Belkin Belkin 12-Outlet Surge Protector

The Belkin Pivot-Plug 12-Outlet Surge Protector is a good power strip if you need a lot of outlets. While many power strips accommodate 6 or 8 outlets, this one allows for up to 12. They have lumped this products reviews together with the Belkin Wall Mount Pivot Surge, 6 Outlets and the Belkin Pivot Surge, 8 Outlets. This review is for the 12 outlet model only. The 8 pivoting plugs on the sides allow you to fit large and odd-shaped plugs next to each other that you otherwise couldn't. But you will have trouble using all 12 outlets. The outlets are too close together for the pivot plug to solve all your problems. And the 4 center outlets are extremely tight. I was only able to use 2 of the center outlets. Still, the 10 that leaves me is still better than the 6 most power strips offer. PROS: ++ Accommodates up to 12 plugs in one power strip (3 rows of 4 outlets) ++ 2 Outer rows have pivoting outlets (8 total pivoting outlets) ++ Lighted power switch ++ Lighted indicators that unit is "grounded" and "protected" from power surges ++ 8 foot long cord makes it easy to place the power strip behind desks or entertainment centers ++ Also provides cable protection (coax in / out) ++ Also provides telephone / DSL cable protection ++ Power cord is nice and thick with a grounded connector ++ 4320 Joules of surge protection ++ Maximum spike current of 252,000A ++ $300,000 connected equipment warrantee; one of the highest for a non-commercial product CONS: -- Outlets are still too close together -- Center outlets could not all be used because of tightness (2 out of 4 plugs were too tight) -- Power strip must be raised if pivot plugs must be turned 90 degrees or more for large plugs -- Cable management loop is too close to the outlets to loop cables through it -- No non-slip feet on the bottom for tiled floors -- Expensive for a power strip, though added features are likely worth it -- Higher failure rates than one would like SETUP & USE As with most surge protectors, you have to plug this unit directly into a grounded outlet and not use any extension cords. You also cannot daisy-chain surge protectors on each other. Anything other than the recommended setup with void your warrantee. So if you don't get the "grounded" and "protected" lights, get some help immediately. This unit tended to slip and slide on both my floor and desk, since it only has raised bumps instead of non-slip feet. There are some indentations on the bottom, and I may try to mount this on something. Plugging things into this unit was an adventure. Two of the four center plugs were too tight. There might be excess plastic on the inside rim of the outlets. I didn't want to break an outlet or a plug, so I didn't force it. The closeness of the pivot plugs also required me to pivot a couple of them further than I would have liked. That's another reason to mount this on a 2x4 or a raised section of baseboard. Any extra clearance for the plugs is a good thing. I don't want my plugs lying sideways on the floor. CONCLUSION This unit is still worth considering despite the flaws. The solid warrantee provides some comfort in the event of a power strike. And the unit is covered by a lifetime warrantee for other failures. That's a good thing, because the failure rate, particularly of the power switch, is higher than I would like. But as long as you get a good deal, this unit will still help you plug in more devices than most power strips. Enjoy.