With the growing use of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other smart devices, USB power bars have increased significantly. A USB power bar provides multiple USB ports, making connecting devices easier. However, the average lifespan of USB power bars (power strips) is between three to five years. After that, they can cause malfunctions that can damage electronics and even more costly damages. Therefore, this article discusses the top 3 signs that can tell you if it’s time to change the USB power bar.
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3 Signs to Tell that You Should Change the USB Power Bar
The lifespan of a USB power bar is linked to multiple factors, such as continuous high capacity uses, voltage fluctuations, working environment (indoor or outdoor), and others. Once a USB power bar is damaged, it can potentially threaten the charging equipment and operator.
The potential risks of a damaged USB power bar include equipment damage due to unprotected surges, more heat, fires, painful injuries to operators, etc. Therefore, replacing the USB power bar is highly recommended as soon as it gets damaged and starts malfunctioning. So, how to detect if your USB power bar is damaged? Below are the three signs that provide a clear indication of replacing the USB power bar:
- Appearance
The appearance of the USB power bar often provides clear signs of some damage. If you see some cracks on the body or some burned areas on the bar, it clearly indicates some damage to the USB power bar.
- Sparks
Sparks exist when plugging in or out is a solid signal of their wearing out or damage.
- Charging Ports
Charging ports are the third main indicator of a damaged USB power bar. When you buy a new USB power strip, it smoothly connects the charging cable with the charging port. However, if you are now struggling to connect the charging cable to the port, the sheet copper’s elasticity is less effective than before. The situation can get worse with more usage, which requires replacing the USB power bar with a new one.
How to Choose a Reliable USB Power Bar
Now that we know the main signs of a damaged USB power bar, let’s go to the tips to choose a reliable USB power bar with long-lasting reliability. So, below are the three key attributes a USB power bar should offer:
- Flame-Retardant Cover
A USB power bar generates heat, leading to a fire in uncontrolled surges, short circuits, etc. If the power strip is placed on a floor, the surge might damage the strip and the equipment. However, if it is placed on a fire-sensitive material like a couch, it can ignite a fire. Therefore, a reliable USB power bar should have top-notch flame-retardant housing to prevent the start of a fire and reduce its growth.
- Applicable to Different Appliances
A USB power bar is used to charge multiple appliances, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Some appliances require less power, while others demand more. Therefore, a reliable USB power bar should offer higher efficiency to support charging different appliances at the same time.
- Quality Sheet Copper
The high conductivity, flexibility, corrosion resistibility, and other attributes of copper make it the main component in power strips. Therefore, the USB power bar should use quality sheet copper that offers long-lasting performance.
Other than the above three main qualities of a USB power bar, you can have a more customized checklist depending on your demands.
Huntkey Power Strips – The One-Stop Place to get the Best USB Power Bar
If you are looking for an ideal USB power bar that can offer efficiency, reliability, and top-notch performance, then Huntkey is your answer. Huntkey is a well-reputed global provider of best-in-class power strips, power supplies, surge-protected USB power bars, laptop adapters, and plenty of other consumer electronics.
Talking specifically about the Huntkey power strip, the company has designed a wide range of power strips to serve different purposes. Below is a glimpse of three state-of-the-art Huntkey power strips:
SMC307
SMC307 is Huntkey’s compact, a cube-size power strip that provides 3 USB ports and 3 AC outlets. It has a built-in intelligent charging chip that can recognize the device and boost the charging speed by up to 2.4A max. The key features of SMC307 are as follows:
- 5ft. long cord
- Flame retardant PP-material casing
- ETL certified
- Max 125V/15A (Max 1875W) AC outputs
- Max 5V/2.4A (Max 12W) USB outputs
SMD 407C
SMD407C is a 7-in-1 multi-plug outlet extender that can charge 7 devices simultaneously. It provides 2 USB-A ports (5V/2.4A), 1 USB-C port (PD 30W total, 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A), and 4 AC outlets. Its 30W USB-C charging provides 3x high speed for charging iPhone 14 and around 2X high-speed for iPad Pro. The key features of SMD407C include the following:
- Compact size with easy installation on wall sockets
- Multiple output power ranges for charging wide ranges of devices
- Adopting lighting protection
- Comprehensive safety system, including fire resistance, grounded protection, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, short-circuit protection, over-temperature protection, etc.
Wrapping Up
A USB power bar has emerged as a must-have piece of equipment in houses and workplaces. However, its benefits can turn into costly damages if a malfunctioning USB power bar is left unattended. Above, we have discussed some of the main indicators when a USB power bar is damaged and requires replacement. In addition, if you are looking for a powerful and reliable power strip, then Huntkey top-notch power strips can be your first pick. So, explore Huntkey products and pick the reliable household appliances you need.