Usb charger

During a conversation with Roli and his wife we were shown their 'Masterplug' USB charger which allows one to charge two personal electronic devices as well as keeping available the 230v socket for mains powered appliances!
Great we thought and so on their advice we called in to Preston B&Q and availed ourselves of TWO of them.
They were available in white or black (£10) and there was a larger unit with two 230v sockets at £20.
Masterplug have their own section in B&Q
frederic

We bought the Aldi version last week but can't use it in the van as the sockets are too close to the shelf above so no room for the USB plugs to be put in.

I hate to be an annoying killjoy but, the B&Q Masterplug has two USB ports that appear to be rated at 500mA each - nothing like enough to charge a smartphone, in fact they're rated the same as a USB1 PC port.

Clicky:
B&Q Masterplug

Hi

meanchris wrote: the B&Q Masterplug has two USB ports that appear to be rated at 500mA each - nothing like enough to charge a smartphone, in fact they're rated the same as a USB1 PC port.

Clicky:
B&Q Masterplug

If you buy it from PC World you get 2.1A
I wonder who's got their spec wrong.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/computer-accessories/power-and-cables/power-cables-and-adaptors/masterplug-surge-protected-1-socket-plug-adapter-with-usb-10145113-pdt.html?intcmpid=display~RR


Brod.

Even then, you get "2.1 A charge across two USB ports", only enough for one smartphone.

Slightly off topic:

Our Hudl2, Nexus5 and LG G3 will actually lose charge if supplied with 2.1A chargers while being used continuously for sat nav in the van.

The best cheap 12V car chargers that I've come across were 12V -> 2xUSB from Aldi, which have a 2.1A and 2.4A socket.
They look like these but are marked 2.1A and 2.4A on the sockets.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/p/67228/0

I know this is maybe a daft question, but with these USB ports is a transformer with them as with the iPad charger the output needs to be 5.1 volts. I always use the approved cable you can buy to plug into the 12 volt system to charge iPad and phone. Would not want to plug the USB plug directly into one of these without the voltage reducer if the output is 12 volts

Hi  

Redwink wrote:I know this is maybe a daft question, but with these USB ports is a transformer with them as with the iPad charger the output needs to be 5.1 volts. I always use the approved cable you can buy to plug into the 12 volt system to charge iPad and phone. Would not want to plug the USB plug directly into one of these without the voltage reducer if the output is 12 volts

There is an internal regulator in these devices. The output is 5V (or very close to it). The 5V bit is in the USB spec so with any USB charger the output should always be 5V.

Most of the time they work perfectly well but there is a complication in that a few devices have  locked hardware and will not charge from a "universal" charger, so it's worth begging , borrowing but preferably not stealing  a universal charger to try before buying one.

Brod

I have just fitted 3 off, double gang sockets at home. they have 2 usb supplies built in. They each unit can supply 5v, 2.1A. They cost £7.49 including VAT. Last night I charged a Samsung tablet and phone from the same unit. Have a look at http://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-13a-2-gang-sp-switched-socket-usb-charger-outboard-rocker-white/8534f

Glad its not the same as the one Big Clive took to bits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoZ1_aEDPos

Frank

I've just had a look behind one, the earth has a bar connection across the back. All the 240v sockets have been tested for continuity. I wonder where the ones in the video were purchased.

Paul

I'd expect Screwfix stuff to be pretty reliable, especially in terms of safety.