Looking to upgrade a bunch of powerpoints around my house to ones that include a couple of USB ports and really don't want to be spending +$30 a powerpoint.
A bit of googling and I've found a bunch for sale on ebay for about $18/each which are apparently AS approved.
Has anyone got any experience with these cheap units?
Alternatively, does anyone know where I can get 10 or so units for a decent price locally in Australia?
$20 generic probably as reliable if not more than any deta/Arlec badged gear via Bunnings
I've found some on ebay for $18 delivered that are dual USB-A and single USB-C, total 3.6A which seem OK.
usb-A for power is a hack, there is no one standard. And soon it will look very dated.
USB-C/PD is handy around benchtops. I'd consider putting it recessed outlets, and plug-in PD adapters, rather than hard-wiring.
https://www.amazon.com.au/04MM-RP01-MATCHMASTER-Recessed-Mat…
https://zippyelectricalsuppliers.com.au/product/recessed-wal…
Given the 3.6A total there I'm going to guess that it's just standard 5V power over that USB port and not PD. Likely just fine for charging stuff, although not as quickly as PD.
Unless you need max charge RIGHT NOW!!, it probably doesn't matter in practice, at least for today. But the future might change things.
You might need to confirm that electrician that you are meant to use will be happy to install random ones you bought.
The usb power points are usually larger than standard gpos so you probably want to confirm they will fit before ordering.
No Clipsal no thanks
Clipsal all the way wouldnt buy cheap brands
Is the charging circuitry permanently powered from the mains? I haven't been able to work that out from any of the data sheets that I've been able to find. That would be like leaving a charger plugged in all the time, which I know a lot of people do, but I do not.
Also, do these things come with PD and/or QC charging?
whats the idle power draw on the built-in usb chargers?
I can answer that for plug in chargers, because I was interested at what the answer was. And I have the equipment to measure.it. Its not much. Its cents to tens of cents a year. There's no reason it'd be any higher for built-in chargers.
Bad idea.
YOU can't install powerpoints. You have to pay an electrician to do it. So they are a relatively expensive and therefore long term solution.
Charging standards change often. Chargers are cheap disposible short term purchases. Buy ones that plug into power points.
YOU can't install powerpoints. You have to pay an electrician
That's like saying Catholics cannot have pre-marital sex :-)
People can and do, in huge numbers. Have you ever seen a Bunnings?
Charging standards change often
USB-PD is the first proper standard for DC charging. It will be around for decades to come, as the 5.5mm DC jack or 3.5mm audio jack has been in the past. USB-A/B is dying.
I have enough low-power devices that I don't want to have chargers on all the sockets, which is why these units will be good. There's nothing stopping me from using a charger anyway.
Reliability and replaceability and big negatives. Electronics don't like heat, and stuffing what is essentially a cheap USB charger inside a wall cavity is a bad idea. When it burns out early, which it will, then you can't do anything to replace it without paying a minimum of $200 for an electrician callout.
If you're not absolutely bulletproof sure they're certified models, like a Clispal $80 model would be, then insurance will immediately deny a housefire claim - even if it's not the actual source of any fire (which is now a higher than normal risk). It's not worth it.
is there any reason why you aren't looking at multi-port charging adapters?
EG. 2x USB C + 2x USB B … all in the 1 device.
NEG == all devices need to be plugged into at same area.
POS == you can make a cradle/nook/caddy area … where all your devices will sit.
Far better option … than going for those "in wall" solutions - where USB (B ? but not certainly not USB C !!!) … is integrated into to the wall socket with a 240v plug along aside it.
[EDIT] : Just to add … what sort of devices are you looking at charging???
eg. Our tablet gets 2 days use out of it, before needs charging - so doesn't 100% need to be connected all the time.
Just saying.
You could always upgrade them in the future. Wouldn't an adapter hub thing on a small shelf be more useful, instead of having devices charging loose near the floor?
If they are AS approved then they have passed the electrical requirements for safety to be used on the OZ nominal 240V network.
I would check out reviews to ensure that they are good for a few years as the cost of the sparky to do the work will be more than the cost of the GPO & USB combo's.
Get them. Well worth it. Just get quality ones.
maybe it's just me, but i would never base my purchase on anything to do with these kind of products purely on what is the cheapest. Get something high quality. Electrics are not something you should skimp on.
i would never base my purchase on anything to do with these kind of products purely on what is the cheapest. Get something high quality.
So a higher price means better? This is OzBargain. Burn the heretic.
Go with a reputable brand and get a professional to install it (for insurance).
Or you could buy some garbage unit from Aldi which come with hidden features!
See immediate previous posting.
Are they USB-C? If not, they're unworthy.