OT: Tech Gurus- Outlets with built-in USB ports

[Tigé21v]

The wife wants to change out all the outlets and switches from almond to white. I've seen the outlets with a USB jack, and am considering putting at least one in every room, mainly for cell phone charging.
My question- is there technology on the horizon that will replace the USB for phone charging? I really don't want to spend the extra bucks if in a few years the USB port will be about as useful as the landline phone jacks I had installed all over the house when we had it built.
TIA

 

[chucklez]

Wireless charging in currently here. It is slower than USB charging but nice in that you just lay it out on a mat.

Of course.....it IS powered by a USB cable.

 

[ebius]

I think the only thing on the horizon is the USB-C standard but I believe all if not most of the cables will still have the USB-A on the other end. The main thing that scares the heck out of me is the voltage that goes across those cables. There are supposed to be regulators within the cable to limit what can be sent through but it has been proven that quite a few of them simply do not have them or behave as they should.

On a purely personal note, I have not switched to any of these because I like to use the power converters that come with devices. I have ~120 volts at 15 amps at the outlet as a known with their adapter performing as it should. that being said, I'm sure there are people here that are currently using them and love them and I tend to be a little over protective when it comes to electric in the home.

 

[Schplitter]

Just something to be cautious about. Apple has "proprietary" charging devices and cables so those may not work on Apple devices. It's annoying. I hope someone sues them over this.

 

[smoothdog]

To keep up with charging larger batteries faster, they keep bumping up the amperage of the chargers every few years too. I could see putting one in a high usage area where you have phones and other appliances plugged in, then you could switch that one outlet down the road easily and inexpensively.

If you go ahead with it, make sure to check the amperage output of the usb ports on the outlet and be careful of the wording on the package. Current phones charge at 2 amps and many of the USB oulets are 1 amp but will say 2 amp on the package because they have 2 1amp outlets. You can plug your phones into lower amperage chargers but they will take twice as long to charge.

 

[Pife]

I've installed dozens of the USB port receptacles out here at the airport. They wear out and don't work pretty quickly(even in our break room). I don't have any in my house for this reason.

 

[rburch203]

Just something to be cautious about. Apple has "proprietary" charging devices and cables so those may not work on Apple devices. It's annoying. I hope someone sues them over this.

They get away with it because they sell a product that converts from the lighting to the micro usb.

as for the OP the ones i can sell at work are crazy over priced(everything is though). with everything constantly changing its probably not worth it. they already have normal and fast amp versions. Maybe put one next to your bed and your favorite chair in the living room.

 

[_E_]

If you go ahead with it, make sure to check the amperage output of the usb ports on the outlet and be careful of the wording on the package. Current phones charge at 2 amps and many of the USB oulets are 1 amp but will say 2 amp on the package because they have 2 1amp outlets. You can plug your phones into lower amperage chargers but they will take twice as long to charge.

Good advice here.