USB Powerpoints

[Fuzzie]

Wondering about having one of these installed :innocent:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/deta-240v-10-amp-double-outlet-powerpoint-with-dual-3-4-amp-usb-charger_p4331325

Does the brains trust think that in something like this the USB ports would be always on and therefore the power supply always consuming a trickle? I've been sensitized to not leave power packs plugged in and turned on when not connected to a device on charge.

[FenceFurniture]

Does the brains trust think that in something like this the USB ports would be always on and therefore the power supply always consuming a trickle? I can't see how because the circuit would not be completed until something was plugged into it - just the same as if the main switch is turned on with nothing plugged in.

Certainly they are the GPO of the future (and will come down in price accordingly).

[FenceFurniture]

These are a bit more sensibly priced:
https://www.auselectronicsdirect.com.au/white-dual-usb-australian-power-point-home-wall-po?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv8bE-7uV1wIVlgMqCh0S4Ax7EAQYASABEgK6bPD_BwE

[FenceFurniture]

or check this search:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=clipsal+usb+charger+wall+plate&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=lJj1WdiDFMbr8Ae_uLbIDg

[Chief Tiff]

I have one of THESE (https://hpm.com.au/products/excel-dual-usb-charging-module) fitted in the kitchen. It pops into a standard Clipsal type opening in a wall plate, but costs around $70 on its own.

The built-in ones previously linked wouldn't fit my requirements because I needed it in the middle of a vertical twin power point; but in any case I only ever buy Clipsal or HPM branded electrical equipment. AS2000 is in my view so utterly crap and easy to comply with that brand reputation is the only indication that the equipment won't release the magic smoke and probably take the house with it.

As for power consumption; it is always drawing a little power. It's basically no different from a modern solid state DC power supply like a phone charger in that it's power consumption varies according to load; with nothing plugged in it'll only suck a few milliamps.

[crowie]

We had the electrician install one of these at our daughter to make a charging station about 8months ago and she says it's great...

https://www.auselectronicsdirect.com.au/white-australian-wall-plate-with-4-x-usb-socket-ch

From the same people Brett put up the link for!!

[BobL]

Wondering about having one of these installed :innocent:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/deta-240v-10-amp-double-outlet-powerpoint-with-dual-3-4-amp-usb-charger_p4331325

Does the brains trust think that in something like this the USB ports would be always on and therefore the power supply always consuming a trickle? I've been sensitized to not leave power packs plugged in and turned on when not connected to a device on charge.

Older type adapters could consume anywhere from a few Watts up to a few 10s of Watts which was a good reason to turn them off.

If the mains power is left connected to the USB conversion circuitry (that will be inside the GPO0 and will almost certainly be the case) then it should consume about 0.1W (0.4mA) of power when not in use, at 25c kW/hr that's about 1.7c/month. The power consumed when on standby is from the tiny amount heating of the small transformer used in the adapter.

The EU has mandated that all lower powered mains adapters must meet a 0.075W maximum.

A modern USB adapter is a technological marvel. Here's a link to a guy who has reverse engineered an Apple iPhone adapter and shows just how sophisticated these devices are.
Apple iPhone charger teardown: quality in a tiny expensive package (http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html)
Interestingly the iPhone adapter nibbles about 3 times more power when not in use than other adapters.

[Yanis]

Older type adapters could consume anywhere from a few Watts up to a few 10s of Watts which was a good reason to turn them off.

... should consume about 0.1W (0.4mA) of power when not in use, at 25c kW/hr that's about 1.7c/month...

Did you mean 0.4A? That is about 0.1W 0.4mA would be about 0.1 mW :)

[FenceFurniture]

Did you mean 0.4A? That is about 0.1W 0.4mA would be about 0.1 mW :)P = V * A, so A = P/V.

A = 0.1/240 = 0.000416666 amps, which is 0.4 mA, as previously described.

[Handyjack]

I have seen these installed in several new domestic builds. The medical centre where I work has many of these retro fitted. My manager has at least one in his office for mobile phone. Other places that use them are medication rooms for temprature sensors in drug fridges.

[John Saxton]

Wondering about having one of these installed :innocent:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/deta-240v-10-amp-double-outlet-powerpoint-with-dual-3-4-amp-usb-charger_p4331325

Does the brains trust think that in something like this the USB ports would be always on and therefore the power supply always consuming a trickle? I've been sensitized to not leave power packs plugged in and turned on when not connected to a device on charge.

