Saw this in the catalogue and thought it looked like a good deal. Pretty handy since you won't need to bring a powerboard along given the multiple sockets.
Comes with:
- 4 usb ports
- 2 AC sockets
- Interchangeablee power adaptors
ALDI Universal Travel Adaptor $19.99
800
Related Stores
closed Comments
I sure did, thanks for the heads up!
Is this any good because Universal Travel Adaptors are usually horrible.
bought mine years ago, and every time i've traveled i've used it
amazing stuff! at least from my perspectiveDo you have this exact one?
What's the output of the USB ports?yep this exact one, I got it from aldi years ago, unfortunately i can't remember and i'm not home at the moment to check
means usb charging will be slow if more than 2 devices are plugged in at a time if i understand correctly?
I tried this in my parent's house with one device plugged in only and I found it very slow. My guess is it's 3.1A / 4 ports = 0.78A charging per port.
@foggy10: froggy, you are correct, I tested mine and couldn't get any USB port to > 1A. False information on the pack and unit. Having said that, it has been handy on OS trips.
So what does it mean by 3.1A shared across 4 ports?
Does that mean if I only use one port I can get 3.1V or is the max I can get 0.75?
@montorola: The maximum I could get charging my iPad was 0.8A and so it was a long process. OK for an overnight charge so I just take my Apple charge and plug it into the PowerPoint.
BTW, it works fine at 110V, USB's work (as well as they can!) and only plug 100-240V items into the mains sockets. Includes US plug as well.
[@TheOneWhoKnocks]@foggy10 @petersx Wow even worse than i thought haha. thanks for confirming guys!
@cartwheelz623: To be honest, I personally think this one is better: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/191873
@cartwheelz623:
yep, 2 comfortably with a decent charge time provided you've got good cables. Any more and I'd imagine it'll drop off.
I bought one of these last sale to take to america and used it everywhere we went. Some hotels only had single power point so having the board was a godsend was definitely worth the buy.
If you're on the fence, you can always buy it and if it doesn't stack up you can return it within 60 days for a full refund
Bought one of this last year. Used it once but prefer the Powercube with USB (which is about $13 more) which has 4 AC but two 2.1A USB sockets because of the smaller form factor but requires an additional country specific plug adapter (round $5-$10 more if dont already own one).
This Aldi is good for home use as well as the plug is earthed and securely attached (similar to an ipad charger but uses cloverleaf IEC C13/IEC C6 three connectors).
Does the PowerCube come with international travel adaptors?
No…requires an additional country specific plug adapter (round $5-$10 more if dont already own one).
Bought mine in November last year; haven't travelled much with it but it's being used 24/7 since then beside my bed to charge my phone, Kindle etc. It's the same model, as far as I can see.
I've bought 2 previously. Fantastic when we travel and just generally useful around the home otherwise.
Is it available now?
Starts 1st of July
Cheers :)
FYI I bought one last year thinking it would be good for travelling O/S but it is only 240V input so no good in 110V countries (eg US).
Most electrical devices sold in Australia can run from 110V 60Hz. Almost everything has a sticker or marking saying what power it can accept, but make sure you check before trying it!
Exceptions to the rule:
- devices with heating elements like toasters, kettles, hair dryers
- electric clocks (they count the 50Hz mains, so they won't keep time on 60Hz)
- many plugpacks with an actual transformer (the older, heavier style of plugpack)As I said above, CHECK before you plug in.
For example, I just checked a couple of laptop power supplies, they both say "100-240V 50-60Hz". They will run fine on 110V. All my phone chargers will run fine on 110V too.
many plugpacks with an actual transformer (the older, heavier style of plugpack
What do you mean by this? Do you mean the type where the plug was a largish black box with pins on one side?
That's what I mean by plugpack, but I can't think of an easy way to describe the difference between the two types.
The older type only works over a very limited input voltage range, I have one that says "Input: 230-240VAC". They are quite rare now, if you are under 30 you may not have ever seen one.
If a plugpack has air cooling slots, it's almost certainly the older type. However many old types don't have cooling slots.
If a plugpack weighs noticeably more than a solid plastic thing the same shape and size would, it's almost certainly the older type. By weight, modern-type plugpacks feel like they are a plastic shell with nothing inside.
Since the older type have a transformer in them, containing a substantial amount of iron, I thought it might be possible to distinguish between the two types with a magnet. Doesn't work, my fridge magnet stuck to both types.
I think this does have a US adapter. Also, I'm quite sure the 110V is not an issue for 240V power-boards.
Depends on the products you are plugging in and not the power board.
Think of this as an extension to the mains/power source.
Most devices are 100 - 240V 50-60Hz, check the AC adaptor of the product.
Works in 150 countries
Which 44 countries it does not work in then?
The ones you usually do not holiday in
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets
The photo only shows:
Type I - Australia & NZ. China and Argentina use a plug that looks the same but pin dimensions are slightly different and polarity is reversed for AR, I think.
