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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f
Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 11/02/2018 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.



I swear by MK, but they are literally 4 times the price of the ones you
linked to.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...hite/3905g#_=p


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On 11/02/2018 18:26, GB wrote:
On 11/02/2018 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.



I swear by MK, but they are literally 4 times the price of the ones you
linked to.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...hite/3905g#_=p


Just read some of the non-stellar reviews for those!

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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 07:44:44 +0000, GB
wrote:

On 11/02/2018 18:26, GB wrote:
On 11/02/2018 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

**I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.



I swear by MK, but they are literally 4 times the price of the ones you
linked to.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...hite/3905g#_=p


Just read some of the non-stellar reviews for those!


Thanks,
apologies for the recommendation, but as I said I have
found everything I fitted that MK produced of top quality.

Mind you like the USB sockets if it's megabucks more to go MK, then
the MK gets left on the shelf.

The Wickes one's do the job for me, but I would guess that they are
the same basic model as most other retailers bargain basement device.

AB


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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 12/02/2018 07:58, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 07:44:44 +0000, GB
wrote:

On 11/02/2018 18:26, GB wrote:
On 11/02/2018 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


I swear by MK, but they are literally 4 times the price of the ones you
linked to.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...hite/3905g#_=p


Just read some of the non-stellar reviews for those!


Thanks,
apologies for the recommendation, but as I said I have
found everything I fitted that MK produced of top quality.


Same here. Only after that did I read the reviews. It sounds like they
are buying them in.





Mind you like the USB sockets if it's megabucks more to go MK, then
the MK gets left on the shelf.

The Wickes one's do the job for me, but I would guess that they are
the same basic model as most other retailers bargain basement device.

AB





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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 09:30:55 +0000, GB wrote:

I swear by MK, but they are literally 4 times the price of the ones you
linked to.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...hite/3905g#_=p

Just read some of the non-stellar reviews for those!


Thanks,
apologies for the recommendation, but as I said I have
found everything I fitted that MK produced of top quality.


Same here. Only after that did I read the reviews. It sounds like they
are buying them in.


A couple or so years ago, on here, there was a v. brief exchange re. SF's MK
being made to a price. Doesn't meen that more expensive ones from elsewhere
would be any better, of course.
BTW, ISTR seeing some articles on cheap USB leads not only being risky but
also capable of wrecking equipment. 3.1 and C can be the worst due to the
power. Also some C aren't to standard on wiring.
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 07:58:00 +0000, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:

apologies for the recommendation, but as I said I have
found everything I fitted that MK produced of top quality.


Although it is rumoured that 'MK from B&Q' is not quite the same.

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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:05:14 +0000, soup
wrote:

I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f
Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


I didn't buy from Screwfix, I bought from Wickes. Not had any trouble
but the duty cycle I subject them to isn't too demanding [an Ipad,
that to be fair isn't happy to charge on a lot of usb plugin
supplies].

Screwfix do MK, and I have never yet found MK kit lacking in any way.

5 year warranty I think, I had a quick scan of the ad, I may be wrong.


https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...er-white/3905g

Regards

AB
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 11/02/2018 18:30, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:
On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:05:14 +0000, soup
wrote:

I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f
Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


I didn't buy from Screwfix, I bought from Wickes. Not had any trouble
but the duty cycle I subject them to isn't too demanding [an Ipad,
that to be fair isn't happy to charge on a lot of usb plugin
supplies].

Screwfix do MK, and I have never yet found MK kit lacking in any way.

5 year warranty I think, I had a quick scan of the ad, I may be wrong.


https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-...er-white/3905g


Like most of these beasts, the 2.1A is shared between the two sockets.

I have found one 'cigar socket' 12V to twin USB device on Amazon which
claims to be rated for 2.1 A per socket but, even that doesn't keep its
output voltage at the unloaded point if loaded at 2A on each socket. It
is better than the cheap ones but still a little disappointing.


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On 11/02/18 21:59, Brian Reay wrote:


Like most of these beasts, the 2.1A is shared between the two sockets.

I have found one 'cigar socket' 12V to twin USB device on Amazon which
claims to be rated for 2.1 A per socket but, even that doesn't keep its
output voltage at the unloaded point if loaded at 2A on each socket. It
is better than the cheap ones but still a little disappointing.


