I’m thinking about replacing an outlet with a USB charging outlet, of which there are plenty of options. With a dedicated place for charging our electronics, there might be less of a tangled charging cable nest in the hallway. But… which outlet? A kitchen outlet? One by the front door? Where’s the best place for this. What if I change my mind – that would necessitate an additional upgrade.
When searching for a new surge protector power strip, I came across this CyberPower USB charging station (CSP105U). Hmm… that could work.
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It’s got a 5-foot cord, (2) USB charging ports with 2.1A output (so it can charge a tablet), and a 15A 3-prong power outlet.
The power station seems to output 2.1A total across both USB ports, and so you probably couldn’t fast-charge two tablets. It’ll still charge them, but slower. But two phones should be alright. I guess that one could always plug a tablet charger into the power outlet to ensure that the device charges as fast as it’s meant to.
And it’s also not a surge protector.
Although it’s only around $11, I’ll run it by the wife. On one hand the CyberPower USB charging station turns one outlet into (2) USB charging ports without giving up the ability to plug something into the AC power. In theory, this could mean (3) USB charging ports for one outlet. But on the other hand, will it really eliminate the messy pile of charging cables below one of our wall outlets?
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Maybe I’ll get one of these, and in a couple of months we’ll circle back to whether or not to upgrade an outlet to one which has built-in USB ports. Another option I’m considering is Belkin’s 3-outlet travel adapter (~$18 via Amazon).
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What do you use to charge multiple devices in a centralized location with less clutter?
Derek
The Anker chargers are nice for charging multiple phones/tablets. I currently use a 2 port for my phone and tablet plugged into the wall next to the bed. I have a short usb cord to plug in one and a long usb cord so I can still use a device in bed while it is plugged in.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFL2JB6
I might upgrade at some point to this one, but right now I like having my charger on one side of the bed and my wife’s on the other since we both use our phones for alarm clocks.
http://www.amazon.com//dp/B00VH8ZW02/
Jimmie
I tried an Anker 2-port charger about a year ago on the strength of its Amazon reviews. Unfortunately neither USB port was compatible with my and my wife’s Samsung Galaxy S3 phones. They’d charge fine but after charging, both phones would enter a loop where they’d stop charging only to start charging (and emit the “I just connected to a charger beep”) again a few seconds later. Repeat. This was the only charger I’ve ever used that behaved like that.
Based on the behavior, it’s as if the Anker turned-off the USB port
when it sensed that the phone had stopped charging. Then, a few seconds later, it would turn the USB ports back on prompting the phones to think they’d just been plugged-in.
John Blair
I went with the built in option. I put it in my kitchen with the idea that I can always move it should another location be more handy later.
My first thought when I saw this was “That doesn’t clean up the cords.” But after reading Derek’s comment above, I thought, “That might be handy beside the bed.”
As Murphy’s Law predicts, in my bedroom the plugs are behind the bed. I’ve got my alarm clock plugged into one outlet, but using this would put two USB charging outlets on my night stand and give me a plug in a semi-convenient location .
James
I’ve gone with this Leviton outlet. http://amzn.to/1Pp4xDX One by the living room couches and one behind the bed with extra long usb cords plugged into it. It’s worked well and helps keep the outlets free for lamps and clocks.
Nathan
+1 to these devices. I put 2 in the master bedroom (kid doesn’t need a phone/device – she’s also 11 months old so I’ve got a while before I have to work on my hell no face)
anyway – they are good quality and work well – bought them online from I think newegg – but I started with google shopper.
for wifey’s idevice I put a usb extension cable from monoprice (big one) up to her table, stapled it down and blocked it with wood – so it’s like a built in port.
for mine since I have something with known standards – I just got a long USB 3.0 mini cable (samsung note 3) and rode that up the side of my nightstand. blocked it too
(blocking – took a piece of alder or oak trimmed to 1.5* the width and about 3/4 thick – traced the usb end – milled it out roughly with hand tool and dremel – screwed to furniture back on solid place. the port wiggles a little in the block but not much)
Bruce
+2, I have one next to each desk in our office.
Joe
Throughout the years I have accumulated a bunch of smart phone USB charges and this gave me a hack idea = take apart a few USB cellphone chargers and implement at least two in a power surge protector.
Mike
There are semipermanent options that replace the faceplate of a standard receptacle. They plug into the outlets, provide two grounded outlets, and anywhere between two and six USB outlets. They are held in place with a screw where the faceplate would normally be screwed in. It sort of splits the difference between a permanent receptacle and a multi outlet charger.
Nick
I got tired of my wife pilfering the kitchen charger whenever she needed one elsewhere, forcing me to go into detective mode to find at least one of the two or three she had misplaced previously and put them back in their proper locations. So I installed a leviton dual-usb + 115v outlet in place of a kitchen outlet. It works beautifully.
I use an ixcc charger by my bed and another in my office to charge my assortment of digital whatnots. We use Ankers at work to great effect. Their newer stuff in particular is impressive.
Robbie Stanford
I use an anger 10 port charger that is stashed in a “bread box” that keep everything hidden.
truckdriver
With 3 ipads and 2 iphones to charge I bought this. Works great.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OQ19QYA
Tyler
I got in on the Kickstarter Campaign for SnapPower Chargers. They aren’t rated for very high amperage, but it should work for some overnight charging or charging my Bluetooth earbuds.
https://www.snappower.com/snappower-chargers/
Sean
That USB charging station isn’t going to solve any cable problems nor does it add any convenience. As far as I’m concerned it’s adding more of a mess to the problem unless you’re trying to move the location where you plug and unplug things. You can buy small adapters that have the same USB features (2 plugs, one 2.1 amp, one 1 amp). That still leaves you an open AC outlet.
If the wall outlet is easily accessible, one of those integrated receptacles seems like the nicest looking solution. You’re still going to have cables dangling from it at all times, unless you take the cable out each time you’re done charging. There really isn’t a tidy solution for this problem. Those retractable USB cables might help the problem.
I just use a surge protector with various adapters and kind keep that hidden behind a desk. I have a cool adapter system called the iGo, which allows you to add various “tips” to charge oddball stuff. It has the normal “tips” as well such as micro USB, but the main benefit is having swappable tips for things like PSP and Nintendo 3DS. I also have a splitter cable that allows me to charge two things on one cable. They discounted the crap out of it Radioshack a while back, so it’s probably a dying company.
There are a bunch of these “tip” systems out there but most are proprietary. The only ones that are standard USB only come with about 4-6 of the “standard” tips.