Tripp Lite - Antimicrobial Protection

[Teken]

I received this mailer today and have to say this whole COVID-19 has brought a lot of things to the forefront as it pertains to hygiene, decontamination, and germs etc. I honestly don’t know if this product or similar would have any material impact to a person or companies incidence of getting sick or catching a bug.

 

I’ve never seen anyone play with a power adapter once a device was inserted and deployed?!? These devices are very much install, plug, use, and walk away.

 

Don’t see how this would help anyone in the near term or long term??

 

The only thing that comes to mind is ada boy for trying. Would anyone buy this product over a competing product just for this feature?!? For me if both items were spec’d exactly in terms of surge protection, price, and the only distinction was anti microbial - maybe?

 

https://www.tripplite.com/surge-protector-6-outlet-990-joules-antimicrobial-protection~tlp610buam

[MrBill]

"Antimicrobial" is going to become a buzz a word that needs to be part of everything from coffee cups to surge protectors....   I've already noticed it a few places:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-15-Amp-3-Way-Antimicrobial-AC-Quiet-Rocker-Light-Switch-White-RA2-05603-2AW/315110884 there are also antimicrobial switch plates.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kwikset-Juno-Satin-Nickel-Entry-Door-Knob-Featuring-SmartKey-Security-with-Microban-Antimicrobial-Technology-740J-15-SMT-CP-K4/205176741

Of course for these items the need and benefits seem greater.... but as i was reading a leviton package in HD it included the disclaimer that the antimicrobial properties were when it was new and not when it was old... I don't remember the exact language but I personally found it amusing that "it lost it's antimicrobial properties" could become a reason to change out switches and plates rather than use the same switches and plates for 25 years.

there's also a third place I noticed it and can't think where...

 

[Teken]

"Antimicrobial" is going to become a buzz a word that needs to be part of everything from coffee cups to surge protectors....   I've already noticed it a few places:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-15-Amp-3-Way-Antimicrobial-AC-Quiet-Rocker-Light-Switch-White-RA2-05603-2AW/315110884 there are also antimicrobial switch plates.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kwikset-Juno-Satin-Nickel-Entry-Door-Knob-Featuring-SmartKey-Security-with-Microban-Antimicrobial-Technology-740J-15-SMT-CP-K4/205176741
Of course for these items the need and benefits seem greater.... but as i was reading a leviton package in HD it included the disclaimer that the antimicrobial properties were when it was new and not when it was old... I don't remember the exact language but I personally found it amusing that "it lost it's antimicrobial properties" could become a reason to change out switches and plates rather than use the same switches and plates for 25 years.
there's also a third place I noticed it and can't think where...
 

I wrote into Tripp Lite asking them to provide more insight about the method and process of these new offerings. Like you at a high level it’s great vendors are placing some importance on health & safety.

But, if the anti microbial portion is just going to wipe off over time or from physical contact?!? That hasn’t changed anything I’ve been doing for decades which is to wipe down all the common switches and handles with cleaning agent!

Let’s see if Tripp Lite replies with the insight I requested on the same.

[MrBill]

1 hour ago, Teken said:

anti microbial portion is just going to wipe off over time or from physical contact?!?

This page over at Leviton's site likely explains tripplite's implementation too... Embedded Silver Ions..."Silver ions destabilize the cell membrane, stop respiration, and inhibit cell division while blocking the replication of DNA."  Levitons page suggests its long lasting.. I went looking for the disclaimer since wherever I read it it was comical...maybe the doorknobs is where the disclaimer was located.

[Teken]

This page over at Leviton's site likely explains tripplite's implementation too... Embedded Silver Ions..."Silver ions destabilize the cell membrane, stop respiration, and inhibit cell division while blocking the replication of DNA."  Levitons page suggests its long lasting.. I went looking for the disclaimer since wherever I read it it was comical...maybe the doorknobs is where the disclaimer was located.

The irony that we today (2021) still use proven old school techniques like silver!

The use of *silver* has been with us since the age of man in water containers to weaved particles of the same in clothes to reduce smell (BO)

[MrBill]

24 minutes ago, Teken said:

The irony that we today (2021) still use proven old school techniques like silver!

The use of *silver* has been with us since the age of man in water containers to weaved particles of the same in clothes to reduce smell (BO)

But it took a worldwide pandemic to do sensible things like include it in switch plates.

[apostolakisl]

Of course that does nothing to a virus which isn't exactly alive.  Virus' release what could be thought of as a spore that does nothing at all unless it is in a host.  So a germicide that is designed to kill living, respiring organisms isn't going to do anything to a viral fomite.  Us humans don't catch a lot of bacterial infections and when we do it is usually because we have a wound.  So, I guess if you having open soars on your hands while handling your power strip, you will be less likely to get a staph infection.

