Decent basic USB power supply - any good value source?

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timmmay

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#207740 11-Jan-2017 21:18

Like most people I have all kinds of USB powered gadgets around the house - phones of course, IR remote controls, baby monitor, etc. I got a couple of the Dynamix USB chargers, and they work, but they make a really annoying high pitched noise which makes them basically useless. My Belkin chargers are silent, at about 5 times the price.

Can anyone recommend a cheap, safe USB charger that meets NZ standards? One key thing is that it shouldn't need an adapter from another plug type.

PBTech have this Jackson for $17 that has a decent output, or cheaper lower powered ones. Anyone tried it? I can't see much else around that's cheap and decent quality.

blakamin

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#1701698 11-Jan-2017 21:22

Have you thought about getting actual wall sockets with the USB charger built it?

I was looking for some good wall-warts myself, but then realised I'd broken enough phones at work recently that I have a huge supply :/

Edit: I did buy a good double USB 2A off ebay a couple of years ago, but the damn LED is so bright I use it as a night light in the lounge.

richms

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#1701707 11-Jan-2017 21:34

I chucked in a deta 4 USB outlet wall plate thing to charge game controllers and other low power tat off around the TV. Seems fine for that. Lacks any quick charge and its actually 2 pairs of outlets, each pair on its own charger board - I guess to maintain a sensible current limit across all ports.

I got a 12 outlet one off 1day or similar. Hopeless device. single 15A 5v supply connected to all the outlets with no over current protection at all per port, so if you have a stuffed device you can look foward to your USB cable going up in smoke possibly making a fire. The ports are labled with various current ratings but that is just the resistors attached to the data pins for iDevices, so do not actually mean anything at all.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#1701710 11-Jan-2017 21:36

Plug in units are easier, needs and locations change and they're cheaper. Standards charge too

Jase2985

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#1701716 11-Jan-2017 21:43

i have a couple of single port ones and also some 4 and 6 port multi boards with dual usb ports on them, all jackson ones. haven't had any noise from them.

They are only rated at 1A though

mdf

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#1701718 11-Jan-2017 21:53

@sbiddle's tells me that Anker is coming to NZ soon. From everything I've heard, and seen of youshopped ones, they're excellent.

Until such time as they actually arrive however, I have a few of these Orico ones from PB Tech (as well as some older non-smart Orico ones). They're periodically on sale for around $17 or $18. They do make a tiny bit of noise when nothing is plugged in, but you'd have to be listening hard to hear it

timmmay

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#1701719 11-Jan-2017 21:58

Anker are great for charging phones and high current devices, but if they're quiet those Jackson look good for general purpose "I need USB there but not a bunch of power" type applications. Thanks all :)

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jmp246

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#1701731 11-Jan-2017 22:29

I have 5x of the PT1USB3A. When drawing 800mA (0.8A) I couldn't hear a buzz until I had my ear touching the unit.

wazzageek

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#1701740 11-Jan-2017 22:51

I bought an mbeat 5port from pbtech before going to SouthEast Asia - It hasn't missed a beat. I reguarly charge an ipad and windows phone through it, and it quite often gets to charge my wifes iphone, a kindle and a speaker without issues.

I can detect a faint amount of noise coming from it, but it doesn't keep me awake.

It does have quite a bright blue led built in - I have it currently on the floor next to my bed ...

That Jackson one I think I bought from Bunnings once and the USB charging failed on me - I have a similar HPM one that lacks the LED that was working well in the bedroom (It swapped with the mbeat for less stuff coming out of the wall.

HTH.