USB chargers - the plug bit

[UTH]

So many things these days all require charging, and usually with a USB cable. Like a lot of people I imagine, we always end up using an Apple charging socket to charge all these various devices. Somehow our household has gone from them being all over the place to seemingly only having one left!

I imagine it would be an expensive bill to stock up on a load more Apple sockets, so does it matter what we buy to replenish what seemingly has vanished? Are all USB charging sockets the same? Or do we need to worry about the output etc?

[GetCarter]

They work fine. I've used them to charge Apple laptops/mice/keyboards/phones for years.

[Freakuk]

They're all different, as in they will have different charging outputs (watts), this would mean some would charge faster than others. I would expect intelligent devices like iPhones etc have software built in to optimise charging, to extend battery life so it's not too much of a concern for that type of device.

Others you may have to consult manuals to ensure you have the correct charging capacity.

[otherman]

They're all 5v. I got a triple USB one from ebay for £4. Or you could replace a couple of sockets for the ones with a usb built in.

[UTH]

I'm thinking things ranging from my UE Boom bluetooth speaker and PS5 controllers, to all the silly little devices our baby has in her room to help her sleep, white noise machines etc, that all need charging. I don't even know how I'd start to find out what specific things all these things require.

Guess I could just buy a couple of cheap ones from Amazon and see if they do the job. Nothing actually comes with a plug thing anymore which is annoying.

[randlemarcus]

Probably worth looking at the multi-charging things from the likes of Anker then. A few of those scattered at strategic points, and importantly, gaffer taped to the socket so the missus doesnt pinch them works well for me.

[otherman]

Freakuk said:

They're all different, as in they will have different charging outputs (watts)

The data transfer rates vary, but USB is a standard spec of 5v DC at 0.5 amp. So when used for charging, any usb will do the job.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

It really depends but ugreen of Anker ax brands and make sure if supports pd power delivery if your doing laptop/phones and then you may want a 100w one but if your only doing crappy devices then pretty much anything will do but if it's USBC make sure the cable is correct too!

[UTH]

randlemarcus said:

Probably worth looking at the multi-charging things from the likes of Anker then. A few of those scattered at strategic points, and importantly, gaffer taped to the socket so the missus doesnt pinch them works well for me.

Good plan. Mrs UTH is trying to blame 'people that come round' but I'm 99,9999% sure she has somehow lost them, god knows how. I've had one phone charger for about 3 years now, same cable, same plug.

[UTH]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

It really depends but ugreen of Anker ax brands and make sure if supports pd power delivery if your doing laptop/phones and then you may want a 100w one but if your only doing crappy devices then pretty much anything will do but if it's USBC make sure the cable is correct too!

Yeah mostly crappy devices so sounds like most things will do the job

[Road2Ruin]

UTH said:

I'm thinking things ranging from my UE Boom bluetooth speaker and PS5 controllers, to all the silly little devices our baby has in her room to help her sleep, white noise machines etc, that all need charging. I don't even know how I'd start to find out what specific things all these things require.

Guess I could just buy a couple of cheap ones from Amazon and see if they do the job. Nothing actually comes with a plug thing anymore which is annoying.

They will work. The only thing that may or may not happen, as mentioned above, is that they may charge slower depending on the output of the plug. However, depending on your devices they will probably charge exactly the same. It's only some of the new modern devices and laptops, that have ultra fast charging, that you would notice any difference on.

[UTH]

Road2Ruin said:

UTH said:

I'm thinking things ranging from my UE Boom bluetooth speaker and PS5 controllers, to all the silly little devices our baby has in her room to help her sleep, white noise machines etc, that all need charging. I don't even know how I'd start to find out what specific things all these things require.

Guess I could just buy a couple of cheap ones from Amazon and see if they do the job. Nothing actually comes with a plug thing anymore which is annoying.

They will work. The only thing that may or may not happen, as mentioned above, is that they may charge slower depending on the output of the plug. However, depending on your devices they will probably charge exactly the same. It's only some of the new modern devices and laptops, that have ultra fast charging, that you would notice any difference on.

Cool, makes sense, thanks.

[SteveStrange]

UTH said:

randlemarcus said:

Probably worth looking at the multi-charging things from the likes of Anker then. A few of those scattered at strategic points, and importantly, gaffer taped to the socket so the missus doesnt pinch them works well for me.

