Mains sockets with built in USB chargers?

[davidpbo]

What are people's view on them? Or do people prefer to plug in chargers and unplug when not in use?.
We only have access to power occasionally. I would buy MK or similar for this?

I am putting a simple mains system on my boat.
16A Inlet to breaker, fuse and RCD to 2x Twin sockets, one by Chart table, one by galley.
Maybe a single socket in visiting teenager's cave and a junction box to allow later addition of battery charging if required.
Wired in Artic or HO7.

 

[prv]

Pointless on a typical yacht, since they'll only work when plugged into the shore. Much more sensible to fit USB sockets supplied from 12v and then they're available all the time.

Pete

 

[GHA]

Isn't it easier to just wire in some 12v usb sockets?

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

What are people's view on them? Or do people prefer to plug in chargers and unplug when not in use?.
We only have access to power occasionally. I would buy MK or similar for this?

I am putting a simple mains system on my boat.
16A Inlet to breaker, fuse and RCD to 2x Twin sockets, one by Chart table, one by galley.
Maybe a single socket in visiting teenager's cave and a junction box to allow later addition of battery charging if required.
Wired in Artic or HO7.

I have a strong gut feeling opposition to them.
Remember when we were indoctrinated to turn off unused chargers?, well right or wrong, it stuck and you cant turn them off (if the mains circuit is energised)
Also I have the heebi geebies about low volt and high volt distribution in the same unit.

 

[Iminei]

+1 to the 12v USB socket as above. But the 13A sockets with USB chargers built in are so cheap (2 for 12 quid at Screwfix http://www.screwfix.com/p/13a-2-gang-dp-switched-socket-2-1a-2-gang-usb-charger-white/9272j) that you might as well fit them as opposed to ordinary 13A sockets. Like the OP I won't be connected to shorepower often, but when I do venture into a marina it's likely to be with other people, all with their own USB charged devices.

 

[maxi77]

I must admit my primary source of usb power on a boat would be supplied by the 12 volt side and under those circumstances mains powered ones would really be superfluous. My preference is though for the ones that plug into a cigar lighter type socket as they sometimes create rf noise which screws up radios of all types. Cheap plug in units can be float tested if noisy where as built in sockets require more effort.

 

[davidpbo]

Pointless on a typical yacht, since they'll only work when plugged into the shore. Much more sensible to fit USB sockets supplied from 12v and then they're available all the time.

Pete

My first thought was that is mission creep, but it would be sensible to put some on as well, maybe with an isolator switch especially since I have been meaning to move the cigar lighter socket so I can open the chart table without unplugging (probably for 10yrs or so) I have no installed means of powering the 12v system off mains, so maybe USB on mains socket as well.

 

[davidpbo]

+1 to the 12v USB socket as above. But the 13A sockets with USB chargers built in are so cheap (2 for 12 quid at Screwfix http://www.screwfix.com/p/13a-2-gang-dp-switched-socket-2-1a-2-gang-usb-charger-white/9272j) that you might as well fit them as opposed to ordinary 13A sockets. Like the OP I won't be connected to shorepower often, but when I do venture into a marina it's likely to be with other people, all with their own USB charged devices.

Probably one item where I would not go cheap on.

 

[ashtead]

For a marine environment I would have thought a dedicated USB socket as part of the switch panel would be preferred choice to avoid having to use the converters that plug in as mentioned by maxi77. Our switch panel has this so are available. While quite happy to have a combined socket as per the Screwfix type mention onshore not inclined to use on board as when plugged into shorepower we just use a normal plug in charger as supplied with Apple devices or suchlike. If concerned at lack of a USB charger source the other option is to keep a small portable power bank unit as a back up if the phone or pad runs down. You might also wish to consider having a socket in cockpit to charge the pad from there or other devices such as the Bluetooth waterproof teenager speakers etc

 

[geem]

We have a double socket with usb ports wired to a small inverter. Works great. The rest of the boat is wired to the main inverter or generator or shore power. Keeping the little 200w inverter seperate as a charging station works well for us. It is usually full of electric tooth brushes, ipads, laptop, phone, rechargeable batteries, dinghy light battery. We use a couple of multiplugs as well!

 

[Kelpie]

Apple are already dropping USB A in favour of USB C so these built in sockets are going to look pretty silly soon.
That in addition to the possibilities of RF noise, power drain, and rumours of fire risk from the very poor quality ones.

 

[Mistroma]

Probably one item where I would not go cheap on.

A friend told me that he'd looked inside one and wasn't impressed. I can't remember the details but he's worked in electronics field for many years so would recognize dodgy kit. I must ask him for more details.