This silliness reminds me of being in college and in charge of maintenance of my fraternity back in the late 80's.  This company that sells cleaning products was all about pitching me on how their disinfectant spray was going to kill HIV.  Like anyone ever got HIV from a toilet seat.  

[Teken]

2 minutes ago, apostolakisl said:

Of course that does nothing to a virus which isn't exactly alive.  Virus' release what could be thought of as a spore that does nothing at all unless it is in a host.  So a germicide that is designed to kill living, respiring organisms isn't going to do anything to a viral fomite.  Us humans don't catch a lot of bacterial infections and when we do it is usually because we have a wound.  So, I guess if you having open soars on your hands while handling your power strip, you will be less likely to get a staph infection.

This silliness reminds me of being in college and in charge of maintenance of my fraternity back in the late 80's.  This company that sells cleaning products was all about pitching me on how their disinfectant spray was going to kill HIV.  Like anyone ever got HIV from a toilet seat.  

?

[Teken]

26 minutes ago, MrBill said:

But it took a worldwide pandemic to do sensible things like include it in switch plates.

I'm unsure what they mean by embedded ions as what I've seen has always been impregnated silver particles. Some call it doping whereas others *Layman's* just call it mixed into the base material.

Base plastic pellets are just mixed in with whatever percentage of silver powder and pressed into molds, injected, or cold pressed. 

[MrBill]

21 hours ago, Teken said:

I'm unsure what they mean by embedded ions as what I've seen has always been impregnated silver particles. Some call it doping whereas others *Layman's* just call it mixed into the base material.

Base plastic pellets are just mixed in with whatever percentage of silver powder and pressed into molds, injected, or cold pressed. 

It's a marginal incremental product feature that helps differentiate this product from that product, assisting with price stabilization (read: why you should pay more for it than the generic switchplate next to it on the shelf.)

[inovermyhead]

Sorry to pour cold water on this.  I'm a molecular biologist and this is 99.7% advertising smoke and mirrors,  Any anti-microbial activity would be vanishingly small/exceedingly difficult to demonstrate.  

[Teken]

Sorry to pour cold water on this.  I'm a molecular biologist and this is 99.7% advertising smoke and mirrors,  Any anti-microbial activity would be vanishingly small/exceedingly difficult to demonstrate.  

Yes, as I noted up above if a customer was presented with two identical items in terms of specifications and costs. But the only discerning feature was this anti microbial would it swing a person to buy the same?!?

For me I would consider it but if it was more - no. These products the vast majority of time are left on the floor and literally collecting dust. The other half are secured to a wall, desk, table, etc. Pretty much sight unseen after it’s initial installation.

I haven’t received a reply from Tripp Lite about more documentation and how they tested this product and don’t believe I ever will.

Regardless, I’m still happy to see vendors are placing a priority in health & safety as it relates to germs etc. Whether that actually reduces the spread of the same is very doubtful in my mind!

[Bumbershoot]

On 9/23/2021 at 7:00 PM, inovermyhead said:

Sorry to pour cold water on this.  I'm a molecular biologist and this is 99.7% advertising smoke and mirrors,  Any anti-microbial activity would be vanishingly small/exceedingly difficult to demonstrate.  

How about this beauty here: https://www.lifx.com/pages/lifx-clean-germ-buster

I know nothing about any of this stuff.  I find LiFX products to be some of the best in class, but this activates my B.S. detector.

[Teken]

How about this beauty here: https://www.lifx.com/pages/lifx-clean-germ-buster
I know nothing about any of this stuff.  I find LiFX products to be some of the best in class, but this activates my B.S. detector.

Just found my new Avatar!

[Teken]

Wrote into Tripp Lite twice about receiving more technical documents and tests as it relates to this new product line.

Never received a single reply!

[larryllix]

How about this beauty here: https://www.lifx.com/pages/lifx-clean-germ-buster
I know nothing about any of this stuff.  I find LiFX products to be some of the best in class, but this activates my B.S. detector.

Now they are trying to market the technological error 'blue light' as a feature?

We all know the one that causes poor CRI light quality, eye strain, and messes up our circadian rhythms.

Computer manufacturers have all taken steps to reduce blue light emissions while these guys are trying to sell it as a feature? from their low CRI bulbs?

It just keeps getting better and better in the marketing world. Likely another chip shortage.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

[Teken]

Now they are trying to market the technological error 'blue light' as a feature?

We all know the one that causes poor CRI light quality, eye strain, and messes up our circadian rhythms.

Computer manufacturers have all taken steps to reduce blue light emissions while these guys are trying to sell it as a feature? from their low CRI bulbs?

