Look under any computer desk or behind a TV and there’s a good chance you’ll find a long powerboard with several connections. Well now that powerboard has been redesigned and reinvented with the PowerCube.
The PowerCube – as its name obviously points out – is a cube that has a power socket on four of the sides of the cube.
The bottom has a 1.5m power cable to connect to a wall socket while the sixth side has two USB charging ports that can charge your smartphone, tablet, wearables and e-reader.
And it’s all contained in a product that’s as big as a Rubik’s Cube.
The smaller size and convenient shape only takes up only a fraction of the space as a regular powerboard.
Another drawback of a flat powerboard is that sometimes a big plug, like an adaptor or power supply plug, intrudes into the space of the plug adjacent to it and makes it unusable.
But you won’t have that trouble with the PowerCube because each plug has it’s own side of the cube and won’t impinge on any other socket.
It’s also possible to mount the PowerCube with the included plate that clips over one side of the cube. This means you can locate it conveniently under or on the side of a desk.
The only downside of that is that you lose one four power sockets because that’s the only place the mount clips onto the product.
When mounted the cube can spin 180 degrees to accommodate your plugs and the direction they need to go.
The PowerCube is fully grounded and all of the sockets are childproof.
There is also a PowerCube model with five power sockets and no USB ports.
The PowerCube is priced at $29.95 and is available now from Officeworks and Dick Smith and come in four colours.
6 Comments
“All of the sockets are childproof.” In what way?
I have an infant grandson and would like to replace the conventional powerboard on the floor beside this computer desk with something safer, for when he becomes mobile.
I checked out the power cube at a local Dick Smith store and I can’t see how they can protect a young child from possible electrocution. Maybe I missed something?
I had the impression from the above quote, that the power sockets may have had a twist-shutter function, as some conventional powerboards do. Not so.
Still, not a bad design in itself – but unfortunately NOT what I’m looking for.
Hi Dennis, like Stephen Fenech already mentioned, the PowerCube has an internal gate that opens up ONLY when a three pronged plug is inserted. So when a child is trying to insert 1, or even 2 things in the PowerCube, he won’t succeed; the internal gate will only open when 3 things are inserted at the same time with some strength. As this situation is very unlikely to happen, we can state that the PowerCube is 100% child proof. And indeed, as you can mount the PowerCube under the desk or on a wall instead of the floor also keeps it away from children. We hope you reconsider the PowerCube as a child-friendly power solution and enjoy using it!
Like other childproof power boards there is an internal gate that opens up when a three pronged plug is inserted. The product packaging doesn’t state it but the website does. You can also buy plug covers for added safety. And that fact you can position the PowerCube under the desk instead of on the floor also keeps it away from children.
It’s a pity the packaging didn’t make the child-proofing arrangement somewhat more obvious.
It’s one thing – and very commendable – to mention it on a website, it’s another when a customer is in the retail store, trying to make the best decision.
But, irrespective of what may be on a website – a potential purchaser, such as I – will wonder, for example, whether the item I have in my hand is an older version about to be superseded by another which has the sought-after feature.
I now know the power cube does have the feature I was seeking and, although I have already purchased an alternative product, I will keep it at the top of my list for the future.
It’s a pity the packaging didn’t make the child-proofing arrangement more obvious.
It’s one thing – and very commendable – to mention it on a website, it’s another when a customer is in the retail store, trying to make the best decision.
Irrespective of what may be on a website – a potential purchaser, such as I – will wonder, for example, whether the item I have in my hand is an older version about to be superseded by another which has the sought-after feature.
I now know the power cube does have the feature I was seeking and, although I have already purchased an alternative product, I will keep it at the top of my list for the future.
That is a good point and something that should be made more obvious