On positive side, mains chargers do tend to get near quoted output, but still no guarantee.

I've seen a lot of cheap 12V ones with very poor output. I've just had a refund on a dual 2.1A/1.0A 12V charger from eBay. I guess that most people don't test kit and put in good feedback if it arrives quickly and turns on.

2.1A output struggled to give 1A @ 4.7V
1.0A output managed 0.7A @ 4.7V
Combined output was really bad at 0.29A + 0.35A @ 4.3-4.5V

So 12V option isn't a guaranteed solution either and you can pretty much ignore claimed output on really cheap ones. I did find one with claimed 5A output & 3 outlets. It has managed about 3.5A with max of 1.8A from top socket.

 

[GHA]

Apple are already dropping USB A in favour of USB C so these built in sockets are going to look pretty silly soon.
That in addition to the possibilities of RF noise, power drain, and rumours of fire risk from the very poor quality ones.

Already cables to charge usb C from usb 2 are available, it'll take years for USB C to really gain some ground.

And the better sockets have no RF noise problems & standby is tiny.

Not a problem.

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

A friend told me that he'd looked inside one and wasn't impressed. I can't remember the details but he's worked in electronics field for many years so would recognize dodgy kit. I must ask him for more details.

On positive side, mains chargers do tend to get near quoted output, but still no guarantee.

I've seen a lot of cheap 12V ones with very poor output. I've just had a refund on a dual 2.1A/1.0A 12V charger from eBay. I guess that most people don't test kit and put in good feedback if it arrives quickly and turns on.

2.1A output struggled to give 1A @ 4.7V
1.0A output managed 0.7A @ 4.7V

So 12V option isn't a guaranteed solution either and you can pretty much ignore claimed output on really chaep ones. I did find one with claimed 5A output & 3 outlets. It has managed about 3.5A with max of 1.8A from top socket.

Sadly the cheap ones will provide 5v or 2.1A/1A, not both at once! The argument being they are battery chargers and you dont need full volts into a flat battery.

 

[GHA]

I have no installed means of powering the 12v system off mains, so maybe USB on mains socket as well.

You don't have a battery charger?

 

[Mistroma]

Sadly the cheap ones will provide 5v or 2.1A/1A, not both at once! The argument being they are battery chargers and you dont need full volts into a flat battery.

Sorry, I was editing some typos when you replied. I was getting 5.2V with nothing plugged in, not really very useful. The charger wasn't able to get anywhere close to the quoted current.

I also checked an old dual outlet 12V charger at the same time. It managed 1.6A @5.0V from one outlet. The other outlet was dead, that's why I'd bought a replacement.

The tests moved between mains and 12V chargers a couple of times. Two mains chargers both managed to maintain about 5.2V with 1.8A and 0.9A respectively. I was therefore testing the 12V charger close to the quoted output figures.

 

[prv]

Certainly there are a lot of cheap USB devices that don't do what they're supposed to - but it's worth making clear that this applies just as much to mains ones as 12v. I recently had to remove the neat multi-output supply I put in my living room to run several devices on the sideboard, and go back to a 4-way power strip with individual USB adapters including a genuine Apple one for the iPad. By comparison, the two 12v units I fitted on the boat have between them happily charged two phones and two iPads all at once. I haven't noticed any interference with the radio.

I did buy the 12v adapters when they were still relatively uncommon, before the market was flooded with cheapo knockoffs.

Pete

 

[Iminei]

I've got 2 of the Screwfix twin sockets at home. One charges an iPad & a phone very successfully. The other just powers a Chromecast Audio & Chromecast so nowhere near 1A. Put 2 on the boat & haven't measured the current or voltage but when I plug things in they get charged!

 

[maby]

Our boat came with continental style sockets and far too few of them. I've installed multiple additional 13A sockets with built-in USB chargers and am very pleased with them. We've not noticed any RF interference and they simply work. I used the Wicks own brand devices which retail between £15 and £20 for the double socket version.

 

[Richard10002]

Sorry, I was editing some typos when you replied. I was getting 5.2V with nothing plugged in, not really very useful.

I think USB sockets run at 5V, so not sure why 5.2V isnt really useful?

I can understand why less than hoped for current is disappointing but, given that batteries tend to dictate the current drawn, rather than the charger always supplying its max current, i wonder if there might not be a problem? im not saying there isn't, merely maybe.

ive had an ipad tell me there isnt enough current to charge it, so i agree that a USB may not be what it says it is, i.e. 2.1A