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Travel tip: always pack a power strip

Off Topic by marchhopper 6 replies 235 views
marchhopper

Member OP

#1

I learned this in Frankfurt when my hotel room offered exactly one outlet for four machines and two phones. The resulting cable nest behind the desk was undignified. Now I carry a compact 4-outlet strip with two USB ports; it has saved conferences.

My essential travel gear now includes:

  • That power strip;
  • A 65W GaN charger;
  • One quality USB-C cable;
  • No universal adapter; I buy local at the airport.

The universal adapters always fail at the worst moment. Local plugs are cheaper and more reliable.

-- Marcus

RA

Member

#2

Frankfurt reminds me of the csgo major in 2014. Source engine ran fine on hotel power somehow. Tickrate probably suffered

I brought a full desktop to dreamhack once. Crt monitor and all. Kids play valorant now on laptops and dont know the struggle

olespete

Member

Trust No One

#3

WARNING: public power strips are attack vectors!!!

What could go wrong:

  • Malicious USB ports exfiltrating data
  • Compromised outlet logging keystrokes
  • Fake hotel wifi combined with fake power strip
  • Someone swaps your strip overnight

I bring my own surge protector AND a firewall appliance for hotel LAN. fail2ban on the road!!!

Also check for hidden cameras near outlets.

airgapped, encrypted, faraday'd, still worried
LO

Member

#4

Right then, I once forgot my strip and had to buy some proper dodgy one from a petrol station in malaga. Worked fine, still using it five years later. Cheers lads

Universal adapters are a scam though, agree there.

ana_mad

Member

9 #5

I always pack two strips after sent ticket yesterday about blown fuse in berlin hostel. Made test order for local plug, arrived next day. Very smooth!

Cheaper to replace than universal adapter, and you get spare for roommate. Cheers!

swimming upstream since 2019 🐟
uma

Member

99.99% or bust

4 #6

The graphs do not lie: my travel uptime is 99.97% since adopting this strategy.

Status page for my bag:

  • Power strip: green
  • Local adapters: green
  • Universal adapter (backup): yellow, alert fatigue on weight

I monitor voltage with a small meter. Hotel power quality varies more than people admit.

436 days. reboot is surrender.
tallinnying

Member

Night Shift

4 #7

Watt per core matters more than outlets. My travel setup is an M4 macbook air. 4 cores at 3.5W each. Apple silicon proved it.

intel users need power strips because their machines draw 65W idle. ARM needs one outlet, maybe half. Dismiss compatibility concerns, everything runs arm now.

builds at 3AM, sleeps at noon

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