We had a couple of these fitted in a recent kitchen upgrade ,we only use the USB charging ports #1 when we're at home & #2 during the daylight hrs .
A lot of devices use USB as a charging facility these days,we still take a 3 pin USB adapter with us on our numerous adventures away from home.
As we also have solar rooftop cells I'm not too worried about the trickle loss.
There is always the option of the 3 pin USB charger if you're concerned about the trickle feed.:)

[BobL]

I use many USB adapters in my projects and given the number that have died (even supposedly quality ones) this suggests to me that they are too sensitive for me to consider using them as long term devices to be hardwired into GPOs that you might expect to last for at least 20 years. At least if the adapter died you don't have to change the entire (expensive) GPO.

[Yanis]

P = V * A, so A = P/V.

A = 0.1/240 = 0.000416666 amps, which is 0.4 mA, as previously described.

Of course it is. Sorry - I was on 5V not 240 :)

[Yanis]

I use many USB adapters in my projects and given the number that have died (even supposedly quality ones) this suggests to me that they are too sensitive for me to consider using them as long term devices to be hardwired into GPOs that you might expect to last for at least 20 years. At least if the adapter died you don't have to change the entire (expensive) GPO.

Agree. So many USB chargers are rubbish of the first order. Having said that there are a couple of quality units which should last a lot longer due to the fact that they have been engineered properly. It is not hard to produce a USB adapter that will last, it is just that most have been engineered to a price rather than to work.

The difficulty is finding a quality unit.

If Australia had the same laws as most other countries then you could just pop it out and replace it if it failed but Australians are held to ransom by the electrical trades and instead of getting a unit from Bunnings and popping it in we have to pay an electrician $150 to replace it for us.

[BobL]

One problem with multiple USB outlets on a single GPO is sometimes they only have one low powered USB circuit driving all of the outlets.
The outlets should be rated at least at 1A (preferably 1.5A) per USB outlet.
Some of them are 1A for all the outlets provided.
If adapters do not state the currents available then I would steer clear of them.

[Yanis]

One problem with multiple USB outlets on a single GPO is sometimes they only have one low powered USB circuit driving all of the outlets.
The outlets should be rated at least at 1A (preferably 1.5A) per USB outlet.
Some of them are 1A for all the outlets provided.
If adapters do not state the currents available then I would steer clear of them.

Yup, agree. The one I used was in a cabin at Bright and they had 2, one at 1A and the other one at 2A, one for the iPhone and one for the iPad. They were next to the bed which was perfect.

[elver]

We have more than 6 of the cheap Deta ones running. Been going well for 3 years now. A great product and should be standard at bedsides in motels.

[Bob Willson]

If Australia had the same laws as most other countries then you could just pop it out and replace it if it failed but Australians are held to ransom by the electrical trades and instead of getting a unit from Bunnings and popping it in we have to pay an electrician $150 to replace it for us.

I have never had anyone come into my house and ask if I had receipts from a qualified electrician to install all of my many extra power points.

[KBs PensNmore]

In SA we are supposed to have Certificates of Compliance for any work done by an electrician. If it can be proven that an electrical fault caused a fire, and no Certificate, guess what, insurance doesn't have to pay up. Talk about got you by the Short and Curlies

[BobL]

Same here. But I have never had a sparky ask me to show them CoCs from previous work.
The sparky that did my shed left me a CoC, but the sparky that added a GPO to one line, and installed a 32A line and breaker for an induction cooktop only left me a receipt.

When an AC company sent their contacted sparky out to install the electrics for 2 new split system ACs in out house he put the two systems on the one line and breaker. When I saw this I queried it with sparky and he said it should be OK. I followed this up with the AC company. The AC company sent a supervisor out to see for themselves and agreed this was not correct and said they would fix it. I said thank you as long as the work was done by another sparky, to which the supervisor replied "He won't be working for us again".

[Fuzzie]

It's not just electrics, I believe any work on gas appliances in QLD should also leave a Compliance Plate affixed to the Electrical meter box.... Never had it happen after several kitchen renos over the years.

[Bob Willson]

Gas is a bit different. It can have an almost undetectable leak that could cause an explosion.

Most electrical work can be easily checked optically. Gas ... not so much