There are many Pop-Up Outlets on the market, but their quality and the materials used vary greatly. Choosing a high-quality Pop-Up Outlet can not only provide safe power for your devices but also keep your workspace tidy and free from the clutter of messy cables. This article will help you choose a Pop-Up Outlet that suits your needs.
What is pop up outlets?
A pop-up outlet is a retractable socket, a type of desktop outlet used to replace power strips. When not in use, it stays flush with the desktop, and when needed, you simply lift it up for use.
The types of pop up outlets
At present, pop-up outlets can be divided into three types: the first is motorized pop-up outlets, the second is pull-out outlets, and the third is pneumatic pop-up outlets.
How do pop up outlets work?
The 120mm cut-out motorized pop-up outlet is an expandable outlet on four sides. Driven by an internal motor, it can be raised or lowered through the touch button on the top, and it is equipped with an anti-pinch function. Optional features include Bluetooth speakers and APP control.
Image 1: Anssin AEP 18 Mororized pop up outlets
The 60mm cut-out manual pull-up outlet works by pressing the top cap to release it, allowing the cap to pop up from the desktop and form a part that can be pulled by hand. Manually pull it up until the bottom latch releases the locking function, preventing it from falling and completing the usable state. When the product is not needed, simply release the latch limiter, and the product will down below the desktop into a hidden state.
Image2：Anssin App07 Pull out outlets
Pneumatic pop-up outlets
The pneumatic pop-up outlet is controlled by a gas spring inside the product. Press the top of the product until the internal latch is released, and under the action of the gas spring, the main body of the outlet will automatically rise smoothly and evenly until it reaches a stable position. When the product is not needed, simply press it down manually until it returns below the desktop and the internal latch clicks to lock it in place. This type can also be called a semi-automatic product. It is very stable and guarantees a service life of 20,000 lifting cycles.
Image3：Anssin Asp09 Pneumatic pop-up outlets
How to Choose Quality Pop-Up Outlets
After reading the above content, you probably have made your own choice. However, besides selecting a Pop-Up Outlet based on its operating mechanism, you also need to consider the following factors.
Currently, there are 15 types of plugs and sockets used worldwide. You need to confirm whether there is a Pop-Up Outlet that matches your plug type.
DIY Drill Die Cut Dimensions
Different Pop-Up Outlets come in different sizes. You need to know which size fits your countertop. Typically, motorized pop-up outlets are 120mm, pull-out outlets are 60mm, and pneumatic pop-up outlets are 75–80mm. Of course, other sizes are also available, so you can choose the appropriate configuration and size according to your DIY needs.
Additional Features
Besides plug type and size, Pop-Up Outlets offer many additional features to choose from, including USB or Type-C ports, HDMI, wireless charging, LED lights, etc. Among them, USB charging is available in 12W and 20W, and wireless charging is available in 15W.
How to Identify a Low-Quality Pop-Up Outletsx
Inspect the Plug
Low-quality outlets have poor safety: their pins are thin and can easily deform or shift with long-term use. High-quality outlets have pins with high hardness that do not deform over time, effectively preventing electric shock. They use premium copper with nickel plating, which is relatively thick, resulting in low heat generation, good conductivity, and effective prevention of copper corrosion. In addition, they can withstand 1,000 drop tests without deformation, offering higher safety and greater durability.
Inspect the Power Cord
Low-quality power cords
Low-quality power cords feel soft to the touch, have poor toughness, and loose connections. .
The copper core of the power cord is made of inferior materials, with a wire diameter less than 1.5mm², usually 1.0mm² or 0.75mm². These power cords contain many impurities, have a low melting point, are prone to breaking, and have poor strength and toughness, breaking easily with slight force. Generally speaking, the empirical current-carrying capacity is that when the grid voltage is 220V, the empirical current-carrying capacity per square millimeter of wire is about one kilowatt.
A 1.0mm² copper wire can only carry 1–1.5 kilowatts, which is completely sufficient when using 1–2 appliances. However, when too many appliances are used simultaneously on a pop-up outlet, the power can far exceed 3000W, which may cause the power cord to overheat and, in severe cases, may lead to fire.
High-quality power cords
High-quality products’ power cords have passed various high-standard certifications such as VDE, UL, and IEC. Among them, the IEC standard is an international standard applicable to the global market, and most countries participating in the CB scheme adopt IEC standards, but with additional national differences.
For example, wire and cable products sold in member states of the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) must comply with the CENELEC HD (Harmonization Document) specifications, which are national differences of IEC standards. The most commonly used IEC wire and cable standards are IEC 60227 and IEC 60245.
