Review A Quick Comparison of Power Strips/Spike Guards/Extension Boards (Multipart Review/Guide)

Part1​


The contenders:​


photo_2025-06-02 06.13.56.jpeg

  1. Fedus: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09XBD522D
  2. Anchor: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00H7BI1BK
  3. Nippo: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BW5VDLV9
  4. Wipro: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0B7X2625M







Fedus Extension Board​

Out of these four, this is the highest-priced, but this isn't reflected in its quality. It's in the labour needed to manufacture it, as you'll see. Plastic quality is not good by any quantifier, whether weight, texture, or finish. But it does have a fuse holder, and this one came with three extra fuses. Switches are illuminated.



Rear:

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Internals:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.04.jpeg



Bad design:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.06.jpeg



Solder quality (acceptable):

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.05.jpeg



Plug and wire:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.03.jpeg



Findings:
  • Cable is rated as having 23 strands of 0.0052, which is probably less than 0.5 sq mm.
  • Overall construction is not very good, nor clean. Human hair and shavings were found inside.
  • Internal wiring is not confidence-inspiring.
  • Screws are rusty.







Anchor by Panasonic Extension Board​

The most feature-rich of these four is at an excellent price. Fuse holder is a somewhat premium top-mount screw-type. Plastics are excellent and have a nostalgic texture and finish. Switches are non-illuminated.



Rear:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.07.jpeg



Internals:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.09.jpeg



Solder quality (excellent):

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.10.jpeg



Plug and wire:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.08.jpeg



Findings:
  • Cable is properly labelled and rated at 0.5 sqmm x 3 at 1100V
  • Overall construction is above average, and assembly is clean, design is mature.
  • Wiring detached from one socket, rendering it inoperable.
  • Only three sockets have switches.
  • Screws are yellow zinc plated.







NIPPO 4KV Surge Protector​

Mis-labelled as a surge protector, this is a regular power strip without a fuse or protection. Quality is acceptable but unremarkable. Socket spacing is generous because of switch placement. This uses newer illuminated switches that simplify internal wiring. Basically a clone of the Wipro.



Rear:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.10 (1).jpeg



Internals:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.12.jpeg



Solder quality (acceptable):

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.13.jpeg



Plug and wire:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.11.jpeg



Findings:
  • Cable is rated at 0.5 sq mm but has the thinnest insulation of all four.
  • Overall construction is acceptable with obvious signs of cost optimisation (non-uniform silhouette).
  • Wiring is acceptable, internal wires are silicon-insulated but not confidence-inspiring.
  • Screws are bright zinc plated.







Wipro Multi Socket Spike Guard​

Also mis-labelled, this is a basic power strip without a fuse or protection, a clone of the Nippo. Quality is acceptable but unremarkable. Socket spacing is generous because of switch placement. This uses newer illuminated switches that simplify internal wiring.



Rear:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.14.jpeg



Internals:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.15.jpeg



Solder quality (acceptable):

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.16.jpeg



Plug and wire:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.14 (1).jpeg



Findings:
  • Cable is unrated and shows signs of bruising at the plug.
  • Overall construction is acceptable with obvious signs of cost optimisation (non-uniform silhouette).
  • Wiring is acceptable, internal wires are silicon-insulated but not confidence-inspiring.
  • Screws are bright zinc plated.







Summary of Part 1:​


None of these are particularly recommended; they're all a mild fire hazard in one way or the other (human hair and wire congestion in the Fedus, floating neutral wire in the Anchor and stray wire strands in both the Nippo and the Wipro). However, it could be argued that any electrical fault that may develop would be countered by an MCB or by the fault burning up before it could cause any significant damage. I'll leave the verdict up for you to decide on what's acceptable, hence the multitude of photos to draw your own conclusions.

The Anchor is very endearing, it has a retro charm, and I would be happy to have it somewhere non-critical. Probably in a place where I'd gaze upon it as I sip chai and reminisce about a life that revolved around dot matrix printers, before the internet.

The others are almost forgettable. The Wipro and Nippo can be serviceable if you're willing to have an electrician inspect it and maybe even consider redoing the internal wiring. I like their socket spacing so I'll be fixing them up for computer lab type use, like here I replaced the cable with a giant 16A plug that came with a power supply:

photo_2025-06-02 07.41.13.jpeg




More parts will be added to this thread as time and budget allows in the coming weeks/months.
 
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MX is a preferred premium brand and I have two of theirs but I can't understand why they're priced so high, especially for what they give you. Independent fuses and EMI filtering shouldn't cost four digits.

So I'm exploring budget options, but only because I have a ups and a surge supressor as layers of protection.

edit:

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Okay that will cost a lot of money, it's a ups without a battery, wow.
 
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Very useful content as always !
I love that you got units with individual switches.
No wonder that the same Anchor unit has been running strong since last 5 years or so, back home; the only thing is that the plastic is now yellow.
Only wish Anchor made one with 6 or more points; I went with an MX one like others mentioned.
 
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floating neutral wire in the Anchor
I don't understand electrical stuff, but is this related to 'Wiring detached from one socket, rendering it inoperable. ' ?
ie, if all 4 were working, would it be good ?

I have used few Anchor ones forever and have never had an issue. Mumbai power is supposed to be good, so maybe that helps.
 
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That'd be excellent, please post the photos directly here so that the thread evolves into a wiki or time capsule of power strips and surge protectors.

Here is the GM Power Strip I am currently using for almost 5 years and these never gave any problem.
Model: GM 3060. Doesn't have spike guard/MOV, but it has safety shutter/thermal trip as per specsheet.
It has master switch instead of individual switches for each socket.

When I was buying, I bought this one instead of Belkin spike guard, as this is less than half the price and also rated at 10A instead of Belkin's 6A max rating.
 

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Wow thanks for the nice writeup. I bought this Portronics one few months ago. Was quite cheap considering the number of sockets and ports.
The USB ports get a bit warm when charging a device and the plug sockets are a bit tight and annoying to use if you frequently move chargers around. But other than that seems to be fine.
 
Best is Belkin out of the whole lot sold in India . It is robust and the wire is capable of carrying an electric stove or an electric water heater which I have used on my travels to other countries . I just cut the OEM plug and which ever country I go to I find a 3 pin plug and wire it .

The GM , Panasonic ones are rubbish with respect to quality and the price is ridiculous .

I have gone the DIY route these days and I use L&T switches and sockets because they lock from behind unlike Anchor roma ones which lock on the front face . A stuck plug can easily pull the socket out of the modular plate .
For sockets I use the international ones which can take a majority of the plugs around the world .
For wire , I use a 3 core 1.5 sq. mm which is more than enough for about 4-6 sockets .
To get an idea I am putting up some links . I have no business with them though .




The Diy is about the same cost as a branded GM one but more robust and the desired length of the wire can be had .
I just placed order for this item - should be delivered tomorrow...
The MX ones are cheap Chinese ones . The quality is very bad ,especially with the small rocker switches . Suggest that you return or Rs.3000 is just down the drain .
 
Any suggestions for equivalent Belkin strips?
The Belkin ones seem to have disappeared from the retail stores . I do not see them except online . The prices are doubled , but they are still worth compared to MX or GM .
I would suggest that you go to a neighborhood electrical shop which stocks L& T switches and modular sockets and get an extension box made with the desired length of the wire you need . It would be cheaper and at least 10X better quality . Though it would be bigger than an extension box in dimensions It would last a few generations .