Good plan. Mrs UTH is trying to blame 'people that come round' but I'm 99,9999% sure she has somehow lost them, god knows how. I've had one phone charger for about 3 years now, same cable, same plug.

Have you got, specifically, a teenage daughter? Mine seems to absorb chargers, cables, etc for fun - they either disappear, or stop working, within about 10 minutes of going in to her room. God knows what she does to them but she has been told that if my "work" cable or plug go missing, then I'll cut her fingers off with the rusty old garden shears while she sleeps, and video it for her TikTok.

[UTH]

SteveStrange said:

UTH said:

randlemarcus said:

Probably worth looking at the multi-charging things from the likes of Anker then. A few of those scattered at strategic points, and importantly, gaffer taped to the socket so the missus doesnt pinch them works well for me.

Good plan. Mrs UTH is trying to blame 'people that come round' but I'm 99,9999% sure she has somehow lost them, god knows how. I've had one phone charger for about 3 years now, same cable, same plug.

Have you got, specifically, a teenage daughter? Mine seems to absorb chargers, cables, etc for fun - they either disappear, or stop working, within about 10 minutes of going in to her room. God knows what she does to them but she has been told that if my "work" cable or plug go missing, then I'll cut her fingers off with the rusty old garden shears while she sleeps, and video it for her TikTok.

I'm 12.5 years away from a teenage daughter.....

[untakenname]

otherman said:

Freakuk said:

They're all different, as in they will have different charging outputs (watts)

The data transfer rates vary, but USB is a standard spec of 5v DC at 0.5 amp. So when used for charging, any usb will do the job.

That's the lowest possible charge rate of 2.5w, charging an iphone using 5V at 0.5 amps would take hours.
Most chargers made within the past ten years will vary the voltage as well as the current.

Apple said:

Note: For fast charging, iPhone 12, iPhone SE (3rd generation), and later models require a power adapter with a minimum power output of 20 watts, such as the Apple 20W USB power adapter. If you use a third-party power adapter, it should meet these recommended specifications:

Frequency: 50 to 60 Hz, single phase

Line Voltage: 100 to 240 VAC

Output Voltage/Current: 9 VDC/2.2 A

Minimum Power Output: 20 W

Output Port: USB-C
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208137

Edit: The EU are forcing Apple to implement USB-C instead of the lightning cable which is a good move imo as in my household we are Android and it's always a faff looking for cables when someone turns up with an iphone and needs a charge.

Edited by untakenname on Wednesday 10th May 12:17

[Dogwatch]

untakenname said:

Edit: The EU are forcing Apple to implement USB-C instead of the lightning cable which is a good move imo as in my household we are Android and it's always a faff looking for cables when someone turns up with an iphone and needs a charge.

Bought a very useful little Lightning-to-USB-C adaptor in Tesco Extra the other week. went back there yesterday to find the whole accessories display had been shunted into a corner and reduced to nearly nothing.

[Whoozit]

As above, I'd recommend buying some of the Anker multi USB sockets and leaving one in the main spots around the house. You can also get them with a couple of USB-C which is helpful. Look for one with a highish wattage e.g. 65W.

[UTH]

Whoozit said:

As above, I'd recommend buying some of the Anker multi USB sockets and leaving one in the main spots around the house. You can also get them with a couple of USB-C which is helpful. Look for one with a highish wattage e.g. 65W.

One of these sort of things?

https://www.anker.com/uk/products/a2045?variant=37...

[JagYouAre]

otherman said:

They're all 5v. I got a triple USB one from ebay for £4. Or you could replace a couple of sockets for the ones with a usb built in.

Definitely worth doing this. We've got a couple in the kitchen. They are not high speed but they are always there when you need them. Like you, our chargers (and cables too) all seem to disappear into the night eventually!

[UTH]

JagYouAre said:

otherman said:

They're all 5v. I got a triple USB one from ebay for £4. Or you could replace a couple of sockets for the ones with a usb built in.

Definitely worth doing this. We've got a couple in the kitchen. They are not high speed but they are always there when you need them. Like you, our chargers (and cables too) all seem to disappear into the night eventually!

I assume it's a fairly straight forward swap for the sockets I have here now? Already did that to swap a load of white plastic to brushed steel (and now wishing I'd just done it for ones with USBs in them! DOH!)