Home > Consumer Reviews > Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology

I have been using the Smart Strip for about 6 months now. I was given the unit by the inventor. He told me that although it is manufactured in China (like so much else we buy) he had personally inspected the factory and was confident that the working conditions and environmental safety standards were good.

I have connected my PC, external hard drive, 2 monitors, speakers, USB hub and camera dock to the Smart Strip. Everything shuts down smoothly. The only peripheral that does not automatically come back on when I turn on my PC is the external hard drive, but I feel that is a small penalty to pay for the savings on both power and heat-generation from the vampire devices. For my remaining bank of device chargers - for phone, ipod, headset etc. - I have them on a power strip that I can easily reach to turn off when nothing is connected. With a small bit of reorganization of your devices, you can make a great difference to your energy consumption. A great idea.

The concept is great and when used on standard electronics, it seems to work well. However, I used one for my PC with two monitors and a desk light. The idea was when I turned on the computer the second monitor and light would also come on (and vice versa). However, I get this cyclying of on-and-off for second monitor and light. I have "adjusted" the strip several times but to no avail. It is really annoying. It also defeats the purpose if I plug the second monitor and lamp into the non-controlled outlets.

Works as advertised, nice spacing of outlets, and saves money. The only glitch for me was that my Directv hd receiver (not the DVR version) wouldn't work as the controlling outlet. I guess the power draw of that device is about the same whether its on or off, so no amount of adjustment would work.

I've purchased two of these now. They both work as advertised, shutting down peripheral equipment when the main unit is switched off. Works with computer systems and entertainment systems with no problems.

Sense outlet is connected to my TV, and it works properly... As advertised.

However, I would have expected a de-bouncing circuit or delay on the switched outlets... My Westinghouse 37" display causes the switched outlets to bounce twice during a power on. Bummer, and sensitivity adjustment doesn't help.

Saves me lots of power, couldn't get my family to turn off the amplifiers for the HT system when they were done watching without this.