Power Cop

List Price: $29.95 Discount Price: $19.90

Features:

• Controls the power for most any device. Auto renewing daily allowance.
• Use with a TV or video game console.
• Internal self-recharging batteries that will protect the timer schedule during power outages or tamp
• Automatic or manual operation.
• Tamperproof lock and timer and clock display.

Customer Reviews:

Peace in the family ! [Posted on 2006-10-08]
I purchased the PowerCop as a way to help my 11 year old curb his Nintendo addiction. Getting rid of the machine seemed a little drastic and to be honest, I enjoy drinking a cup of coffee with paper on weekend mornings.
In the past thus caused all kinds of arguments, mainly around how long an hour truly is. This machine has totally solved this problem. It even gives him a 15 , 5 and 1 minute warning (whereas I just started jellying randomly in my son's opinion.
Some limitations with this machine are :
1. It "resets" at midnight, so me son got up at 2 - 3 am to play and then wake me up at 7am to tell me the machine was broken and the time hadn't reset. Solved that problem by changing the clock time by 8 hours (to some pacific Island time zone). So now it resets at 8 am.
2. The time can be used by anybody. Eventhough, I have 4 kids only one is a Nintendo addict, so that worked out. If that is not the case in your situation think this through before you buy this. Either each kid will need his/her own machine or you will make the situation worse.
3. The lock etc is rather basic (flimsy in other words), So making clear ufront that any sabotage will lead to instant removal from the Nintendo from the premises has worked out well for us.
4. If you like power struggles with your kids, don't buy this. Because that has become a part of the past in our family (at least around the Nintendo).
5. Looking forward to finding a simular devise in a few years when my kids start dating !

Works, but limited [Posted on 2007-01-15]
Works well on the one item it is attached to, but does not address the issue of total "screen time," just the amount of time spent on that one item.

Have the right equipment [Posted on 2008-09-10]
I wasn't too keen on this product. All the TV's I have in my house do not completely shut off and continue to suck electricity so this product does not work. The company does warn you but I wasn't sure if my TV's were included in that. Now I know. I might be able to give a better opinion if I had a TV it worked on.

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