CyberPower P304UC3 Surge Protector with USB-C Charging
Overview
The CyberPower P304UC3 is a compact desktop surge protector that delivers 500 joules of protection across three NEMA 5-15R AC outlets and three Type-C USB charging ports — a practical power management solution for security workstations, access control panels, IP intercom controllers, and small-format NVR deployments where both device power and device charging need to land at a single strip. At 1.8 meters of cable length, the P304UC3 reaches from floor outlets to desk or rack-adjacent equipment without extension cord workarounds.
Key Features
- 500 Joule Surge Energy Rating: 500 J of surge absorption capacity means this strip can handle multiple transient spikes before the protection degrades — more important in commercial environments where HVAC, elevator, and lighting circuits share the electrical panel and inject noise onto the line regularly.
- 3 NEMA 5-15R AC Outlets at 15A / 1875W Peak: Three standard outlets at a combined 15A / 1875W ceiling supports typical security hardware loads — an NVR, a PoE switch, and an access control panel together typically draw 3–8A total, leaving comfortable headroom on this strip.
- 3 Type-C USB Charging Ports at 2.4A Each: Each USB-C port delivers up to 2.4A, which covers fast charging for Android and iOS mobile devices, body-worn camera docking stations, and tablet-based VMS clients — no separate USB charger blocks needed at the workstation.
- 32 dB EMI/RFI Noise Filtering: The integrated 32 dB EMI/RFI filter attenuates line noise before it reaches connected equipment. For IP camera NVRs and network switches, dirty power is a common cause of intermittent reboots and degraded network stability — this filter addresses that directly.
- 125V Nominal Input, NEMA 5-15P Plug: Standard North American 125V / 15A circuit compatibility means no special outlet or adapter is required. Plug into any standard building circuit; no electrician involvement needed.
- 1.8 m (Approximately 6 ft) Cord: 1.8 meters of cord gives enough reach from a wall outlet to a desk, credenza, or equipment shelf without requiring extension cords — which themselves can introduce grounding and safety issues in commercial installations.
- Compact Form Factor — 245 mm × 102 mm × 41 mm: At 245 × 102 × 41 mm, the P304UC3 sits flat on a desktop or mounts behind a monitor without blocking adjacent outlets or requiring dedicated rack space. White finish integrates cleanly into office and retail counter environments.
- FCC, ICES, cETLus, and RoHS Certified: cETLus listing confirms compliance with both US and Canadian safety standards — required for commercial building permits in most jurisdictions. RoHS compliance supports corporate environmental procurement requirements.
Integration and Compatibility
The P304UC3 is compatible with any 125V North American circuit. The NEMA 5-15P plug connects directly to standard 15A wall outlets — no adapter required. The three USB-C ports charge any USB-C device; note that USB-C output is limited to 2.4A per port (approximately 12W at 5V), which covers standard device charging but does not support USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) fast-charge protocols. Verify device charging requirements if deploying with laptops or devices requiring 18W+ fast charge. The strip handles up to 15A total draw across all outlets — size the connected load accordingly to avoid tripping the building breaker.
For surge protectors and power accessories across a broader range of form factors and joule ratings, the full category covers both desktop and rack-mount options. Pair with a UPS battery backup upstream if the deployment requires ride-through during brief outages — surge protectors absorb spikes but do not provide runtime. For broader CyberPower power protection options, the CyberPower product line includes UPS systems, PDUs, and rack-mount surge protectors suited to larger security infrastructure. If you are planning a complete PoE switch deployment, note that PoE switches draw 30–100W+ and should be on a dedicated UPS circuit rather than a standard surge strip. Review the power planning guide for right-sizing power protection across multi-device security installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many joules of surge protection does the P304UC3 provide?
A: The P304UC3 is rated at 500 joules of surge energy absorption. This is adequate for typical office and light commercial electronics but is not a replacement for a full UPS system on mission-critical devices.
Q: What type of USB ports does the P304UC3 have — USB-A or USB-C?
A: The P304UC3 includes three Type-C (USB-C) ports. There are no USB-A ports on this model. Each USB-C port outputs up to 2.4A.
Q: Does the P304UC3 support USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) for laptop charging?
A: The USB-C ports are rated at 2.4A output. USB-PD fast charging (18W+) is not confirmed in the product specifications — verify compatibility with your specific device's charging requirements before relying on this strip for laptop power.
Q: What certifications does the P304UC3 carry?
A: The P304UC3 is certified to FCC, ICES, cETLus (US and Canadian safety), and RoHS standards.
Q: Can the P304UC3 be used in Canada as well as the United States?
A: Yes. The cETLus certification covers both US (ETL) and Canadian (cETL) safety requirements. The 125V / 15A NEMA 5-15P plug is standard in both countries.
Q: Does the P304UC3 filter electrical noise as well as surge protection?
A: Yes. The P304UC3 includes a 32 dB EMI/RFI noise filter that attenuates line interference before it reaches connected equipment — useful in environments with motor loads or shared commercial circuits that introduce electrical noise.
The P304UC3 comes up frequently in small-site security deployments where the integrator needs to power two or three low-draw devices and keep USB-C charging available at the same location without running a second circuit. The 32 dB EMI/RFI filter is the spec I flag most often — in commercial buildings with shared electrical panels, line noise is a real cause of unexplained NVR instability, and 32 dB of attenuation is meaningful protection for equipment that cost orders of magnitude more than the strip itself.
Technical Highlights:
- 500 J Surge Rating: Provides a buffer against transient spikes common on shared commercial circuits — motor starts, HVAC cycling, and elevator drives all inject surges that degrade electronics over time without visible immediate failures.
- 3 USB-C Ports at 2.4A Each: Covers standard mobile device and tablet charging at the workstation without requiring wall adapter blocks that consume AC outlet space — keeps all three NEMA 5-15R outlets available for powered equipment.
- 15A / 1875W Combined Load Capacity: Sized for a typical small-site security cluster — NVR (~30–80W), managed PoE switch (~40–60W at light load), and an access control panel (~15–25W) all land comfortably under the 1875W ceiling.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 1.8 m cord is the right length for desktop or credenza deployments; if you need to reach a floor outlet from a wall-mounted NVR shelf, measure first — 1.8 m can come up short in some layouts.
- USB-C output is 2.4A per port with no confirmed USB-PD support — do not plan on this strip for laptop charging in deployments where personnel use USB-PD devices requiring 18W or higher.
The P304UC3 is a well-matched fit for small retail, branch office, or residential security control points where a guard desk or equipment shelf needs clean, filtered power for two or three low-draw security devices alongside USB-C device charging — without the cost or complexity of a rack PDU.
