Wiring for a USB Wall Plate?

Hoju on 21/06/2014 - 20:40

Hey guys,

I'm wanting to just set up a USB wall plate to plug a docking / charging station into.
In theory, I'm considering the feasibility of running an extension cord behind the cupboard and then through the side to the wall plate.

Something like this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-1A-Dual-USB-Port-Power-Outlet-P…

Or this:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-USB-Ports-Wall-Plate-Coupler-Ou…

I assume the top one just requires the +ve, -ve and ground to be connected from a stripped extension cord. Then the voltage and current is regulated within the wall plate.
Is that right?

But I have no idea what kind of connection is on the second, USB only wall plate.
Any ideas??? Are they just poorly pictured USB sockets, that would connect to another USB socket on the front??

thanks :)

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • fruit on 21/06/2014 - 21:10

    feasibility

    You need to be a licensed sparky.
    You'll void your home&contents insurance if your handy work was the cause.

    • Hoju on 21/06/2014 - 21:13
      +1

      Note the carefully worded original post. "In theory…"

      I know the laws, and I have no home and contents insurance - WIN!

      So, at least any ideas on what the connectors are on the back of the second one? Because if they are just USB female connectors then I'm pretty sure I don't have to be a licensed electrician to plug one USB cable into a USB socket.

  • endotherm on 21/06/2014 - 22:53
    +1

    The first one requires Active, Neutral and Earth (mains alternating current) not +ve and -ve (direct current). If you don't know the difference in your carefully worded post, you really have no business trying to wire this up. The second is just a USB socket in a wall plate. But be aware that you need to be a registered cable installer to run certain cables (e.g. ethernet) through walls, I'm not certain if USB is included.

  • cpho on 22/06/2014 - 00:51
    +1

    You can do it yourself quite easily, and if you have no insurance to worry about, even easier.
    Just remember to turn off the power from the breaker.
    I'd also recommend checking in stores or getting this one which is Australian Standard Certified.

    If youre putting in a brand new one, yes you have to strip back the wires. If youre replacing an old one, it should be a simple switch.

    Just make sure you know what youre doing if you're DIY, otherwise get someone to do it for you properly.

    • Hoju on 22/06/2014 - 10:05

      That's awesome thanks for the advice. My mate is an apprentice and installed our AC so should be easy.
      As always breaker goes off before anything :)

      • c64 on 22/06/2014 - 10:32

        As always breaker goes off before anything :)

        not necessarily. if you are touching both the active and neutral and not touching earth then then rcd will think you are just part of the circuit's load and not trip.

        • Utopian on 27/06/2014 - 01:39
          +1

          Pretty-sure he's saying he never works on live circuits.

          "As always breaker goes off before anything…" is worked on.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2014 - 08:36

      Replacing or installing new power points must be done so by a qualified electrician. It has nothing to do with insurance. So NO - legally you can't do this yourself.

  • Hoju on 27/06/2014 - 03:42

    After this story http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/warning-over-usb-chargers-after-wo…
    definitely not buying anything from ebay HK/China!

    Decided to just run an extension cord across the top of the cupboards, pop a double adapter on and two USB chargers in there. Then run the USB leads from charger to devices behind a cable concealer from bunnings. Much safer, no drilling and looks fine.

    My original concern with this was not being able to unplug/switch off my Apple wall adapters when not in use, and the concern that this would be draining power constantly (seem to remember something about wall chargers using power when plugged in and switched on). But there seems to be plenty of articles/videos showing no current being drawn from the USB wall chargers so I guess it's all good.

    • Geewhizz on 03/07/2014 - 06:24
      +1

      My original concern with this was not being able to unplug/switch off my Apple wall adapters when not in use, and the concern that this would be draining power constantly (seem to remember something about wall chargers using power when plugged in and switched on.

      It doesn't use a scrap of electricity when your phone is not attached for charging, or at least mine doesn't. I put a power meter onto mine for about 36 hours to check for just this, and nothing whatsoever registered.

      • Hoju on 03/07/2014 - 07:29

        Thanks :)
        Great to have an extended test run on it as well, I was a bit worried that the test I saw may have shown no current to 2 decimal places, but a minimal power use that over months would be wasteful (more than costly).

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