Various offerings here ...

http://www.focus-sb.co.uk/blog/sockets-with-usb

http://www.focus-sb.co.uk/specials/i...ed-usb-sockets


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In article ,
soup wrote:
I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


Bought mine from TLC. Wanted it to match other wiring accessories in the
room, so not cheap. Never had anything to complain about things TLC sell.
Been in constant use - phone and vape charging each night for about 3
years now. Could be the metal faceplate helps keep things cool.

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wife.

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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:05:14 +0000
soup wrote:

I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f
Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them
feels as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


I don't understand the appeal of these - a plug top USB PSU is nearly
as neat, and is easily replaced if it fails, while you can use a
multi-socket USB PSU if you need to feed more devices. If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some more
ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.

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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:48:50 +0000, Rob Morley
wrote:

On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:05:14 +0000
soup wrote:

I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f
Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them
feels as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


I don't understand the appeal of these - a plug top USB PSU is nearly
as neat, and is easily replaced if it fails, while you can use a
multi-socket USB PSU if you need to feed more devices. If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some more
ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.


The appeal is simple, I fitted these where new sockets were needed,
little cost overhead, no extra space needed, although I think there
was some warning about minimum size backpoxes. Still it fitted those I
had always used.

To be frank, I thought it was pointless doing anything else,
increasingly USB powered devices are coming without supplies.

My last 4th generation Kindle came without, but the same item had one
included a couple of years back.

It also give toddlers something to practice on before they progress to
the 13A shuttered sockets.

AB

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On 11/02/2018 19:01, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:

My last 4th generation Kindle came without, but the same item had one
included a couple of years back.

It also give toddlers something to practice on before they progress to
the 13A shuttered sockets.


If you are sure its an isolated SELV device and not some cheap
switchmode supply that may well be reference to mains?


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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 20:47:33 +0000, "dennis@home"
wrote:

On 11/02/2018 19:01, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:

My last 4th generation Kindle came without, but the same item had one
included a couple of years back.

It also give toddlers something to practice on before they progress to
the 13A shuttered sockets.


If you are sure its an isolated SELV device and not some cheap
switchmode supply that may well be reference to mains?

I dont think an smps is deliberately referenced to the mains. Without
a ground reference, most SMPS provide a slight tingle, capacitive
pickup I presume.

AB



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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 23:09:22 +0000, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:

I dont think an smps is deliberately referenced to the mains. Without a
ground reference, most SMPS provide a slight tingle, capacitive pickup I
presume.


boggle




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On 11/02/2018 23:09, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:
On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 20:47:33 +0000, "dennis@home"
wrote:

On 11/02/2018 19:01, Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:

My last 4th generation Kindle came without, but the same item had one
included a couple of years back.

It also give toddlers something to practice on before they progress to
the 13A shuttered sockets.


If you are sure its an isolated SELV device and not some cheap
switchmode supply that may well be reference to mains?

I dont think an smps is deliberately referenced to the mains. Without
a ground reference, most SMPS provide a slight tingle, capacitive
pickup I presume.

AB


Bigclive has certainly shown some SMPS to be referenced to ground and
others with poor separation of mains and USB.

They should have isolated feedback and transformers in then but they
aren't all as good as they should be.




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On 11/02/2018 18:48, Rob Morley wrote:

If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some more
ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.


Nah that would involve chasing the wiring and redecorating. Having
trailing power strips about the place is a(n increased) trip hazard.
Much neater and easier just to replace the socket face plates with these
USB jobs (assuming they last a tad longer than the 18 months these ones
did).
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On 11/02/2018 19:13, soup wrote:
On 11/02/2018 18:48, Rob Morley wrote:

Â* If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some more
ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.


Nah that would involve chasing the wiring and redecorating.Â* Having
trailing power strips about the place is a(n increased) trip hazard.
Much neater and easier just to replace the socket face plates with these
USB jobs (assuming they last a tad longer than the 18 months these ones
did).


It also means that the kids can't take the charger into another room and
"forget" to tell you where they've put it. This works as long as you
have plenty of leads, but you can get those for £1 each.

SteveW
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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 19:37:12 +0000, Steve Walker wrote:

On 11/02/2018 19:13, soup wrote:
On 11/02/2018 18:48, Rob Morley wrote:

Â* If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some
more ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.


