If you spot one of these in a friend’s or family member’s power outlet, unplug it ASAP. Here’s why.
My happy place — Deep in testing scam product!
Scam «power-saving» devices waste money and risk safety.
Smart plugs and power strips actually cut energy costs.
Monitoring usage helps reduce bills and prevent waste.
People are more conscious than ever about their power bills and are looking for ways to save a few dollars each month. And while there are some practical — mostly free — ways to save money, the focus on energy costs has brought out the scammers.They do nothing to save you power
Scam «power saving» devices are rampant online. These devices plug into an outlet and promise to «improve the use of energy», «extend the life of electrical equipment», and even «avoid illegal electrical waste.»
Sounds great, right?
Well, despite the bold claims and the sticker on the front of the unit, they are too good to be true. Many of these units seem to be repurposed cases for rodent repellers, and coincidentally, many of those are also scam devices.
I’ve bought quite a few of these to test — and report to the relevant authorities — and they’re all junk. Plug these into your outlet and the best you can hope for is that they sit in the outlet and add a little to your power bill because of the LED lights on the front. The worst outcome is that they set your place alight because they are so badly made.
I’ll say it again: despite the bold claims, they do nothing to save you power.