UL standards were developed for the U.S. market before the International Electrotechnical Commission (IECEE) formulated IEC standards for wire and cable products, and many Canadian standards are coordinated with UL standards. The most commonly used UL wire and cable standards are UL62 and UL758.
Although UL and IEC wire and cable standards are two different systems, with different measurement systems for wire structure and conductor size (American Wire Gauge and metric, respectively), some wire types, after slight adjustments, can meet both standards simultaneously.
Detailed Explanation of the Conversion Formula Between Wire Current-Carrying Capacity and Square Millimeters
When selecting a suitable power cord for pop-up outlets, the following formula can be used for conversion, allowing you to quickly understand the relationship between wire current-carrying capacity, cross-sectional area, and diameter.
The conversion method is as follows:
Specifically for current, in short-distance power transmission, generally each square millimeter of copper wire can carry 3A to 5A of current. If the heat dissipation conditions are good, take 5A/square millimeter; if poor, take 3A/square millimeter.
Knowing the cross-sectional area of the wire, the radius can be calculated using the formula for the area of a circle:
Wire cross-sectional area (square millimeters) = π (3.14) × wire radius² (millimeters)
Knowing the cross-sectional area of the wire, the diameter can also be calculated in the same way, for example:
The diameter of a 2.5 square millimeter wire is: 2.5 ÷ 3.14 = 0.8, then take the square root to get 0.9 millimeters, so the diameter of a 2.5 square millimeter wire is: 2 × 0.9 millimeters = 1.8 millimeters.
Knowing the diameter of the wire, the cross-sectional area can also be calculated using the formula for the area of a circle:
Wire cross-sectional area = π (3.14) × wire diameter² / 4
Cable sizes are also marked in square millimeters. For multi-stranded wires, it is the sum of the cross-sectional areas of each conductor.
The calculation formula for cable cross-sectional area is:
0.7854 × wire radius² (millimeters) × number of strands
For example, a 1.5 square millimeter wire with 48 strands (each strand with a radius of 0.2 millimeters):
0.785 × (0.2 × 0.2) × 48 = 1.5 square millimeters
Anssin’s pop-up outlets use 3×1.5mm² wires, which have passed various certifications such as VDE, UL, and IEC. They are soft and flexible, with firm and reliable connections, and use double-insulated conductors to effectively prevent leakage. The copper core of the power cord is made of high-quality material, generating little heat, with excellent conductivity, ensuring electrical safety.
Image4: VDE certified, Wire criterion 3×1.5mm²
Inspect the Housing and Outlet Panel
Low-quality pop-up outlets use ordinary engineering plastics as raw materials. They not only have rough workmanship, lack luster, and may have burrs with loosely fitted components, but also have poor heat resistance and low flame-retardant capability, making them prone to softening and deformation after long-term use. High-quality products, on the other hand, feature finely made housings with high gloss, no burrs, and seamlessly fitted components. The socket panels are made of PCABS alloy material, pass a 125°C heat resistance test, have strong flame-retardant performance, and pass the 750°C glowing wire flame-retardant test.
Inspect the Internal Copper Parts
Generally, sockets come with safety shutters, so you cannot observe the internal copper parts directly from the socket holes, but you can request the supplier to provide them. Low-quality sockets use ordinary brass for the copper parts, with untreated surfaces, soft texture, poor toughness, and are prone to oxidation and corrosion. Prolonged use can cause poor contact between plugs and the internal copper parts, affecting insertion and removal force. High-quality products use premium brass verified by the SGS H62 environmental copper report. These parts are thickened and nickel-plated, effectively preventing rust, generating less heat, offering excellent conductivity, and maintaining good elasticity for superior plug-in performance. Normal insertion and removal of 5,000 times does not loosen the connection. (SGS H62 Environmental Copper Report)
Inspect the Internal Wiring
Suppliers can also provide this for inspection, allowing you to carefully examine the internal structure of the converter. Low-quality pop-up outlets use ordinary wires that cannot handle high electrical loads, making them prone to burning. The soldering is rough, with potential issues like detached or cold solder joints, which can easily cause short circuits over time. Anssin sockets use integrated copper parts for internal connections, providing excellent conductivity and low heat generation. They use spot welding technology, eliminating detached or cold solder joints, preventing short circuits, and ensuring electrical safety.
Image 5:One-piece copper part
In conclusion
In modern workspaces, pop-up outlets have become a popular alternative to conventional sockets and are often seen in offices and kitchen islands. They can be completely hidden under the desk, keeping the desktop flat and occupying no workspace. Anssin specializes in the production of pop-up outlets. Now that you understand how to choose the right pop-up outlet, you are welcome to request a quote online.