Nah that would involve chasing the wiring and redecorating.Â* Having
trailing power strips about the place is a(n increased) trip hazard.
Much neater and easier just to replace the socket face plates with
these USB jobs (assuming they last a tad longer than the 18 months
these ones did).


It also means that the kids can't take the charger into another room and
"forget" to tell you where they've put it. This works as long as you
have plenty of leads, but you can get those for £1 each.

You can buy the black Signalex 1.2A USB chargers (made in Birmingham) in
Poundland for that money. Likewise the 1A slightly smaller made in China
ones in white durable plastic from, afaicr, Poundworld. Both draw
immeasurably small standby power (even when measured with my analogue
watt meter).

I've been using the Signalex one for about a year now to charge my
Joyteck All In One Vaping stick overnight (it only takes about two hours
or so at a measured 4.4W loading to fully charge it from flat) and I
leave it plugged in since it plainly takes less than a tenth of watt in
standby.

I can't vouch for the long term reliability of the Chinese made 1A one
since it was bought as a spare unit that's hardly seen any use.

--
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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 23:45:40 GMT
Johnny B Good wrote:

I can't vouch for the long term reliability of the Chinese made 1A
one since it was bought as a spare unit that's hardly seen any use.

The Chinese one I bought just to see what you get for £1 started to
melt. I hadn't expected any better.

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On 11/02/2018 23:45, Johnny B Good wrote:


You can buy the black Signalex 1.2A USB chargers (made in Birmingham) in
Poundland for that money. Likewise the 1A slightly smaller made in China
ones in white durable plastic from, afaicr, Poundworld. Both draw
immeasurably small standby power (even when measured with my analogue
watt meter).


Bigclive has been taking those things apart..
he reckons that poundland ones are usually good but poundworld ones are
****ty.
YMMV.


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In article ,
soup wrote:
On 11/02/2018 18:48, Rob Morley wrote:


If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some more
ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.


Nah that would involve chasing the wiring and redecorating. Having
trailing power strips about the place is a(n increased) trip hazard.
Much neater and easier just to replace the socket face plates with these
USB jobs (assuming they last a tad longer than the 18 months these ones
did).


Thinking on, the TLC one I have has a 10 year warranty. As well it might
at near 30 quid (polished chrome)

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In article 20180211184850.71b264fe@Mars,
Rob Morley wrote:
I don't understand the appeal of these - a plug top USB PSU is nearly
as neat, and is easily replaced if it fails, while you can use a
multi-socket USB PSU if you need to feed more devices. If you don't
have sufficient 13A outlets to supply your USB needs then fit some more
ordinary 13A sockets or use trailing power strips.


If you have this charging point somewhere convenient it is likely to show.
And I can assure you a socket with 4 USB outlets is a lot more attractive
than two sockets with 4 wall warts. And even more so than a trailing
socket. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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On 11/02/18 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


Yeah - don't bother, replace with a decent socket, and buy a slimline
plugtop USB charger.

Apart from what you found, the USB charging standards improve every
couple of years and any charging socket will be obsolete in terms of
providing the max charging current soon enough.


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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 19:07:46 +0000, Tim Watts
wrote:

snip

Yeah - don't bother, replace with a decent socket, and buy a slimline
plugtop USB charger.


Taking up one of the two sockets whilst doing so, no good if you want
to charge your device in the kitchen in the same socket(s) containing
the kettle or toaster.

Apart from what you found, the USB charging standards improve every
couple of years and any charging socket will be obsolete in terms of
providing the max charging current soon enough.


Personally, whilst my Samsung Galaxy S7 will fast charge, I generally
don't because I'm not sure the extra heat generated is good for
anything (charger, battery, phone etc)?

Plus I think you have to use a 'fast charge' cable (even on the right
charger) to get a fast charge?

I'm not sure if the charging capacity of the mains socket USB itself
is going to limit the charge rate of 'most devices', especially, if
used singularly and without any special cables?

Cheers, T i m
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In article ,
T i m wrote:
Taking up one of the two sockets whilst doing so, no good if you want
to charge your device in the kitchen in the same socket(s) containing
the kettle or toaster.


You surely don't have so few sockets in your kitchen you have to unplug
things? On a DIY group?

