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Cal-Lab Lightning Isolator (CLLI) product overview.
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Review

Cal-Lab Lightning Isolator (CLLI) product overview.

by January 26, 2015
Positives

+ Stack-able design make easy to upgrade
+ Affordable price, a good investment
+ Lot of choice for equipment customization
+ Very good customer service

Negatives

- Lack of latch for better grip
- Not easy to find it on market due less product marketing

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Appearance
5.0
Features
9.0
Materials
7.0
Performance
9.0
Portability
9.0
Value
9.0
Bottom Line

“Lightning is something which, again, we would rather avoid.”

8.0
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Have you ever had your computer and network setup struck by lightning? In my case, it happened three times between early 2013 and end of 2014. The incidents took the innocent lives of three ADSL modem, a UPS, a corded and cordless telephone, a single HDD and a motherboard.

I didn’t learn my lesson after the incidents but recently when I tried to calculate the total monetary damage, those incidents have cost me over MYR800. To prevent more of the same, what initiative can be taken?

Today I bring three products from CAL-LAB, the CLLI , stand for Cal-Lab Lightning Isolator, as a possible solution for my problems.

A quick introduction about the company, Cal-Lab started their operation on 1982 with their first product, Parallel Extension Telephone PRIVACY-Isolator which the little device was added to each parallel extension telephone, so that when anyone was in use, others would not work (no eaves-dropping).

After 3 years of intensive & extensive experiments, the Lightning Isolators or CLLI is proven to work and granted US patent in 1997 followed by China and Malaysia patents. Oh wait, do you know how to get a US patent?

“The patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or compositions of matters, or any new useful improvement thereof.”

The CLLI has sold over 1 million units since 1994 until 2009 and still increasing, Today we introduce their latest innovation to the CLLI with a brand new stack-able design. However even though it already granted an US patent and sold over 1 million units, you still may find arguments about this product reliability on the internet.

 

About the product

 

The CLLI come with new stack-able design, it’s a good approach since modular design mean easy upgrades in future. But I found something off with the design, it lacks latches making it possible to come off if you happen to accidentally kick or drop it. The CLLI also come with life time warranty, that’s good to know, but what happens if the CLLI struck by lightning? Just send the damaged CLLI back to Cal-Lab for replacement with a discounted price.

The first piece is the main piece you must buy before you able to stack with the other models, the TRM-NIF-IT BU+PE. This CLLI is worth MYR178, quite an affordable price.

CLLI1

Next move to the second piece, the TRM-EP-UK2-US1 worth MYR88 , this stack-able block must connected with BU+PE to be use, like the TRM-NIF-IT BU+PE above.

CLLI2

And lastly the TRM-OTO price at MYR 38, the On Top Organizer which finnish the look of all stack.

CLLI3

This is how its look after stack all the pieces together.

CLLI5

 

CLLI6

 

CLLI4

How does it work?

 

It’s not the same as a surge protector, the CLLI is meant to sacrifice itself in order to protect your equipment. The CLLI have two working circuits, not like regular surge protectors which have only one internal circuit. Most important to mention,

Below is simple diagram that would help you understand and show why it’s different from normal Lightning Arrestor.

Courtesy image from http://tungkaizx2alpha.blogspot.com

Courtesy image from tungkaizx2alpha.blogspot.com

 

 

In theory and practical, does it worthy to have one?

 

As we know nowadays gaming PCs don’t come cheap, a good and decent rig costs over MYR 3000 not including the display. And surely almost every rig connected to the Internet through Ethernet cable. As for my case, the lightning hit my modem and from there it got through to the motherboard, frying both the motherboard and a HDD. Sure it’s weird because the other components are still working fine.

For the network part, a good ADSL modem could cost well over MYR 150, as the TRM-NIF-IT BU+PE only cost MYR178.

And let’s say as if your gaming PC costs over MYR3500 including the monitor and network setup, don’t you think investing in the TRM-NIF-IT BU+PE is well worth the money to protect over MYR3500 of hard earned money?

One thing you know most computer components’ warranties are void if it is struck by lightning. With a little investment, actually it only costs you MYR 0.48 per-day and when we extend it to a two years period, it cost only MYR 0.24 per-day. It really doesn’t make any sense if you have never felt the pain of losing your computer to lightning but it may become a good investment. Just take it as insurance policy for your rig. After all this is just my two cents of thought, but for me I really think it is worth to have one.

 

Conclusion

Do you really need the CLLI? For me, there are three circumstances in which you should definitely get it. First, if you live in location that is often hit by lightning, for example, near a hill. Second if you have experienced lightning damaging your computer and you care about your gaming PC and network setup. Lastly, if you think this is a good investment to begin with. The power is in your hands, a great investment may shape your future. It does sound like insurance policies review when I put it like this, right? Hmmm.

 

“Lightning is something which, again, we would rather avoid.”

 

For detailed information and any enquiries about the products, they can be submited at http://callab2u.com/ or on their facebook page.

 

Oh, are you using home plug and interested in how to improve its performance? This video might take your interest if you do use home plug.

 

 

 

 

About The Author
Muhammad Firdaus
I love technology, so I love AMD.

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