RSS Feeds
Gadgets
Eubiq Wall-Mounted Power Strip Goes Consumer
Posted by Jason Chen at 4:56 AM on January 9, 2008
We've known about the Eubiq wall-mounted power strip for a while, but they've just told us that they're making a consumer version that doesn't need to be professionally installed by someone who won't burn your house down.
The concept is the same: a strip that mounts on the wall and allows you to modularly plug in a bunch of gadgets. Each plug slides up and down the strip so you can position it the way you want. You can even remove plugs if you don't need so many. Eubiq has a safety feature on each of them that makes it so you can shove your finger inside as much as you want and not be electrocuted. The plug needs to go in and twist to make contact with the sides of the track to reach the live wire (your finger will only hit ground).
The consumer version sells all by itself and doesn't need to be installed in a wall, which means fewer options for moving the plugs around the track but still more options than a standard power strip. No word on when this version will hit the market. [Eubiq]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
xj_4x4
Posted 2:07 PM 8/1/08
@nocar: The Primary coil in a transformer is a complete circiut in itself and draws power...Ever feel a power "brick" when it's plugged in w/o the device attached? It's still *warm* :/ (simple *real world* physics)
xj_4x4
nocar
Posted 1:40 PM 8/1/08
@shawn_dude:
I think the "phantom' power loss from power converters is an urban myth. If a transformer block is plugged in with nothing attached it uses no power at all. This is simple high school physics and can also be easily confirmed with a Kill-O-Watt power meter.
Of course if something is plugged in with a sleep mode then power will be lost/used but the gadget usually needs the power draw for instant on or to hold it's settings.
nocar
sumocat
Posted 1:36 PM 8/1/08
@brianhatch: Toddlers shouldn't be walking around with forks anyway.
@shawn_dude: I could be misreading it, but I think the "twist to make contact" system means you can also untwist each outlet to break contact.
sumocat
shawn_dude
Posted 1:09 PM 8/1/08
Each outlet needs its own "off" switch so power converters can stay plugged in but not consume "phantom" power.
Does this beast itself consume standby energy?
shawn_dude
brianhatch
Posted 1:09 PM 8/1/08
Hmm, your finger might only hit ground, but it looks like your toddler could stick a fork or even a smaller finger in there he could probably make contact with the live wire. This looks like an interesting design concept, but it still seems dangerous. But then again, maybe it's no more dangerous than a regular outlet. We will see.
brianhatch
DustyButt
Posted 1:08 PM 8/1/08
Damn you,Sihanouk-S-Poodle!
DustyButt
DustyButt
Posted 1:07 PM 8/1/08
Does it float?
DustyButt
Sihanouk-s-Poodle
Posted 1:07 PM 8/1/08
Yes, but can you float it in a pool?
Sihanouk-s-Poodle
nocar
Posted 3:13 PM 8/1/08
@xj_4x4: Thanks, you're right. Though my transformers do stay cold I just tested a few again with the Kill-O-Watt meter. While it reads 000 watts it also reads 0.01 amp so there is a small loss from the primary coil. If it is in fact 0.01 amp (or 1.2 watt) that would power a 60 watt light bulb for about half an hour each day.
Everyone, unplug those power blocks!
nocar
schrosa
Posted 2:54 PM 8/1/08
I know this is technically harder . . . but if you could do this with Ethernet ports . . .
schrosa
schrosa
Posted 2:42 PM 8/1/08
Chair Rail? or baseboard.
schrosa
Computer_Chef
Posted 2:31 PM 8/1/08
Uh, isn't this just track lighting with outlets?
Computer_Chef
Ghede
Posted 3:49 PM 8/1/08
@DustyButt: Damnit. Now I have to say it.
Will it blend?
Ghede