Sketchy Power Strip Ordered on Amazon (Teardown)

A couple of years back I purchased a pair of odd power strips on Amazon. One of them, an "LDNIO", has Euro (British or multi-fit) plugs on the strip mated to a 3 prong US style wall plug. With USB power adapters.
Which has made it convenient on those odd occasions I have a UK power connector that'll accept 110v 60hz mains as an input.
But I'm suspicious that this isn't quite up to par for a US house circuit. Besides, the center plug is no longer working correctly. And I know power-strip adjacent internal USB connectors can be a bit hairy.
I've gingerly used it up until now and it's time to rip it apart and see if the electronics are (in my opinion) usable or hazardous junk.

[@rickthescrewballpeacekeepe7387]

That socket strip is actually quite well made and the cable looks to be reasonable for the UK market, although the UL markings on the cable mean nothing over here. That gap on the PCB is mandatory in both the UK and Europe, it's for electrical separation. As for worrying about overloading the cable, the plug should have either a 10 or 13 amp fuse fitted. BTW, black and white wires are highly illegal in Europe, it should be brown and blue.

[@Kenzo9063]

I have something similar (same brand, 4 universal sockets, 3 usb, 1 qc3.0 usb) and us plugs fits in well and secure provided they are 3 pin US plugs. Some 2 pin plugs like the apple usb power adapters sit well but not all 2 pin US plus will fit in well

[@Tselectricals]

Very nice tutorial sir ❤❤❤❤

[@BraceForCBR]

I have checked mine. If you realize, the brown cable is supposed to be live, while blue is neutral. But in this socket, it is soldered opposite, live on the left, and neutral on the right which is in Malaysia, it is wrong.

[@ix.cryo1]

I like these since they are handy when traveling

[@PCBurn]

It does come in useful when I come across an odd (for here) power plug.

[@ivankirola2707]

In Europe we have 230V 16A circuit for sockets.

[@PCBurn]

Separating 230v makes me leery of these integrated USB outlets. Possibly more of a personal inclination than founded on anything. Incidentally, the ground connector supports failed not to long after I cut the video. Aside from making the strip useless it doesn't give me much faith in the care given to the rest of the design.

[@gatonegro3247]

Tengo un de la misma marca pero la entrada de usb no me funciona , utilize el multímetro y la entrada de usb todo es positivo. Manda aproximadamente 40 voltio que podría ser ? El vcc 5v y el GND como también los de datos mandas energía positiva 40 voltio

[@thebloxxer22]

Looks like a Deathdapter strip.

[@lenny108]

3:23 In Europe these have strange screws and there is no tool how to open these strip cords, there is no screwdriver available for this type of screw. What to do?

[@PCBurn]

If it's a screw there's a slot or a socket for it. Buy a security bit set that includes the correct bit.

[@hong32585]

Thanks for the teardown reviews. This brand Ldino/hulky is said to be unsafe, I am thinking should I go for it.

[@PCBurn]

Personally I'd avoid using this as an actual power strip or USB outlet. I'd get a normal power strip and independent USB adapter.

[@young_oldman]

Well, as an expert, can you recommend a good and reliable power strip? (or maybe a quality brand)

[@PCBurn]

I'm certainly not an expert. Personally I use independently certified devices. Preferably UL, at least Intertek. There's also a useful Canadian testing body. Despite some of the responses independent certification and underwriting is just as relevant to the EU as it is to the Americas. I prefer a third party to insure the product as being a good design.

[@abdullahop3779]

Is it good?

[@michaelsemenchuk3056]

Turn it into a Christmas light blinker with an arduino and some relays.

[@PCBurn]

That'd be pretty awesome if I could find some clack-y mechanical relays and fit them in where the power jacks are. Noted!

[@michaelsemenchuk3056]

@@PCBurn Let me know if you attempt it and post a video. I'd be very interested in how you do it. I've been wanting to shoehorn something like this in my project list but have not had enough of a need to do so.

[@nisarg5900]

complaining too much

[@lukedavis436]

I have the UK version from the same brand and it has an unfused mains plug... Big red flag, unfortunately I have no choice but to use it

[@PCBurn]

Here in the US it's customary (although maybe not required as your plug fuses are) to have a resettable push breaker or a hard fuse in the chassis. Which it also doesn't have. I assume in the US that's for attaining UL (or similar) listing with one of the testing agencies. Which this obviously doesn't have. Maybe you can add an adapter onto it for your piece of mind?

[@lukedavis436]

@@PCBurn I have, I attached mine to a fused 3way adapter... If that doesn't stop it there is allways the Very sensitive MCB in the fusebox

[@kbuss10]

isnt soldered joints illegal? i dont get it...

[@PCBurn]

Less terse...

[@kbuss10]

@@PCBurn khm...???

[@PCBurn]

"Illegal solder joint" implies some form of legal system governing soldering. Your statement is very terse and is missing the extra words necessary. Hence "(be) less terce".

[@kbuss10]

@@PCBurn whatever rocks your boat bro

[@kbuss10]

@@PCBurn nice trolling bro it's governed very strongly not the soldering but the connections in electrical appliances household items and household wiring. this is all a very strict business as you see it has the CE logo which doesn't mean Chinese export it means committee European in French it means it's built in a way that's legal to import in the EU which is obviously not. soldering in high voltage is a constant debate. as you were giving a semi-professional opinion on this bar I thought I don't have to go through this

[@IonShard]

"CE" doesn't mean Chinese export, its an EU safety mark.

[@PCBurn]

I do understand what Conformité Européenne means. As this blatantly doesn't conform, and this is a Chinese Export, this similar symbol stands for Chinese Export. Please type "Chinese Export CE" into the Google search engine and read the first result before you hastily correct me.

[@IonShard]

@@PCBurn You're right, I apologise, I wasn't aware of this. The 'Chinese export" logo is clearly intended to confuse people like me, very shady.

[@PCBurn]

@@IonShard It's just as stupid to me as it undoubtedly is to you!

[@haroonpaul537]

How to repair USB ports.

[@PCBurn]

Very carefully.