Comparison Brennenstuhl 1159710 vs Belkin BSV604vf2M

The length of the cable used to connect the surge protector to the network.

The longer the cable, the farther from the outlet you can install the device. On the other hand, a long cable can be inconvenient over short distances. Models on a coil are deprived of this drawback (see "Type"), this moment is compensated by the actual presence of the coil, but they differ in large dimensions and heavy weight. So when choosing, it is far from always worth chasing the maximum length of the wire.

The highest power consumption of the connected devices that the surge protector can tolerate without consequences (to be more precise, with which it can work indefinitely without overloads, overheating, etc.).

This limitation is due to the fact that the higher the power at the same voltage, the higher the current passing through the equipment (in this case, through the surge protector); and off-design currents can lead to breakdowns and even accidents. And although in order to avoid these consequences, modern filters often provide various types of protection (see above), however, the operation of protection is still an emergency situation that is best avoided. Therefore, it is worth choosing a model according to this parameter in such a way that the maximum filter power is at least not lower than the total power consumption of the load. And it is best to have a margin of 20 – 30% — this will give additional guarantees in case of various deviations in the operation of the connected equipment.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the situations when the filter is planned to be used for the so-called reactive load — electrical appliances that widely use circuits on capacitors and/or inductors, for example, power tools or refrigeration units. The total power consumption of such devices (written in volt-amperes) can be much higher than the active power (which is indicated in watts). The recommended line filter power in such cases is calculated using special...formulas that can be found in the relevant sources.

The maximum energy absorption provided by the mains filter, namely, the maximum pulse energy at which the device can safely absorb and dissipate it, completely protecting the connected load. The higher this indicator, the more reliable the filter, the more powerful power surges it can handle. In inexpensive models, the maximum absorption is calculated in tens of joules, in the most advanced models it can exceed 1000 J and even 2000 J.

The cross-sectional area of the wire used to connect the filter to the network. The larger the cross-sectional area, the thicker the wire, the more reliable it is and the more current it can pass without overheating. Accordingly, thick wires ( 1.5 mm² and 2.5 mm²) are a must for high power devices. At the same time, modern manufacturers, usually, choose the cross-sectional area in such a way as to guarantee the safe operation of the filter at the claimed maximum power (see above). Therefore, in fact, a model with a thicker cable than other similar devices should be chosen if it is supposed to be used in unstable networks in which power surges often occur. If the cross-sectional area seems too small for you ( 0.75 mm² or 1 mm²) for the claimed power, there are special formulas that allow you to check the validity of such doubts.

Number of USB-A ports for charging included in the power strip design.

These ports don't serve any other function than powering and charging external devices, such as smartphones or tablets. Having such connectors in a power strip can be especially convenient when a "230-to-USB" adapter is not available, and there are few USB ports on a computer or laptop, making their use for charging a "luxury you can't afford."

The current output by a USB connector when a charging gadget is connected to it.

The higher the current, the faster the battery can charge. However, when choosing, note that in order to use a high current strength, the connected device must also support it. Basically there are USB with a current strength of 2.1 A, 2.4 A and 3 A.

It is also worth noting that when using several USB ports at the same time, the current strength is significantly reduced.

The maximum power that a USB port can produce when connecting only one gadget.

Higher power output speeds up the charging process. At the same time, there are a number of nuances associated with this parameter. Firstly, the appropriate power must be supported not only by the port, but also by the gadget being charged - otherwise the speed of the process will be limited by the characteristics of the gadget. Secondly, to take full advantage of the capabilities, you may need to support not only the appropriate charging power, but also a specific fast charging technology. Thirdly, in filters with several charging connectors, the maximum power per device can only be achieved if the other ports are not used.

— Short circuit protection. Short circuit (short circuit) protection system — situations when the impedance in the circuit drops sharply, for example, due to a metal object falling between the socket contacts. It reacts to a sharp increase in current and opens the circuit, allowing you to avoid damage and fire equipment.

— Voltage drops protection. Protection against power surges in the network. A filter with this function is able to completely cut off power that exceeds the allowable rate set by the manufacturer, protecting the load from damage. Note that the surge protector is not able to replace a full-fledged stabilizer or voltage relay; however, in more or less high-quality networks that are not subject to strong fluctuations, a filter is quite enough.

— Overload protection. In this case, overload means a situation when the load power exceeds the values \u200b\u200ballowed for a given network filter. This situation is similar to the short circuit described above — high currents go through the filter; however, overload has its own specifics, so protection against it can be provided as a separate system. However, the principle of operation of such systems is classic: when the permissible power is exceeded, it turns off the power, preventing breakdowns and fires.

— Varistor protection. A kind of protectio...n against short-term power surges in the network, built on varistors — variable impedance resistors. The impedance of such a resistor under normal conditions is in the millions of ohms, but it drops sharply if the input voltage increases above a certain value. Due to this, in normal mode, the protection practically does not affect the circuit, and with a high-voltage pulse, excess energy “merges” through the varistor and dissipates in the form of heat. The ability of varistors to absorb energy is not infinite, therefore, to protect against overheating, the design usually provides for a temperature sensor with an automatic switch.

Options for placing sockets on the body of an extension cord or surge protector.

- Along the hull. Devices with the layout of sockets in one slender line, which is extended along the entire body of the extension cord or surge protector.

- In 2 rows. A popular scheme with the arrangement of sockets in 2 rows is on both sides of the upper plane of the device housing.

- In a circle. This category includes all extension cords and surge protectors with sockets in the form of a full circle or a semicircle.

- On both sides of the body. Sockets on several side faces of the case are found in compact cube models and in advanced surge protectors with relocated sockets on both sides of the case, which makes it easy to connect a large number of consumer devices.