Universal 71641 (Lightly Yellowed Example)
Universal 71641 (Lightly Yellowed Example)
Overview
The Universal 71641 is a six-outlet surge protector manufactured in 2004 and marketed for home and office electronic equipment.
The documented example exhibits only mild enclosure yellowing and provides a useful comparison to the significantly more discolored Universal 71641 (Yellowed Example) documented elsewhere in the archive.
Although both documented examples were manufactured on the same date, the lightly yellowed example retains substantially more of its original appearance.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Universal
- Model: 71641
- Manufacturing Date: May 23, 2004
- Outlets: 6 grounded outlets
- Transformer-spaced outlet: Yes
- Power Switch: Illuminated RESET/OFF rocker switch
- Surge Indicator: Yes
- Length: Approximately 10.5 in (26.7 cm)
- Width: Approximately 1.31 in (3.3 cm)
- Height:
- Approximately 1.31 in (3.3 cm) at the outlet section
- Approximately 1.63 in (4.1 cm) at the control section
- Voltage Rating: 125 VAC
- Current Rating: 15 A
- Frequency: 60 Hz
- Maximum Load: 1875 W
- Suppressed Voltage Rating: 330 V
- Country of Manufacture: China
- Power Cord Length: Approximately 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Power Cord Type: SJT
- Conductors: 16 AWG × 3
- Flame Rating: VW-1
- UL File Number (Cord): E176194
- CSA File Number: LL109777
- Cord Manufacturer: Apollo
- Weight: Approximately 1 lb 1.5 oz (496 g)
Physical Description
The Universal 71641 utilizes a low-profile beige plastic enclosure with six grounded outlets arranged in a single row and a raised control section near the power-cord entry point.
A red rocker-style RESET/OFF power switch and a SURGE indicator are located in the control section. The switch is mounted perpendicular to the outlet row, a common arrangement on narrow single-row surge protectors of this period.
The outlet nearest the rounded end of the enclosure is physically separated from the remaining receptacles and is specifically labeled "TRANSFORMER." The additional spacing provides clearance for oversized power adapters and wall-wart style transformers.
The documented example exhibits only mild age-related discoloration and remains noticeably lighter in appearance than the previously documented yellowed example. The molded transformer-outlet labeling, outlet panels, and surrounding enclosure surfaces remain clearly defined with limited color change.
Unlike the yellowed example, the enclosure does not exhibit pronounced differential discoloration or obvious evidence of long-term shielding from connected devices.
The cord-entry end incorporates an unused circular knockout molded into the enclosure. The feature appears intended to accommodate a resettable circuit breaker or similar component, although it is not populated on the documented example. Protection appears to be integrated into the switch and surge-suppression assembly.
The attached power cord utilizes SJT construction with three 16 AWG conductors. Cord markings identify the manufacturer as Apollo and indicate CSA approval.
Weight
The documented example weighs approximately 1 lb 1.5 oz (496 g).
Mounting Provisions
The underside incorporates two keyhole-style mounting slots.
The mounting arrangement supports three practical installation orientations:
- Horizontal mounting
- Vertical mounting with the cord entry positioned upward
- Vertical mounting with the cord entry positioned downward
This provides greater installation flexibility than many previously documented surge protectors in the archive.
Product Gallery
-
Overall view of the lightly yellowed Universal 71641. -
Center outlet section showing mild age-related discoloration. -
Dedicated transformer-spaced outlet. -
Control section showing the RESET/OFF rocker switch, SURGE indicator, and Universal branding. -
Cord-entry end showing the strain relief and unused molded knockout. -
Rounded transformer-outlet end profile. -
Right-side profile view. -
Left-side profile view. -
Underside view showing mounting provisions, date wheels, and product markings. -
UL certification hologram and listing information. -
Underside specifications, ratings, and regulatory markings. -
Date wheels indicating May 23, 2004 manufacture. -
Grounded attachment plug and power cord. -
Power cord specifications and manufacturer markings. -
Grounding plug with molded approval markings.
Testing
The documented example was tested for basic electrical operation and wiring integrity.
Testing with a receptacle tester confirmed correct hot, neutral, and ground wiring. No open ground, open neutral, reversed polarity, or other wiring faults were detected.
The rocker switch successfully controlled power to all outlets.
When energized, the red SURGE indicator illuminated, indicating that surge-protection circuitry remained active.
Condition Upon Acquisition
The documented example was acquired as part of a collection of surplus electrical equipment and exhibited mild enclosure yellowing, light accumulated dirt, and cosmetic wear consistent with long-term use and storage.
The unit was cleaned prior to detailed documentation and photography.
Teardown
The Universal 71641 enclosure is secured using multiple Phillips-head screws and can be opened non-destructively.
The upper housing contains molded outlet barriers, structural reinforcement ribs, outlet supports, and control-section structures. The lower housing contains stamped brass bus bars, outlet-contact assemblies, internal wiring, and the surge-suppression circuitry.
Power distribution is accomplished using stamped brass bus bars running the length of the enclosure. The transformer-spaced outlet is integrated into the same bus-bar system as the remaining outlets.
Further examination of the control-section circuit board revealed a larger and more sophisticated surge-suppression assembly than those documented in the earlier Universal 71632 and 71637 models.
Visible components include:
- Metal-oxide varistor (MOV)
- Film capacitor
- Power switch assembly
- Surge-status indicator circuitry
- Associated discrete protection components
The suppression circuitry is concentrated on a dedicated printed circuit board mounted near the power-cord entry point.
The larger circuit assembly suggests that Universal revised the internal surge-protection design between 1998 and 2004 while retaining the same basic bus-bar-based power-distribution architecture.
Inspection of the documented example revealed dust accumulation and cosmetic contamination consistent with long-term use, but no obvious evidence of overheating, melting, or catastrophic electrical failure.
Product Family Context
The 71641 appears to represent a later evolution of Universal's surge-protector line. Compared with the 1998-era Universal 71632 and Universal 71637, the 71641 incorporates a dedicated transformer-spaced outlet, revised enclosure styling, and a larger surge-suppression assembly while retaining the same 330 V suppression rating.
The OldSurge Archive currently documents multiple examples of the 71641. Despite sharing the same manufacturing date, the documented examples exhibit substantially different degrees of enclosure yellowing, illustrating how storage conditions, environmental exposure, and service history can influence the long-term appearance of consumer electronics.