I just took a minute and looked through the Quirky website. Some clever little household helpers there, I wish I'd known before I bought stocking stuffers and gifts - I'm done shopping for the season. I put it in my Favorites for another time. Thank you for pointing it out ....

I've shopped Quirky for a couple years, usually for stocking stuffers. I've bought some very handy things on it!

Opinions differ, alisande, but there are those who recommend using surge protectors (and not simple power strips) for PCs and other electronic devices. Others say that inexpensive surge protectors provide little or no protection. I don't know which is right but I do use surge protectors.

The thing to watch when using either simple power strips or surge protectors is to not plug in too many items since it's connecting to one wall socket. Many have have tripped circuit breakers by overloading a power strip.

PCs, routers and modems don't use a lot of watts/amps. But add a laser printer and a space heater to the strip and it's then likely overloaded.

Actually, Snidely, each of my computers is plugged into an APC battery backup with surge suppression. The reason why my bedroom computer is hooked up to two power strips is that the battery in its backup failed Saturday night, so that's my temporary fix until I replace the battery.

I still think the Quirky power strip is a neat gift.

I bought two of these in white a few months ago. One for hubs and one for me. And, Snidely, I do know that the two USB ports share the power. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: 6-outlet and USB surge protector

I discovered Quirky right after the website started... they have some really neat things! I like looking at the new ideas for products... you can vote if you like the idea or not. Fun site!

I've been waiting for one of the Boil Buoy's, but they've been put on the back burner until they iron out some kinks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Boil Buoy

That looks like something I could use if they could find a way to make it work out ;)

I make au jus from a mix somewhat often, we like it with steak, and we do grill steak. I can't tell you how often I've whisked the au jus mix into water in a saucepan, turned my back just a few minutes and boiled it all over my glass topped stove. Au jus mix at a hard boil foams - up and over :)

Yeah, I could use the Boil Buoy too. I have to force myself to stand by the stove, even knowing "a watched pot never boils." If I drift off to do something, I'm inviting a boil-over.

My problem is that my DH or I will set a pan of water on the stove for tea... and totally forget about it. The water has boiled away several times! We try to remember to set the timer, but sometimes we forget.

Waiting patiently Quirky! :)

Lydia, you need a whistling tea kettle! Hard to ignore that whistle. Or how about an electric kettle? You could have water ready for tea all day. I've often thought I would enjoy one of those.

We just have an instant hot water dispenser.
No need to wait, nothing to worry about.

lydia, really, an electric kettle is the BEST. Heats the water fast and to perfection and turns off when to temp. I kept boiling my tea kettle dry. I'll never go back.

> each of my computers is plugged into an APC battery backup with surge suppression.

A UPS for surge protection is recommended by those who have no idea how electricity works. And who routinely ignore numbers. Those most easily brainwashed by advertising recommend battery backup for surge protection. When the manufacturer does not even claim that protection.

Numbers. A destructive surge can be hundreds of thousands of joules. How many joules does that APC absorb? Hundreds. So yes, it does surge protection. Near zero protection. Just enough above zero so that they can claim 100% protection in advertising.

The most critically important part on any power strip is that 15 amp circuit breaker or fuse.

That was rude, Westom. And rather amusing, when I consider the impressive qualifications of the person who recommended the UPS systems to me. Honestly, I don't know anyone less likely to be brainwashed by advertising.

Why did an overwhelming majority know smoking cigarettes increased health? Advertising., Nothing rude about it. Many if not a majority only believe what advertising tells them to believe.

The fewer and informed instead learn facts and numbers before making a conclusion or recommendation. Anyone can read spec numbers for a UPS that claims near zero protection.

Brainwashing works for the same reason why a majority once knew - without doubt - that smoking increases health. Victims of advertising are brainwashed by subjective and bogus claims when spec numbers are ignored. Nothing is rude in reality and honesty.

Rude is to recommend something without first learning hard facts and numbers. Anyone can read those UPS manufacturer spec numbers .... that do not claim that protection.

Most important is what every safe power strip must have: A circuit breaker or fuse. And a UL listing. I do not see either in its picture or in specifications. Both must exist to be minimally safe.

This post was edited by westom on Tue, Dec 16, 14 at 22:03

Thanks Alisande for the Quirky idea! I bought three at HD this morning for gifts and they rang up for $7.50 each. Love finding bargains!

I like the idea of that thing! I recently had to fit a couple of more items into the power bar and they are too large and boxy. So of course they don't all fit.

It really looks like a website I would enjoy a lot...and SHOP a lot. Unfortunately, I have poor eyesight and the webpage will not enlarge on my iPad, which happens with some websites. Even at the Apple iPad in-store class, they weren't helpful about a work-around for these websites. (Zoom is...in my opinion...awful on the iPad.).

Aqr, the ones I bought today rang up at $7.50 too. Great price! I gave one to my son, and he's really happy with it. He has various things charging on it, and they all fit.

Alisande, you may have created a monster in me! I went to Quirky (never heard of it before you posted this), and have already bought 3 things - they're on their way to me now.

For example, I bought the ear bud holder for $1.99. I checked it out on Amazon and it was $9.99! Got great reviews, so I bought 2.

Thanks! Suzieque