PowerCube – Compact Modular Alternative to Bulky Extension Cords
An extension cord is large, awkward, and complicated if you need to use your gadgets while charging them. PowerCube eliminates the bulk of the bulk and provides multiple power outlets in a compact design, making it easy to connect devices while using them at home. That’s why I like it and why I think you do too.
The PowerCube ( $ 19.95 on Amazon with surge protection or $ 13.25 without ) is a simple extension cord with a little twist. Instead of placing six outlets on one long slab, the PowerCube places five outlets on a small cube (with the cable coming out on the sixth side). Best of all, you can clip it to any of the five exit surfaces with a handy sticky plate.
ThePowerCube product line also has several adapters and options, so you can add USB power outlets, stack multiple cubes, or add remote control switches. However, I am guided by the regular PowerCube, which I bought and immediately fell in love with. Once you’ve used it, it’s hard to go back to a standard extension cord.
The PowerCube is compact and fits anywhere
A medium extension is about a foot or more in length and can be quite wide, adding unnecessary bulk. By comparison, the PowerCube is two and a half square inches all around. It can fit almost anywhere without getting in the way. This made it the perfect tool for charging gadgets on the couch, such as a phone or laptop.
As you can see in the photo above, I routed the PowerCube cable behind my sofa, leaving the cube in the corner of our sectional sofa. At first I thought it would get in the way and the guests would step on it. However, it is so small that it is never a problem. Feet never bump into it, there is no cord to trip over (other than those that go to your devices), and anyone on the couch has a plug that’s just a foot away. Even if you don’t have a power outlet right behind your sofa, plugging the plug into the center of your seating area is much more convenient than plugging into the bedside table. We tried the same thing with an extension cord, but it’s so big that we stumbled over it a lot.
The same discreet profile will come in handy in other situations as well. In an entertainment device, it’s small enough to fit on a shelf without blocking consoles or set-top boxes, making it most suitable for recharging remotes and console controllers. He sits in the corner under the table and is not kicked. Even without the additional features the PowerCube offers, the fact that it is so small is a huge improvement over conventional extension cords.
The included plate makes installation very easy
Examine the back of the extension cord and you’ll probably see a couple of screw holes. Whoever designed this thing expects you to get out a drill, a couple of screws, maybe take a photocopy of the bottom and punch a hole in the wall or table to set it up. This is ridiculous. Instead, the PowerCube comes with a simple mounting plate.
There are two sticky pads on the back of the PowerCube plate. Simply peel off the protective strips and glue the plate to the surface you want to hang the cube on. You can then slide the cube onto the plate and rotate it to lock it in place. The whole process takes a few seconds. If you really need the stability of the screws in the wall, there are screw holes in the plate just in case.
The downside to this mounting method is that you lose one of the outlets in order to install it. Unfortunately, this is how cubes work. Depending on the charging blocks used, you may also encounter this situation if you place the cube on the floor. Do not place the cube on the flexible cord, otherwise it may be damaged. Alternatively, you can buy this smaller PowerCube without a cable that plugs directly into a wall outlet to stack multiple cubes together. The company offersseveral different versions of PowerCube that you can customize to get exactly the setting you want. It’s not perfect for every situation, but there are many options.
PowerCube design means you never block outlets with a charger again
Some manufacturers just don’t respect other devices that might need your extension cord. If your device has a massive power supply attached to the end of a plug, you end up blocking other outlets you might need on a regular power strip, especially if there is already another giant block at the end of the outlet. The PowerCube design eliminates this problem.
Since each of the five outlets on the PowerCube is on its own side, there will be no overlap when connecting giant blocks. Nothing interferes with anything else. In fact, if you hook up something with a large block, you can install that side on the floor. As we mentioned earlier, laying the cube on the floor can be a challenge if it breaks the cable, but if the block is at the bottom, you have a safe surface to place the cube on.
PowerCube is not ideal for every single situation, but I was surprised to find out how well it works for some of my setups. To my entertainment device, it easily allows me to plug in a lot of awkward cables going in all directions. It’s perfect for letting guests charge their phone on the couch, and it’s a convenient way to add some extra power outlets to my desk.