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On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 23:59:03 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
T i m wrote:
Taking up one of the two sockets whilst doing so, no good if you want
to charge your device in the kitchen in the same socket(s) containing
the kettle or toaster.


You surely don't have so few sockets in your kitchen you have to unplug
things? On a DIY group?


In our Victorian house, 'galley kitchen' ... on the main (full length)
work top, we have three doubles. The one on the left has the microwave
and toaster, the one in the middle has the kettle and can opener, the
one on the right the hands free phone and TV. Underneath the worktop
is another double for the fridge and freezer.

So, (typically) daughter unplugs one of the middle two to plug in her
phone charger etc. ;-(

On the other side (the sink side) there is another double under the
worktop for the dishwasher and cooker igniter.

Just outside the kitchen, in the utility area are another two doubles,
one has the Dyson charging base and tumble-dryer and the other the
washing machine and a spare, for de-humidifier or whatever.

So, there is no issue other than having a charging point in addition
to the mains sockets that would be resolved, when I get round to
swapping out the main or side sockets for one with a charger built in
(the MK socket that has been sitting there for a couple of years now).
;-(

I have no issues changing it, given I wired the house in the first
place (it only had gas lights). ;-)

Cheers, T i m
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On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 00:46:10 +0000, T i m wrote:

You surely don't have so few sockets in your kitchen you have to unplug
things? On a DIY group?


In our Victorian house, 'galley kitchen' ... on the main (full length)
work top, we have three doubles. The one on the left has the microwave
and toaster, the one in the middle has the kettle and can opener, the
one on the right the hands free phone and TV. Underneath the worktop is
another double for the fridge and freezer.


Despite my best efforts at the time (and some last minute changes) we
ended up with not quite enough.

At one end, one double socket for microwave oven, slow cooker and chip
pan. That works OK.

Other end, two doubles. Toaster, coffee machine, food mixer, radio/CD
player, IP phone. Generally OK, but can be a problem at times.



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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

Tim Watts wrote:
On 11/02/18 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f



Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


Yeah - don't bother, replace with a decent socket, and buy a slimline
plugtop USB charger.

Apart from what you found, the USB charging standards improve every
couple of years and any charging socket will be obsolete in terms of
providing the max charging current soon enough.


My phone (that needs recharging) is already much older than two years
and I doubt I'll replace it for a few more......

.... and surely new devices that charge from USB should be backwards
compatible with older USB charging sources even though slower to
charge.

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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 11/02/18 19:07, Tim Watts wrote:

Yeah - don't bother, replace with a decent socket, and buy a slimline
plugtop USB charger.

Apart from what you found, the USB charging standards improve every
couple of years and any charging socket will be obsolete in terms of
providing the max charging current soon enough.


Many of these fad'ish sockets are being changed over by folks of little
experience of electrical wiring. Kids doing it just for their iPhones...

How many disconnected earth rings, or general dodgy joints have now
entered the UK housing stock, never mind the choice selection of the
cheapest chinese shock hazard type from eBay and the like?

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.or...-from-so32.pdf

Big Clive and others have covered these on YouTube.

--
Adrian C
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 2018-02-11 19:07, Tim Watts wrote:
On 11/02/18 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


Yeah - don't bother, replace with a decent socket, and buy a slimline
plugtop USB charger.

Apart from what you found, the USB charging standards improve every
couple of years and any charging socket will be obsolete in terms of
providing the max charging current soon enough.


It's not just the charging current. USB-C supports multiple charging
voltages. Apple's 61 W power supply for the Macbook Pro provides
5 V, 9 V and 20.3 V over USB-C so these 5 V integrated socket outlets
seem to be becoming popular just as USB is moving away from a single
5 V standard.



--
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 13/02/18 21:06, Graham Nye wrote:

It's not just the charging current. USB-C supports multiple charging
voltages. Apple's 61 W power supply for the Macbook Pro provides
5 V, 9 V and 20.3 V over USB-C so these 5 V integrated socket outlets
seem to be becoming popular just as USB is moving away from a single
5 V standard.



I rest my case, m'lud!

Essentially whatever you do will be obsolete to some degree within 2 years.

