$10 USB power outlet leaves no plug behind

Don't freak out or anything. But all that time you spent building a DIY in-wall USB charger may have been for naught. Of course, you've gained a useful learning experience and potentially gotten a lesson in the dangers of electricity, but you could have simply ordered this TruPower UCS outlet from FastMac, which packs the same two USB charging ports as the DIY outlet, along with two standard power outlets for your other power-hungry devices. Best of all, it only costs the same ten bucks that the DIY option would have set you back, but it looks like it won't start shipping until sometime early next year.

[Keram Posted Dec 6th 2009 1:18AM]

@Vic It would charge any device that can be charged via PC as they only supply 500mA max anyways.

[elfonblog Posted Dec 5th 2009 6:33PM]

So does this thing have a little transformer inside, perpetually leeching power, or does it have some sort of clever switches inside the USB ports that completely cut the juice when no cord is inserted?

[rockarollr Posted Dec 5th 2009 9:11PM]

Great. Just in time for USB 2.0 to be obsolete.

Wonderful timing, fellas!

[dwight Posted Dec 5th 2009 9:23PM]

someone hates lifehacker

[Jaidon Mau Posted Dec 5th 2009 9:59PM]

Be nice if everything used a USB connector for power.

[ashakouri1 Posted Dec 5th 2009 10:12PM]

Can you use the wall socket for any device...like does it matter for voltage of the device, or can any device that can be charged via be usb be used?

[ryandh Posted Dec 5th 2009 10:25PM]

Gives me a great idea for building powerline ethernet into an outlet instead of having to burn an outlet and plug it directly into the wall. Even if it had to stick out a little it would be nice..

[Zzephyr Posted Dec 5th 2009 10:29PM]

Love it! Now for some IEEE1394 and esata ports, and we're in bizness!

[CaramelZappa Posted Dec 6th 2009 12:03AM]

This is exactly what I've been wanting for years. I was about to re-do all the outlets in my house, but now I guess I'll be waiting for this.

[RHMathis Posted Dec 6th 2009 1:27AM]

Ah-h-h, this will be out on the market's shelves JUST IN TIME for the USB 3.0 standard to become popular and all your new outlets to be outdated.

Technology marches on!

[THJ Posted Dec 6th 2009 12:36PM]

@RHMathis It's for charging, not data. AFAIU, the power delivery will be the same as USB 2.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 6th 2009 7:02AM]

Yeah... or you could just get a hub that connects to the wall outlet and save yourself the scratch and headache.

[GGG Posted Dec 6th 2009 8:05AM]

i love how those american outlets look like shocked/surprised faces


D:

[Mjefferson Posted Dec 6th 2009 10:08AM]

wow this is a quick lesson in awesomeness

[boomer Posted Dec 6th 2009 11:53AM]

The Amperage rating on the output is what it is capable of supplying.

The gadget attached determines what is actually output (what it draws)
Easy way to remember this: Think of it like a rope. Gadget pulls from the power supply.
Can't push with a rope.

Insufficient amps however can seriously damage electronics. Always best to have as much as you can available.

[smacknca Posted Dec 6th 2009 9:15PM]

and of course the Bravo is listed as 900/2100 for HSPA. why do they even bother calling the US arm by the name of T-Mobile. we are practically distant cousins at this point for all the phones they bother to bring us.

[xxaznmonk Posted Dec 6th 2009 11:59PM]

kind of like this one??

http://www.tvlesson.com/video/43101_how-to-make-your-own-usb-charger.html

[Strack94 Posted Dec 7th 2009 1:18AM]

Those sockets look shocked! sorry couldn't resist!

For 10$ I'd buy one for sure

[Valicore Posted Dec 7th 2009 2:59AM]

It would be awesome if I could have these in my house and access whatever device I plug in from my desktop. I'm sure it'll be done sooner or later with powerline networking and such.

[Bixmen Posted Dec 7th 2009 11:15AM]

too bad it uses non-standard plates. this would never work in a 2 gang box

[nickbarber48 Posted Dec 10th 2009 7:35AM]

those plugs looks like they've just came back from watching paranormal activity