It just keeps getting better and better in the marketing world. Likely another chip shortage.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

I don’t believe it’s just the colour blue as it is a type of UVC. I briefly reviewed their test data which outlines the time, distance, and various outcomes using this product.

On the surface it appears to offer some reduction in the growth of some germs. Whether or not others see the same results highly depends upon the surface, exposure, distance, time, and number of bulbs covering X area.

UVC has been used extensively in all industrial & medical fields. I can’t say very many of the consumer grade wands have been very well received in terms of performance.

On a related note I actually received a reply from Tripp Lite!! They’ve forwarded my request to the science division so maybe I’ll be able to provide more insight about their new offerings.

[larryllix]

On 10/2/2021 at 10:17 PM, Teken said:

I don’t believe it’s just the colour blue as it is a type of UVC. I briefly reviewed their test data which outlines the time, distance, and various outcomes using this product.

On the surface it appears to offer some reduction in the growth of some germs. Whether or not others see the same results highly depends upon the surface, exposure, distance, time, and number of bulbs covering X area.

UVC has been used extensively in all industrial & medical fields. I can’t say very many of the consumer grade wands have been very well received in terms of performance.

On a related note I actually received a reply from Tripp Lite!! They’ve forwarded my request to the science division so maybe I’ll be able to provide more insight about their new offerings.

 

Quote

HEV emits light that sits at the lower end of the light spectrum, between 405nm and 450nm, which is why it looks blue to our eyes. In the figure below, HEV light can be seen on the spectrum, just above Ultraviolet (UV) light.

Just everyday violet / blue (indigo) visible light. The one that blue LEDs emit way too much of in narrow bandwidth to make good white light. The one LED manufacturers are trying to reduce in white lampbulbs. Very close to uV so that it still kills germs.

https://www.lifx.com/pages/an-informational-guide-to-hev-disinfection

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by larryllix

[jec6613]

This exists mostly for compliance in medical settings, where anything that can't be washed needs to be protected somehow.  And they're not exactly charging a ton for it, so makes sense - a hospital might buy 1,000 of these for check-in stations and EMR terminals and the like.

This isn't the first I've seen, had to get a bunch for a dental clinic once.

[apostolakisl]

11 hours ago, jec6613 said:

This exists mostly for compliance in medical settings, where anything that can't be washed needs to be protected somehow.  And they're not exactly charging a ton for it, so makes sense - a hospital might buy 1,000 of these for check-in stations and EMR terminals and the like.

This isn't the first I've seen, had to get a bunch for a dental clinic once.

Hospitals don't use splitters, at least not in patient care areas.  If the IT staff is using it for whatever is tucked in behind whatever, then it would be for their stuff only and no one taking care of a patient would touch it.  So I don't see hospitals buying these.

Edited October 4, 2021 by apostolakisl

[Athlon]

Thank you for this thread. 

Because I'm lactose intolerant, my wife is going to replace all of my moldy surge protectors tomorrow (while wearing gloves I've had soaking up Lifx blue light of course).

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Athlon

[Teken]

I received a reply from someone within the science division of Tripp Lite. I was informed they do not have any public facing tests or documentation as it relates to this new anti microbial product they offer?!?

As the other member provided here about the UV-C light bulb. That company offered extensive tests and documentation about their product offerings. I find it extremely hard to believe such a well established company like Tripp Lite would not have the same?!?

The initial reply to me was they don’t provide any proprietary information to the public. Again, the ask by me was to receive public facing marketing / independent testing materials to better understand how this hardware can help protect or reduce the transfer of germs / viruses!

Tripp Lite - WTF???

[apostolakisl]

In other words, all of the studies they did that they aren't publishing showed it is useless.  

[larryllix]

44 minutes ago, apostolakisl said:

In other words, all of the studies they did that they aren't publishing showed it is useless.  

Now it comes to light we are trying to kill viruses that are not alive in the first place.

 

However....if you read their brag closely they only use the terms "germs" and "bacteria" and never mention viruses.

Edited October 14, 2021 by larryllix

[Teken]

In other words, all of the studies they did that they aren't publishing showed it is useless.  

I can’t honestly say given nothing was provided to me. I’m pretty surprised by this reply given Tripp Lite has been a leader in the SPD field for decades. Everything they make is based on solid and proven technology & science.

At a loss as to why such a market leader would have nothing to back their marketing claims?!?

You literally have a light bulb maker who has provided the same without even being asked??? It doesn’t matter if someone says the data is B.S. because you can at least have it peered reviewed to call out the mistakes / hype.

Tripp Lite, literally offers nothing and expects the general public to accept the limited information at face value!

What a crying shame . . .