Performance
When we first plugged in the AV775G we immediately wanted to play with its main feature: the “green” control outlet system. We plugged a computer monitor into the control outlet and our stereo amplifier into one of the controlled outlets. Watching closely, we turned the monitor off and…nothing. The amplifier’s outlet was still live.

The instruction manual revealed that we had forgotten to turn the feature on to begin with—there’s a switch that activates the control/controlled outlets (meaning that you could use all the seven outlets on the unit in regular continuous power mode if you really want). The second attempt proved successful. When we turned our monitor screen off, the amplifier power was cut. When the monitor was switched on, the amplifier showed to be in standby.

image copyright EarthTechling

Of course there are times when this feature could prove more an annoyance than a convenience. If you’re listening to tunes on your speaker system and your monitor unexpectedly goes to sleep while plugged into the control outlet, your music amplifier plugged into a switched outlet will cut out suddenly, too. But if you set up your monitor’s or TV’s sleep settings more conservatively (or just switch off the “green” feature when you don’t want it), you won’t have any problems.

Conclusion
The AV775G Monster Green Power surge protector does its job smoothly. We had no problems getting the “green” control outlet feature to work with our computer monitor and digital TV—when the monitor was turned off or went into sleep mode, the three controlled outlets on the unit switched off as well. The benefits of turning off your bevy of electronic components when you don’t need them are many—energy savings, reduced wear on your electrical devices, etc.

Using a gizmo like the AV775G ensures that the savings will happen automatically when you leave your workstation. And it’s nice to have the assurance that when you’re away from your desk, you’re not wasting electricity unnecessarily. The AV775G can be purchased for $69.95 at www.monstercable.com.

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