Extension Cord for AC

[lthanlon]

I've ridden several Amtrak trains and have always brought along a little extension cord because several of my AC converters are oddly shaped "wall warts" with housings that prevent the tines from making contact with the outlet in the roomette. It's always a little awkward to haul along a standard household extension cord, though. Has anybody come across a travel-sized version?

 

[BeckysBarn]

I've ridden several Amtrak trains and have always brought along a little extension cord because several of my AC converters are oddly shaped "wall warts" with housings that prevent the tines from making contact with the outlet in the roomette. It's always a little awkward to haul along a standard household extension cord, though. Has anybody come across a travel-sized version?

I always have a surge protector that has 4 or 5 outlets. It allows me to have everything plugged in at once. In coach, it allows me to share the wall outlet with my seat mate.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

When I took my first long distance trip I bought a "Monster Power Outlets To Go" portable power strip. Its small, and light weight. It has a surge protector built in as well.

it measures

6.25" x 2.25" x 1.8"

You can pick one up for $8 on Amazon

 

[the_traveler]

On one of my last trips, the outlets were inconvenient for my plug (on the travel sized multi outlet extension). So during my stay, I went to a hardware store and bought one of those 1/2-1" extension plugs! It works fine - and doesn't take up much room in my computer case!

BTW - My extension strip is a Fellows Relocatable Power Tap. It has 3 outlets on top and 3 more around the side. The outlet end is no more than like 6-8" x 6-8" and is 1" deep and it has a 6' cord. It comes in handy when the only outlet in a bedroom is across the room by the door, and it easily fits in my computer case with my netbook!

 

[MikeM]

Same ideas as above -- I have a "cable vault" I carry with my laptop bag when I travel; one of the main items is a basic five outlet power strip. I use a fairly cheap surge supressor strip, that way if it gets lost or damaged it isn't a crisis. To keep my bulk down I try to use multi use chargers; for example I've learned my Garmin and Blackberry power adapters are interchangeable; I have a DC to AC adapter so I can use my car chargers with AC also, and I have several shorty cables for syncing things to my laptop.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

i have a targus traval surge protector with a wall hugger type plug where the wire exits the side of the plug so it fits in a tighter spot.

 

[AmtrakPDX]

Probably something Amtrak doesn't want to hear but... I rewired a commercial powerstrip for our cross-country trip to have 1) A longer cord (I seemed that the outlet for the family bedroom was about 5ft off the floor. 2) I used grounded but more 'supple' orange extension cord wire that tucked nicely into the seat cushion seams when we had a roomette. I was able to keep the powerstrip part with chargers and 'toys' (cell, GPS, scanner [no microwave]) in a backpack under the seat w/o the roomette looking like an electronics store. It worked great!

 

[RRrich]

I just use a 1->3 adapter plugged into the wall and a cheap 6ft extension cord with 3 outlets on the far end. With this, I have 2 outlents at the wall and 3 more 6 feet away.

I have not found a surge suppressor to be necessary (knock on wood)

 

[AlanB]

I have not found a surge suppressor to be necessary (knock on wood)

You won't find it necessary, there are no surges on trains. However, most outlet strips already include a surge protector, so there seems little point in trying to remove it. :lol:

 

[printman2000]

I bought a Belkin Mini Surge Protector/USB Charger.

It has the three plugs as well as two USB plugs on the top. Another cool feature is the whole thing spins around the plugin so you can swing it to whatever position works best. It works well with the roomette plugs (the prongs stick out far enough to work well). It is also small to carry.

 

[caravanman]

I bring one of these gizmos with me, not as compact as some, but it keeps the roomette warm too.

Ed

 

[AAARGH!]

I used a "Squid" type cord. That's a 4' or 6' cord that splits into 6 or 8 mini cords (about 1 foot long each). That way ALL of them can have AC adaptors.

Link Here.

 

[lthanlon]

Thanks for the information, everyone!

 

[Guest_westom_*]

I have not found a surge suppressor to be necessary (knock on wood)

Anything that might work on its power cord is already inside the computer. View some numbers. A 120 volt computer had to withstand 600 volt surges even in 1970 - an international standard. Even twenty years ago, Intel required power supplies to withstand thousands of volts without damage.

Even the laptop says 265 volts is routine, normal power. Then its power supply is even more resilient to transients.

That plug-in protector does not even claim protection in its numeric specs. They are marketing to people who are told what to think - who never ask damming questions. Who did not even bother to read numeric specs. Where are the spec numbers that list each type of surge and protection from that surge? Does not exist. They do not claim effective protection. At best, it only claims to protect from one type of surge that typically causes no damage. A $3 connector with some ten cent protector parts selling for how much? With profit margins that large, even I would not post these well understood technical facts.

Where are its numeric specs? Why does the same protector circuit sell (at large profit) in grocery stores for $7? Too many only do what they are told to believe. Never bother to ask some damning questions.

It does not even claim protection in numeric specs. A majority will simply believe and recommend what they are commanded to believe rather than read those specs. Anything that works on a laptops power cord is already inside that computer.