We’ll devote the today's review not to a notebook, not to an iPad and even not to a keyboard, but such, on the face of it, an unobtrusive device as a power strip. And more precisely, we’ll consider three similar devices at once, the cost of which is from $3 to $10 (cheaper is practically impossible), but at the same time their quality is many-fold higher of nameless commodities on city markets.
Standard 2G-3, Standard 3G-3 and Standard Pro ЗG-5 are power strips being produced by Finnish SVEN Company. All of them are made of impact-resistant fire-resistant plastic and designed for connection of household and computer equipment to power supply network. You can use such devices at home, in the office, summer cottage or garage, in short, anywhere; in spite of their moderate prices, they are able to survive practically any external environments.
SVEN Standard 2G-3 power strip is designed for three “soviet” type sockets, they are compatible with tree type plugs – CEE 7/4, CEE 7/16, CEE 7/17, so they do for any houses or apartments, where the electricity is branched without grounding Standard 2G-3 case is made of white and very strong plastic, but proper sockets are recessed deep to avoid casual touch to current-carrying components.
The declared power for this model is 2.2 kW, and peak current is10 A. Three versions are available for customers: with a cable 2, 3 and 5 meters long, therefore everybody can select an optimal version for himself.
Standard 3G-3 power strip has a similar design, however there are grounding contacts in it, they are on three sockets and on the plug. Moreover, ground buses there are steel, not brass.
We have no claims at all to the quality of materials of this sample. Noteworthy, the plastic used in it rather bends under pressure, than breaks – and this is another evidence that these devices can be used in the most rigorous conditions. The total power of the connected load for this model is also 2.2 kW, but even a short overload does not damage it.
It is also worthwhile to say that special screws are used for their assembling, which cannot be removed easily – a special screwdriver is required for this purpose. In such a way the producer cares of the safety of users.
Finally, Standard Pro ЗG-5 is a power strip with four sockets, which is convenient both for Euro type plugs and for “ancient” versions with thin pins. This product is also equipped with grounding contacts, and in addition, the on-off switch with a red light indicator is provided in it. Please note that the on-off switch in this case is a double-pole switch, it does not depend on the features of power network and it disconnects both the phase and zero.
As in two previous cases, we have absolutely no complaints to the quality of materials, plastic is quite strong to sustain falling and pressure. The model is also available in three versions with different length of cables – 2, 3 and 5 meters.
Well, summarizing the results SVEN power strips look quite properly. They don’t have some special titbits as protection or automatic fuses, however they completely cover their cost. It would be simply naive to expect something greater of such inexpensive devices. But Standard 2G-3, Standard 3G-3 and Standard Pro ЗG-5 fulfill their functions properly.
SVEN Company offers the great choice of different electrical equipment designed for the use with household and office equipment. We wrote more than once about surge protectors and voltage regulators of this producer, but today inexpensive power strips have come to test. And the word “inexpensive” sounds in this case more than ever tempting, because depending on a model power strips of the Standard series cost from $3 to $10. At this price it’s a giveaway. Therefore, it will be useful to see how as they are good in action.
SVEN Standard 2G-3
This power strip is designed for three sockets of so-called “soviet type” (without grounding). You can insert into them any modern plugs of CEE 7/4, CEE 7/16, CEE 7/17 types, and there will be no problems at all during their operation, but there will be no grounding, of course. It is logically to use them in the enormous amount of houses of our country, where the electricity is branched without grounding, because there are no necessary contacts on the sockets in the wall. By the way, sockets in the surge protector case are recessed inward considerably, which practically eliminates a casual touch possibility to live components.
The case of this model is made of strong snow-white plastic. There are no special complaints to it, except perhaps its parts do not match perfectly. But, taking into consideration the product price, it is difficult to name this fact as a defect.
The device interior is standard. The power supply is branched with the help of copper buses, which grip and hold a plug perfectly. Wires are fixed by spot welding, and the total cross section area of every multi-core wire makes 0.75 sq. mm. They sustain the declared 2.2 kW power without any problems and heating. Standard 2G-3 model is produced with three versions of cable length – 2, 3 and 5 meters.
SVEN Standard 3G-3
This model is very similar to Standard 2G-3, but it differs from it by the availability of grounding contacts on its plug and three sockets. Grounding buses are brass, but not cheaper steel. The power strip case is of white strong plastic. It looks a little bit untidily, because you can see not quite even gaps, but everything functions well during operation. For example, its material turned out to be solid, and even at a strong pressure it tended towards bending, but not breaking. This quality does for severe environment, for example, for a garage or home workshop.
By the way, another noteworthy feature of these models lies in the fact that they are assembled with special screws. It is practically impossible to unscrew them without a very special screwdriver; which are rarely in the market. The developers care of the safety of users in such a way, excepting unqualified repair.
The power supply is branched inside with copper buses, which are very well spring. Wire cross section 0.75 sq. mm. fully corresponds to the declared power. And even in the event of short overload the power strip will not be damaged.
SVEN Standard Pro ЗG-5
SVEN Standard Pro ЗG-5 incorporates four sockets with grounding contacts. It allows connecting both European plugs and obsolescent equipment with thinner plugs. Due to well spring terminals a contact will be reliable in every case.
For more convenience of the use, this model is equipped with a powerful on/off switch with a red luminous indicator. Such function will be very useful, for example, if the connected equipment remains unattended for a long time. By the way, the switch is a double-pole switch, i.e. it disconnects the phase and zero not depending on features of a certain power supply network.
The material quality of its case, as well as in all other cases, we rate high. It is strong and does not break when being squeezed. The model is produced with three versions of cable length (2, 3 and 5 meters), so for every certain case there is a possibility of “fine tune” without unnecessary overpayments.
Conclusion
On the whole, we can say that new SVEN power strips are really very cost effective. They do not have any frills in the form of automatic fuses, protection or indicators, and only the latest model has an on/off switch. However, with such affordable price these devices perform well the functions vested in them, therefore they can be recommended for purchase.