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:

photo_2025-06-02 06.14.02.jpeg



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.
 
Last edited:
Here is the internal of the MX " Surge Protector " . It has 3 metal oxide varistors used in parallel which cost around 10 rupees each . A cap which costs around 50 and a blow fuse which costs around 10 rupees . Not worth the 3k plus .
 

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Best is Belkin out of the whole lot sold in India . It is robust and the wire is capable of carrying an electric stove
We have been using Belkin strips for 10+ years now although for fairly light use like TV and sound system with no issues.
I have gone the DIY route these days and I use L&T switches and sockets
When you say DIY do you mean you have your own circuit for surge protection etc?
 
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I like the anchor one, I have the same one but with single power button, bought years back working fine, the only thing that failed on that for me was the switch, and those switches are standard types, easy to find and replace.
 
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I don't want to burn my tv & precious ps5 :sob:
Then let them live for a while bro.

-------------------------------------

Another model called GM 3061
These things didn't last well, used to get burnt out/damaged within a year or so.
Has individual switches and mov.
These pics are old ones I have, I threw it away while I was shifting to a different city, but you can get an idea how they look inside.
 

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We have been using Belkin strips for 10+ years now although for fairly light use like TV and sound system with no issues.

When you say DIY do you mean you have your own circuit for surge protection etc?
The circuit is fairly simple . Have a varistor in series with the + line on the socket . . Most SMPS power supplies will have a metal oxide varistor in their circuits for surge protection .
With regard to noise conditioning and filters , computers , phone chargers ,printers etc which have SMPS have their own . You do not need a separate filtering circuit .

You can buy a few varistors with 275 to 300v rating and wire each one individually for each socket .
The links are for examples . I am not in the business with the links provided .
 
Nice write up. My usual go to power strip of more than 10 years is from the MX brand. esp. this model:

MX Surge Protector & Spike Guard Extension Board 6 Socket
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:

View attachment 238496

Okay that will cost a lot of money, it's a ups without a battery, wow.


I have about 10 MX surge protectors with individual buttons. Some from Amazon listed below and some on FK and others depending on best price. All are the 6 socket ones.
Have been using these since 7-8yrs I guess. I love them cause they have saved my devices twice now. The have something inside that blocked the path of the Lightening surge that hit my house. I forgot what its called. I stupidly swtiched it on again and it conked off my Macbook charge, but it saved everything including my Routers and others stuff on it.

Someone on amazon or fk had opened it and posted whole pics of it. It was premium af. The buttons have lasted me 8yrs on off everyday except sundays. So you can guess.
These are absolute beasts and the oldest one only has one led indicator dead. Else all buttons working.

The price has almost doubled tho. Oldest one was 850. Now its 1349 - > https://amzn.in/d/evCaznI I've also got a few with 5mtr wire. So for smaller uses on inverter connected devices, I got cheaper discounted ones from good brands.

For any sort of serious work these are highly reccomended. Always get the 6 button one. Will get one more if I get card discount lol


1748868217922.png
 
I have about 10 MX surge protectors with individual buttons. Some from Amazon listed below and some on FK and others depending on best price. All are the 6 socket ones.
Have been using these since 7-8yrs I guess. I love them cause they have saved my devices twice now. The have something inside that blocked the path of the Lightening surge that hit my house.
I stupidly swtiched it on again and it conked off my Macbook charge, but it saved everything including my Routers and others stuff on it.
These are absolute beasts and the oldest one only has one led indicator dead. Else all buttons working.
The price has almost doubled tho. Oldest one was 850. Now its 1349 - > https://amzn.in/d/evCaznI
So for smaller uses on inverter devices, I got cheaper discounted ones from good brands.
For any sort of serious work these are highly reccomended. Always get the 6button one. Will get one more if I get card discount lol
Does it mean your Macbook got damaged?
And what does switched on again means? I am assuming it doesn't automatically switches off when surge happens..
 
Does it mean your Macbook got damaged?
And what does switched on again means? I am assuming it doesn't automatically switches off when surge happens..
I dont remember honestly, I think it happened in 2020. MAcbook was fine, charged conked. What I remember is that , lightening hit, there was a sound, I checked, the spike is fine, MCB has gone down. So I turn on mcb and try to turn this on stupidly and it conked the charger. Got a second hand charged. MAcbook air is still fine.
 
I dont remember honestly, I think it happened in 2020. MAcbook was fine, charged conked. What I remember is that , lightening hit, there was a sound, I checked, the spike is fine, MCB has gone down. So I turn on mcb and try to turn this on stupidly and it conked the charger. Got a second hand charged. MAcbook air is still fine.
Oh okay. So charger got burnt off, like it becomes black with burn marks? Happened with me long back but it was on normal socket.
So basically when mcb trips, without figuring out what could have caused the issue, we have to make sure that this surge protector is switched off then?
 
Then let them live for a while bro.

-------------------------------------

Another model called GM 3061
These things didn't last well, used to get burnt out/damaged within a year or so.
Has individual switches and mov.
These pics are old ones I have, I threw it away while I was shifting to a different city, but you can get an idea how they look inside.
I should probably start opening up all strips and see which is blown out and which is good
 
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I dont remember honestly, I think it happened in 2020. MAcbook was fine, charged conked. What I remember is that , lightening hit, there was a sound, I checked, the spike is fine, MCB has gone down. So I turn on mcb and try to turn this on stupidly and it conked the charger. Got a second hand charged. MAcbook air is still fine.
Ideally when the lighting hit the varistor on the spike should have burnt and there should have been no power supply to the charger . Seems the varistor on the charger got burnt and not the one on the spike .
 
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I should probably start opening up all strips and see which is blown out and which is good
90 % of the strips do not have real copper terminals . Most have these nickel plated ones which are actually a huge risk . Most chargers or SMPS produce sparks if the connection btwn the plug and the socket terminal is not proper which could lead to heating and fire . It is always better to get a power strip or socket with copper ones and especially of the proper thickness .
 
Ideally when the lighting hit the varistor on the spike should have burnt and there should have been no power supply to the charger . Seems the varistor on the charger got burnt and not the one on the spike .
I opened it and the varistor did burn and save all the devices. But then I turned it on again lol and either the apple charger is very sensistive and got burnt at the same time. Other 3-4 devices were safe. I remember checking apple adapters reviews and people have said that they are tuned such that they die protecting smallest issues.
 
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Lot of them do have factories in India , but most of them import and assemble .
It is just a power strip what is there to import and assemble? It is not even "smart". Then entire power strip can be cheaply imported if that was the case.

I do have cheap Chinese import power strips and their fit and finish is far better than the Indian made ones. Like this https://amzn.in/d/5i7Ed6f and this https://amzn.in/d/4XY7o6Q
 
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It is just a power strip what is there to import and assemble? It is not even "smart". Then entire power strip can be cheaply imported if that was the case.

I do have cheap Chinese import power strips and their fit and finish is far better than the Indian made ones. Like this https://amzn.in/d/5i7Ed6f and this https://amzn.in/d/4XY7o6Q
The magic happens when you open them up.


MDR is an old reliable company and it mostly makes good stuff in India itself. The quality outlasts anything Chinese I've used not just power strips.
 
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