EYE on NPI: Tripp Lite Antimicrobial Surge Protectors for Home and Office @digikey ​@TrippLite
Channel: Adafruit Industries
Date: 2023-04-06

This week's EYE ON NPI will have you tripping all over yourself in a rush to place a Digi-Key order for the Tripp Lite Antimicrobial Surge Protectors (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/t/tripp-lite/antimicrobial-surge-protectors-for-home-and-office) a range of power extenders that have tons of ports for your home or office workstation. We're used to basic '6 outlet' power extenders, so when we peeped the many funky shapes, we picked up a few for the home office. Here's our favorites of the series:

The TLP648UCBAM (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/TLP648UCBAM/16161493) has a U-shaped body that is designed to clip onto a desk. Note it doesn't clamp down so you'll want to put it to the side where it can't get bumped, and a thick desk - like 1" or more - will probably work best. This one has 6 outlets, three on each side, two USB A 5V 2.4A and one USB C 5V 3.0A plug for portable devices. This is great for a work bench where you may have a few computers, scope, power plugs, and then also you want to charge your phone or power a single board linux computer or dev kit.

The TLP68UBAM (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/TLP68UBAM/16161654) is kinda like those yachts that have another, smaller, boat that can launch off of it (https://www.travelpulse.com/News/Entertainment/This-Yacht-Has-a-Garage-for-Your-Boat). There's the main power outlet plate with 6 outlets, then a detachable clamping USB power module that extends out and clamps onto a desk for plugging in up to 4 USB Type A. This one is nice if you're OK with having the power adapter on the floor or otherwise hidden behind your workspace

There's also some super funky shapes, like the cubic TLP368CUBEUAM (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/TLP368CUBEUAM/16161497) which is evocative of a Borg Spaceship (https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Borg_cube) Or the spherical TLP38UAM (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/TLP38UAM/16161623) with 3 outlets and 4 USB ports. While we didn't pick up a TLP410UCUFOAM (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/TLP410UCUFOAM/16161616) we do note how useful it would be for a conference table so that folks don't end up crouching below the table then bonking their heads.

But our number one fav, which we're going to use on the desk we broadcast EYE ON NPI from, is the TLP608DMUAM (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/TLP608DMUAM/15298401) - a cute twist on the familiar 6-outlet favorite. First it is extra long so there's the 4 compact-outlets and then two chonky outlets for big power adapters. There's also two USB A ports with 5V 2.4A out max. Unlike the first adapter we showed off, this one has two thumbscrew clamps that can attach in any direction to any thickness desk. We're going to use this on our Ask-an-Engineer desk to power the lights, overhead cameras and demo boards that power over USB.

A power outlet is kinda like a pair of shoes, belt or toothbrush: you want to get really good quality ones because you use them all day every day. The Tripp Lite series from Eaton (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/t/tripp-lite/antimicrobial-surge-protectors-for-home-and-office) are high quality, surge protected, and are a huge improvement from what you'd normally pick up for $20 from the hardware store. And Digi-Key has all of them in stock for immediate shipment! Order today and you can neaten up your desk wiring by tomorrow afternoon.