The USB outlets on my sockets are identical to the very first USB one I ever saw. Voltage still 5v.
The USB inputs (as regards charging etc) do have several varieties. But you'd have the correct lead for that.
I'm sure you can buy a device that uses apparently USB, but needs a dedicated charger. If you are silly enough to do so.
currents vary from original 500mA, 1A, 2A, several variants of QC/QC2/QC3, some devices will start to insist on USB-C to get up to 20V at up to 5A.
several laptops now run/charge over USB, rather than a coaxial power plug.
True. But I've not found any USB charging device I've got complain about having a 2 amp supply. rather than 500mA.
It comes as no surprise that a maker doesn't want to follow a standard.
a coaxial mains plug a standard ? At least 4 different sizes and lots of different voltages.
But USB-PD *is* a standard designed to allow just that sort of thing (although implementations appear to be somewhat sloppy)
Yes, just found those - they seem ideal for this application.
I agree.
You can also get intumescent liners/covers that are cheaper.
Just get whatever will suit your needs.
Maybe get the Jamaican ones?
USB voltage has remained the same throughout. The current it can supply has increased a number of times, but devices will still charge at lower currents - they'll just take longer. The connector changes only require a different lead, the charger end remains the same.
Yes. I don't think the life of them will be very good - but they'll carry on working as mains sockets.
SteveW
Not really, initial standard was 5V, the qualcom proprietary quick charging uses higher voltages, as does the standards based USB Power Delivery (both up to 20V by negotiation)
While that might be useful for a laptop, there's no good reason for phones, tablets, satnavs and host of other USB devices to have the added complexity of a move from a basic 5V supply. I am happy enough to plug a dedicated PSU in for a laptop.
SteveW
The good reason is for the ~10Wh battery in a phone to charge in half an hour - even more so for a tablet where the batteries can be up to 40Wh. A fill on a standard 5V 2.1A charger would take at least 4 hours, while a USB-C PD charger can do it in just over an hour.
All modern devices already have the complexity - a switching regulator able to accept different voltage inputs - already inside them.
Theo
You can lose/mislay them is the main problem, kick them out of the socket, cats can use them as scratch blocks. Sometimes they can be borrowed and not returned when you most need them. But I still prefer them generally speaking.
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