Even when you turn your gadgets off, if they’re plugged in they are drawing power. Since a lot of power outlets are located behind or under furniture or in otherwise inconvenient locations, we aren’t likely to unplug the devices we aren’t using. They keep draining electricity even though they aren’t serving a purpose.

The Clack Plug from designers Goeun Choi, Jeongsoo Heo and Younghun Lim solves the “vampire power” problem by combining power outlets with the functionality of light switches. When you are finished using a plugged-in gadget, you can just flip the cord down to shut off power to the outlet. To use it again, flip the cord up just like you’re turning on a light switch.

The design makes it simple to cut down on energy waste without stretching and contorting yourself into uncomfortable places to reach the plug. All you need is to get close enough to toggle the plug into an up or down position. The Clack Plug is just a concept, but it’s an exceptionally clever idea that could save a single household hundreds of dollars in electricity costs.

The post Toggle Power Outlet Turns Off and On With a Simple Switch first appeared on Gajitz.

If you live in or have ever visited the UK, you are no doubt familiar with the monster British wall plugs. These gigantic three-pronged plastic beasts make packing a phone charger in your small bag annoying, but they are surprisingly safe. English tinkerer and video-maker Tom Scott make a video extolling the virtues of the humble British wall socket (and its clunky partner, the wall plug).

Scott’s video explains why British plugs are plainly superior to American and European plugs, and he makes some very good points. First, the pin holes that could shock you if you stick something into them aren’t open all the time; they only open when the slightly longer “ground” pin of a plug is inserted, making it virtually impossible to shock yourself by sticking a screwdriver into a socket.

Additionally, the “live” and “neutral” pins of the plug are insulated halfway up their length, meaning that even if a plug is only inserted in the socket halfway and you happen to touch one of the pins, you won’t get a jolt. Then there’s the construction of the inside of the plug, which we’ll let Tom explain in the video above. If you didn’t think the British design was brilliant before, this clever and funny video will probably make you a believer.

The post Video Explains Why British Wall Sockets Are the Best Ever first appeared on Gajitz.

If you have small children, houseguests, or just a house that’s difficult to navigate, you’ve probably used traditional night lights at some point. They’re bulky, they’re intrusive, and they take up at least one of the sockets on your power outlet. The SnapRays Guidelight from Snap Power is a simple but brilliant alternative that lets you keep both sockets open while illuminating your space.

The SnapRays Guidelight takes the place of an ordinary outlet cover and looks just like one except for the LEDs at the bottom. The lights have a sensor so they turn on at night and off in the day. According to the company, the LEDs cost less than 10 cents per year to operate, and they can keep producing light for more than 25 years.

Installing the nightlights is easy enough for just about any adult who knows how to use a screwdriver. You just have to shut off power to the outlet you want to install the Guidelight on, then unscrew the existing outlet cover plate. The SnapRays Guidelight fits over the outlet, you screw it in place, and it’s ready to go with no wiring or electrical work necessary.

It works with two clip-type arms that the company calls “power extractors.” These make contact with the sides of the outlet and provide energy to the sockets as normal. The device also draws a tiny bit of power from the outlet to light the LEDs. Because the nightlights look just like regular outlets, they don’t take up any extra space – but they do provide a nice ambient light in the dark that helps you get around without hogging your electrical outlets. They’re available from Snap Power’s website.

The post Wall Sockets + LEDs = Convenient Nightlights, Free Outlets first appeared on Gajitz.

Power strips, surge protectors, voltage adapters and about a million other items have been created in an attempt to solve the problem that is ‘outlet congestion’. These products focused on the female end, attempting to multiply the amount of inlets to make more room. This design uses another perspective.

The Multi Plug’s re-tooling of the male side of plugging-in allows it to be an additive system. Traditionally, one must unplug a device in order to make room for another. The triangle shape contains more surface room, producing two female sides for every one male side.

Theoretically, your outlet space will grow exponentially; every time a Multi Plug is added, two more spaces are made available. Designers Choi Minhyun, Jung Junyoung, Kwon Jinho & Shin Seunghun created this red dot award: design concept winner.

The post Triangulate Your Outlet Efficiency With These Multi Plugs first appeared on Gajitz.

Ever smash whatever it is you’re trying to plug in because it won’t fit in the socket’s very small outlet radius? Probably not, because you’re not a gorilla. But we as humans do love convenience. 360 Electrical has a creative solution for the above scenario.

Outlet specialists 360 Electrical have a wide variety of products for your electricity-consuming needs. Their specialty is putting 360 degree-rotating outlets into all of their adapters, outlets and surge protectors. They’re not exactly developing microchips, but they are preemptively eliminating outlet rage.

All of the rotating outlets can turn a full 360 degrees without ever losing power, meaning that if you have something plugged in but then need to plug a giant adapter in, you can move both around until they both fit perfectly.

The post Rotating Sockets Power All of Your Gadgets From Any Angle first appeared on Gajitz.