Omega Surge Protected 4 Gang 2 m Extension Lead with Switch

I have put up a customer photo of this item as received mid-March 2013 (not from Amazon themselves but the Marketplace Seller 'Strictly Lamps') because, whilst exactly as specified - 4 switched sockets, surge protection, 2 metre cable, etc. (except that the cable is actually the better part of 250mm short of 2 metres) - it is not as illustrated.The principal differences are that:-* It is badged Lloytron, not Omega;* The individual switches are wider and incorporate the red indicator light;* There is just one surge protection indicator - green as received, but presumably it will go red if the surge protection is blown;* The cable is wired into the left of the unit, not the right;and, the really good news....* The back panel incorporates two screw-head sockets so that it can be fixed to a wall or other flat surface.4 stars not 5 because of that loss of 250mm of cable - that is a lot more than is concealed within the plug and the unit; the switches are a little stiff and, positioned as they are, may be difficult for an older person to operate when there is a plug in the socket; and the red indicator lights on the switches are too dim to be of much practical use.Nevertheless, the unit looks good and everything about it encourages me to anticipate trouble-free use for years to come. (I will certainly be adding to this review if not!)

I set this up last night - well at 2:15 this morning to be precise.I didn't buy it for the surge protection only - we were already using such a board - but for the independent on/off switches for each plug. We have four plugs for our TV and associated equipment, sharing one wall socket. My husband likes to record programmes overnight so the TV stayed plugged in too. However, no matter whether it was on standby or completely switched off, the TV would come on some mornings on its own. The first time it happened I was in bed and it sounded as though there were people downstairs. It gave me quite a fright. As prising a plug out of the board required enormous effort it was not an option on a regular basis so this Omega board with individual switches has put an end to all that nonsense; I can just switch off the TV on the board.Looks can be deceiving but the board it replaces is thick, heavy and made of tough plastic so suggests it is built to last. This Omega looks cool at a distance, but it is lightweight which gives the impression of cheap. It was a bit scratched across the sockets on arrival but anyway it seems as though it wouldn't take much to damage the surface. This doesn't bother me - as long as it's not a reflection on its general durability - as it's not on show being behind the TV cupboard. The four red plug lights are bright behind there in the relative dark so it's easy to see which are on. They are not easy to see in daylight but the rocker switches each have "ON" and "OFF" adjacent to them so you can't really go wrong. The big red light denotes 'Earthed' and the big green light denotes 'Protected'. I've uploaded some photos which may be of use to you. Oh, and the plugs are really easy to insert and remove compared to its predecessor.According to the instructions, if the green light ever goes out that is the end of the board's life and it must be replaced with a new one. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Omega with individual switches; it has saved my nerves!UPDATE 04 NOV 2013Well, two and a half months later the green light has gone out.Now this either means we get a lot of surges (there have been no noticeable biggies**) that have totalled the max or these are not economically viable boards (and there's also the waste mountain to consider). For now I shall assume the former and leave my title and star rating intact (and seek expert advice) for surely the board's expected life must be more than a few months, yes?** The green light seems to have faded gradually over time. When I switched off the TV each night I did not see a difference to each previous night. As time went by I just felt an awareness that the green colour was less strong than when first used until over time it reached pale and finally disappeared.

I usually would not write a review for a basic item like this one, but here I MUST make an exception!Pro:Great, amazing qualityHeavy, well built, good looking, strong goingAll the bells and whistles including surge protection, leds which show you when it works and when you need to exchange it. Most of these items do NOT have this feature, greatly welcomeIndividual on/off buttons for each connection and a led that tells you when it is onNice, long 2M cordReputable brandCons:Slightly elevated price compared to cheap rubbish you get usually at supermarkets etc. or also on Amazon - but is it not worth the few cents for added security, better user experience and full control and a quality item? I would say yes...Too beautiful - just joking. Makes you - maybe - smile, if you are not one of these: I don't smile before my grave types. Who knows?Amazon Prime 1 day delivery - who does not like that...Verdict:Want some quality item - I just got 2 of these beauties - get those, no others

good bit of kit. I have been looking for a while for a surge protector with individually switched sockets and this does exactly that. the cable is a decent length without being too long as well. I have a couple of these one of which is 6 way that I have been using for a couple of years with no problem. the indicator light shows that the surge protection is still effective unlike some other makes I have had which still operate but no longer appear to provide surge protection ( which is kind of the point otherwise I could buy a much cheaper regular multi-plug ). only down side is that it does NOT have mounting holes on the back for easy mounting to the wall with a couple of screws so I have had to secure it with command strips which come away every once in a while. otherwise awesome

Dangerous productI have one of these on the top of a cabinet underneath a computer desk. This morning I put my hand under the desk to turn a light on and my finger went into the hole where the switch should be and I got an electric shock. The switch had broken and popped out leaving access to the live parts within.Fortunately I am ok but a young child may well have been electrocuted.Please see photos attached