Simran SM-60 Universal Power Strip 3 Outlets for 110V-250V Worldwide Travel with Surge/Overload Protection

When doing a lengthy research for surge protection for my planned overseas trip in 2015, I determined that one needs a grounded outlet for proper surge protection when using a power strip with a surge protector. I had bought a laptop in late 2014 that cost over $2,000 and I was taking it to a third world country that had no grounded outlets. Believe me, I was really nervous about taking the expensive laptop overseas.After doing my research and contacting the manufacturer of the laptop, I decided to go with an expensive adapter that had a 10 amp fuse that I figured would serve as a circuit breaker in case of a damaging surge in the Philippines. The adapter is made by Skross. So I bought the Simran Power Strip because of its convenient size. In addition, I was taking an American adapter that would allow the three prong Skross Adapter to plug into the two prong overseas outlet.The Simran worked better than I expected. How so? We had a surge that burned up my Filipino Fiancee's desktop power supply and her motherboard. The damage was verified by a computer repairman in the Philippines. This repairman was the guy who kept the old computer running over the past several years.The spec for the Simran says it covers a max load of 10 amps. My Skross Adapter 10 amp fuse didn't blow, however, the Simran which was plugged into the Adapter was split on one end around the seams. I had to tape it together and press the reset button to get the electricity to my laptop. This is why that I've returned to Amazon to buy two more for my planned trip to the Philippines. Brownout with surges are a common occurrence over there especially outside of the major cities.Some state that the wiring is backwards on Simran and I'm wondering if that is by design? I'm not an electrician so I really don't know, however, I found the following comment by an Amazon Reviewer very interesting:""From my research and looking at this item, it works as a circuit breaker. So in a power surge it will shut off all transmission of energy, thus protecting your equipment. Then you hit the reset button and it's ready for more. Cnet has an article praising this method--no partial transmission of energy, no fuse that needs replacing, no surge protector that dies protecting your equipment. (Another reviewer says it has a fuse but I think they are mistaken.)" <<<<This comment was made by "alooknac" on 02/08/12.It seems that what I experienced in the Philippines supports "alooknac's" statement. Simran SM-60 Universal Power Strip does perform like a CIRCUIT BREAKER. Thus, I'm giving it five stars.

I bought this product, after much hemming and hawing. Haven't used it yet but of course unless there's a known power surge or my equipment fries, I will never know how well it protects. I do wish this product had some documentation. The cord is very heavy duty and has a UL rating. Outlets with universal sockets can never get a UL listing. I have searched all over the internet for "Simran" brand and came up blank.From my research and looking at this item, it works as a circuit breaker. So in a power surge it will shut off all transmission of energy, thus protecting your equipment. Then you hit the reset button and it's ready for more. Cnet has an article praising this method--no partial transmission of energy, no fuse that needs replacing, no surge protector that dies protecting your equipment. (Another reviewer says it has a fuse but I think they are mistaken.)The kind of surge protectors that absorb and defect excess energy divert that energy through the ground plug. In a third world country are those outlets going to be properly grounded? Heck I have ungrounded outlets in my own house although they are just 2-prong.So I decided to take my chances with this one. Wonpro/VCT makes more sophisticated power strips with better documented surge protection and CE (European) certification, supposedly the only ones approved for U.S. military use. You can configure your own strip if you buy directly from them--even choose an international end plug if you wish. Amazon sells some of their large ones. I considered ordering a custom strip and didn't because of price (not all that much more), weight, mode of protection, and having to deal with another vendor (although it appears you're dealing with the inventor himself or his brother, who are also the amazon vendors). I haven't totally ruled out doing this. I'm usually a stickler about electricity and hate using a completely undocumented product.There is a 3-outlet Wonpro available on amazon:Wonpro Universal 3 Outlet Power Strip / Surge Protector for Worldwide Travel. 100V-250V with Overload Protection & Surge Protection - Safety Shutters - Circuit Breaker Protection - CE CertifiedUPDATE: In the end the complete lack of documentation on this item kept gnawing at me and I returned it and bought the Wonpro which is now selling within pennies of the Simran. It was definitely handy having the longer cord on the Wonpro and all our electronics survived fine.

Most surge protectors have information on the packaging about the characteristics of the protection. This one did not and that made me suspicious about its ability as a surge protector. I opened it up, and I found that it only has a simple circuit breaker. I'm not an electrician, but my understanding is that a circuit breaker protects the _circuit_ when a device is pulling too much current - it doesn't protect the _device_ if there is a voltage or power spike. Second, like some other reviewers, I used a circuit tester and a ohmmeter and found that the hot and neutral wires are reversed. You can just look in it and see that the wire from the "left" contact on the plug leads to the "right" contact on the outlet. Third, it is not UL approved. Finally, as some others have noted, I had problems inserting some US plugs. There is a little flap that must be pushed out of the way for the contacts to enter and some plugs can't do that. I solved this by first inserting a European-style adapter which has rounded contacts, and then putting the US plug into that. Because it is a nice size and works with 220V, I think I will correct the wiring and continue to use it, accepting that it does not provide surge protection.

I purchased for international use since most won't handle international voltage. The only issue was the cord was slightly too long when wrapping around for storage so slips off. Works great though.