Whereas something like:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/q/dp/B01HGQSITA

can be upgraded, takes little space, doesn't even cost a socket and can
be turned off ( or unplugged) when not in use.
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:44:58 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

On 13/02/18 21:06, Graham Nye wrote:

It's not just the charging current. USB-C supports multiple charging
voltages. Apple's 61 W power supply for the Macbook Pro provides 5 V, 9
V and 20.3 V over USB-C so these 5 V integrated socket outlets seem to
be becoming popular just as USB is moving away from a single 5 V
standard.



I rest my case, m'lud!

Essentially whatever you do will be obsolete to some degree within 2
years.

Whereas something like:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/q/dp/B01HGQSITA

can be upgraded, takes little space, doesn't even cost a socket and can
be turned off ( or unplugged) when not in use.


Conceptually, a nice idea. One can only hope that the 6 quid over-spend
on a 3 way half metre extension cord and a couple of 1.2A USB wallwarts
from Poundland is a genuine reflection of the extra costs involved in
manufacturing what amounts to a "Single way socket adapter" capable of
safely handling the full 13A load rating of the socket outlet it is
intended to be plugged into.

--
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 14/02/18 13:59, Johnny B Good wrote:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/q/dp/B01HGQSITA

can be upgraded, takes little space, doesn't even cost a socket and can
be turned off ( or unplugged) when not in use.


Conceptually, a nice idea. One can only hope that the 6 quid over-spend
on a 3 way half metre extension cord and a couple of 1.2A USB wallwarts
from Poundland is a genuine reflection of the extra costs involved in
manufacturing what amounts to a "Single way socket adapter" capable of
safely handling the full 13A load rating of the socket outlet it is
intended to be plugged into.



Who is going to want to do that, to save £6, when they started with the
premise of "Sockets with integrated USB"?




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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Essentially whatever you do will be obsolete to some degree within 2 years.


Then make sure the things you buy use the standard 5v? ;-)

It's not the PS which is obsolete. It's makers moving goalposts to try and
make you buy something new extra yet again.

If Apple or whoever wish to use a non standard charger, why not invent a
new connector too? They obviously not very upset about it being
standardised.

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To e-mail, change noise into sound.
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 14/02/18 14:02, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Essentially whatever you do will be obsolete to some degree within 2 years.


Then make sure the things you buy use the standard 5v? ;-)

It's not the PS which is obsolete. It's makers moving goalposts to try and
make you buy something new extra yet again.

If Apple or whoever wish to use a non standard charger, why not invent a
new connector too? They obviously not very upset about it being
standardised.


Well, you can, if you never want to use new things and/or enjoy slow
charging.

I'm starting from the premise people might actually want a practical
solution that can evolve as all tech does ;-) The one true standard in
all of this is 230-240VAC 50Hz - so it's probably the best place to draw
the demarcation point. 5V looked solid for a while, but with the caveats
the current kept jumping.
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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On 11/02/2018 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...er-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


2.1A plug in usb for £2 in poundland according to bigclive.
Just plug it in and switch it on when needed.

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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 20:43:27 +0000, dennis@home wrote:

On 11/02/2018 18:05, soup wrote:
I fitted some of these on the living room wiring.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-...ed-socket-usb-

charger-outboard-rocker-white/8534f

Screwfix ones shown as an example as I can't remember what ones I
actually fitted

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.

Â*I suspect these have broken as they were cheap is there any
recommendation on type to get for longevity.
Edinburgh Scotland region if applicable.


2.1A plug in usb for £2 in poundland according to bigclive.
Just plug it in and switch it on when needed.


Even better, assuming they're still available, would be a pair of
Signalex 1.2A USB wallwarts at £1 each. A whole 12VA's worth instead of a
poxy 10.5 VA's worth for your 2 quid spend. :-)

Incidentally, the white Chinese made 1A USB wallwart I mentioned in my
other follow up to this thread are, contrary to my original supposition
that I'd purchased it from Pound World, was also another Poundland
purchase as I discovered once I'd finally tracked down Big Clive's "2017
Poundland USB charger analysis" youtube video.

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Default Mains sockets with USB ports

On Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:05:14 +0000, soup wrote:

Just lately one packed up all together and just today one of them feels
as if one of the USB sockets has physically given up the ghost.


This is going to happen sooner or later to all of them unless you're very
lucky so I would suggest a far better alternative: the ones that
convincingly resemble normal 13A plugs (if you can't bear the sight of a
wall wart) as they are **** easy to replace when they fail.



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