necessary. Some of the reviewers who blew up their appliances likely is ignorant or forgot (or both) that 110V appliances will die when supplied with 220V. 1 reviewer says it didn't arc or anything and the appliance just died. well, an internal fuse or circuit may have blown w/o fanfare. Oddly, when I plugged the "autovolt" chargers in, they usually arc. But no harm done. Plug the electronics in and it charges perfectly fine. Pros: -Has surge protection -Grounded -Universal socket outlets - accepts mix of US, UK, EU plugs and more -Generously spaced outlets - great for plugging multiple bulky transformers -Light weight -Decent build quality even tho it is light Cons: -Bulky for travelling -Overkill for travelling or if you have less than 4 appliances *I have no experience with it's surge suppression capability as none was encountered in our few weeks in Europe. All I can say is it is better than none at all. Tho. all my laptops I have equipped them with a laptop surge suppressors already. I hope the manufacture/designer is reading this. They would sell a lot more if there is a product geared for travelling than as a home product. If you look at this product, it's design is too encompassing. It has 6 outlets, more than most travellers will need. It's outlets are spaced generously so you can plug in multiple big transformers. (see photos someone posted that compare the size of different strips.) But who travels with that many appliances that need big transformers? The outlets are universal but we only have appliances with US plugs. Yes, you can plug your US, or the hotel's UK or EU plugged hair dryer but I'd rather bring adapters if it will keep this compact. Good thing is they kept the weight low so the only penalty is the size. If you checked the reviews most who bought it use it for travelling and grudgingly accept it's size. Here is the ideal if VCT is listening: Create a travel version that is possible to be 1/2 the size and perhaps up to 50% heavier. 1. 4 outlets + 1 built in converted 110V 50W is good enough for most hand held device such as cell phones GPS or toothbrush. 2. Main power cord with a US plug (include a set of adapters.) So I can just use it as a regular power strip when back in the US. 3. 1 outlet with extra space to accomodate large transformer charger 4. Keep the weight low (do understand if there is converted 110V the weight will go up but most travellers will have to bring one unless all appliances sold in US will be "autovolt".) 5. A USB outlet will be a huge plus Check out the couple photos of the sockets in Paris and Amsterdam that I posted.

Some of the reviewers don't seem to understand that this product simply adapts the power connectors, but does not change the voltage. Hence, complaints like "my electric toothbrush burned out" are silly. My electric toothbrush clearly states that it operates on 110-120 VAC only, so of course it would burn out if plugged into 220 VAC! This power strip is ONLY for use with items that accept 220-240 VAC. Check your equipment first! Many phone chargers and laptop computer chargers are fine at either 110-120 VAC or 220-240 VAC. But not everything will work at the higher voltage used in Europe. As far as the plug fitting sockets in Italy: during my trip, I encountered two different styles of AC outlet in the hotels we visited. Some hotels had heavy-duty and/or 3-pronged outlets, which fit the larger pins of this power strip without trouble. One hotel had the smaller diameter round pins on their wall outlet, but they provided an adapter for plugs like the ones used on this power strip. How nice of them! A few hotels had only outlets using the small pins, but because I was forewarned, I brought along an adapter to go from the big pins of this power strip to the smaller diameter round pins of the outlet. These adapters are easy to find and inexpensive. Amazon sells them, although I must admit I bought mine at a local travel outfitter before I bought this power strip. Anyway, as a result, I never had a problem with plugging in during my 2-week visit throughout Italy. Of course this power strip is a bit big. But look at the size of the sockets, and the number of sockets provided. How much smaller do you think it could be built??? The size was fine as far as I am concerned. It fit right into my suitcase without difficulty. Although very sturdy, it was not heavy. I am so glad I brought it along. Most hotels had only one or at most 2 available outlets, and we needed to charge a couple of phones and a laptop at a minimum every night.

The wonder of modern electronics is that virtually everything (laptops, tablets, phones, cameras) is 110/220V 60/50Hz compliant, so all you need to do is adapt the plugs. (Note: the same is NOT true of electromechanical devices like hair-driers, fans and curling irons, which require an appropriate voltage converter as well as plug adaptation.) One answer is to get a bunch of plug adapters, but these are easily lost. There's also a secondary problem here, particularly for those who travel in the 'developing world.' To wit: the power quality is terrible -- power goes down a couple times a day, comes up wonky, surges, spikes, generators cutting in and out, etc. Bad news for stuff with CPUs in it. BUT ... most modern folks have figured this out and procured inexpensive (mostly Chinese) voltage regulators that clamp transients and output nice, clean power (Note: this is not true in hotels, but stay in any private home where folks have the economic werewithal to invest in electronics and media stuff and you'll see these things. Folks generally buy them the first time they fry a TV or laptop.) Hotels, meanwhile (along with many private homes) are set up with far fewer electrical outlets than a typical modern American house (come to think of it, many American hotels also rather suck in this regard). So the situation you may be presented with involves a) needing a lot of outlets (for your devices), b) having very few outlets available, and/or c) encountering a precious voltage regulator - itself with only one or two outputs - plugged into the only outlet in the room. These power-strips are a perfect answer. They take American plugs, French plugs, any kind of plug you have, and they plug into the standard grounded outlets available. I got about three, daisy-chained them, and traveled all over West Africa for months with laptops, multiple tablets, yadda yadda yadda recharging nightly with zero problems.

Between my wife and I we had six electronic devices to charge -- three cell phones, a camera, and two laptops. This strip is great since you plug in the standard continental plug and it supports 220V no problem, but gives you universal plugs! So we just plug our US plugged iPhones, etc in as normal (being sure all adapters support 220V of course! You do check this first, right?). Worked like a charm. Sturdy and effective. Already recommended this to a friend who recently tried putting a 110V American power strip on a Euro adapter into the wall at his hotel in Europe and fried the strip and blew his hotel circuit breaker. How embarassing! That doesn't work, the 110V strips can't handle 220V. Buy this, a real 220V strip with universal plugs. Definitely worth the luggage space, but a bit large in a commuter laptop bag. Add a few adapters to your order to carry with you for quick charges. This is more of an overnight charger! [Update: I also used this successfully in Hong Kong and China. Mainland China has a lot of dual plugs with a slanted three prong (classic Chinese plug when you get an adapter, which I recommend at least one of) coupled with a European style plug so that this power strip actually plugs straight into most hotel plugs without an adapter (tried it in 3 different hotels)]

Took this on a recent trip to Italy and was only able to use it at two separate locations. The plug seems to be newer than most wall sockets in Italy as the entire plug head needs to go into the recess of the socket. It won't plug into (older?) outlets that have the two/three prong holes. The prongs are too thick for that style and would not go all the way in. Otherwise it worked great and accommodated all of my electronics that needed charging. I brought with me the following chargers/adapters: - MacBook Pro laptop charger - iPhone 4S & iPad charger - iPhone 5S charger - GoPro (Wasabi brand) charger - Fujifilm X-Pro1 battery charger (Wasabi brand) - GPS charger All worked flawlessly on this strip without any damage to my electronics. Had them all plugged in overnight. So, either make sure the places you are going to are fairly newer and have updated plugs (I think this is a newer style, I'm not 100% familiar) or see if you can pick up an adapter for this that will fit the 3 prong (all in a single line) outlet. Good product, solid build.