Type G - United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia & Singapore, etc
Type E or F - Europe, etc
No:
Type A or B - USA etc.
Type H - Israel - (possibly - I read [Joke] installers use any socket the installer had lying in his bag so you may get Euro, US or even the "used nowhere else" Israeli Type H socket)
Type D - India - uses 3 large round pins
Type M - South Africa - uses 3 enormous round pins (though a friend from ZA says they use Type G UK plug)
See first link for others.
Travelling recently in Asia I found many large hotels but not the smaller ones or private homes have wall sockets with "universal" pin holes that allow Types I, G, E and A to be plugged in.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=universal+power+socket&nu…
I think you will find it does have a US plug in the set.
It's not in the catalogue photo - how do you know this? If it does then this will be very handy for those pesky laptop/chargers which have 3 pin plugs.
@gadget: According to the instruction manual , from the previous time they sold this adaptor, it does come with a US one but not certain if this will be identical to that.
@yessum: I'll have a look in Aldi when it comes out, unfortunately the link shows 3 pin us plugs - a lot of asian countries don't have those plugs as I recall.
@gadget: I found in Asia only Japan had the straight two pins and no earthed pin. Even then some hostels/hotels I found accepted the 3 pins but it does vary. Most other Asian countries use the European or Uk plugs
@yessum: Sorry you're right - Japan and Taiwan are the ones I'm familiar with. Agree hotels are generally fine but airbnb or apartment rentals may be problematic. Hk/Malaysia/Singapore = british style. China is ok - our plugs work fine.
@yessum: Got these. Travelled 3 countries with these on one trip. General overview is they are of course very useful, however did go Japan and some hotels did not have the earth pin so it did not fit as you can not take earth out of the Aldi plugs, rendering the 3 nights no charge but hotel nice enough to have spares. It does add weight if you want to travel light, but overall worked fine. Did find it quite hot as I had a laptop and 2 mobiles connected to it.
I hope it doesn't have a two-pin US plug, if it does then there's lots of potential for danger.
I believe it is illegal to sell an adaptor that lets a three-pin device plug into a 2-pin socket, as it will make the device with the three-pin plug substantially less safe. Some devices will always have some electrical leakage to the metal case, which is safely drained away through the earth lead. If the earth lead isn't connected, you could get a tingle or a zap from a metal-cased device - possibly lethally. Even some things without a metal case can be deadly.
Devices made for two-pin plugs are built to a higher safety standard than those made with three-pin plugs. Only double-insulated devices should be connected to two-pin plugs. Double insulation is indicated by the "square inside a square" symbol you see on things - for an example of this symbol, have a look at your phone charger, which almost certainly has it.
bought one of these last year and it didn't last 2 times usage :-(
Did you take it back?if it was last year - should still be covered?
unfortunately no - i didn't have the receipt
Better imo to just take a Xiaomi power strip and the appropriate travel adapter for it. Some things I take like camera battery charger aren't AU plug.
Bought one of these in 2015 and have used it on trips to the UK/Europe, the US and Japan. Would highly recommend. Didn't have any issues with different country's voltages. We often simultaneously charged a laptop via socket + 2-3 devices via USB (mobile phones, GoPro, FitBit) and didn't notice any difference with charge times. A very handy and invaluable travel tool.
The only drawback was that initially one of the adaptor plugs was missing (I think the UK one). I called the customer service number in the instruction booklet and they posted one to my address within a week, which was quite impressive.
It shouldn't work in japan - a 2 pin to 3 pin adapter (with angled pins) is illegal in Australia
i took a hacksaw to one of my 3-pin US adapters, works a treat :)
Not too sure about the technicalities but it worked fine for us in Japan
Are these two ways quick charge
I used one of these on a trip to the Middle East. It didn't work on some power points in Jordan, possibly that was an older style plug, but I was able to get adaptors at those hotels, and I was told that they were easy to buy. It was a very useful combination for me, with two mains operated battery chargers for phones and two USB devices. The USB ports did charge slowly but I normally just left them charging overnight. It worked in Malaysia, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.
TIP: Most modern TVs have USB ports on the back or side that can be used to charge devices when travelling so you may only need to carry cable. Useful if charger dies or goes missing. Would need USB hub if you have more than one device, though this would reduce amperage per device.
Just keep in mind charging from a TV usb port will be really slow, and may only work when the TV is switched on.
Yes, I have used the TV usb ports often, works well. Except that every time I have left the USB charging cable behind.
Its somewhat obscurely placed so easy to miss when doing the final check that everything has been packed. Well obscure for me anyway.Doh!
At least it was just a USB cable. I left a Netgear PTV3000 WiDi/Miracast receiver plugged in to a TV in a hotel in Canada. They were nice enough to mail it back … at my cost of course!
Bought it 2 years ago
- The build quality is not that good (cheap plastic with scratches)
- No adaptor for China/USA/Japan plug
- No 2.1A usb plug (although it claim to have 3.1A in total), and no QuickCharge
- It's sort of bulky when using for travel (the Cube is much better in this case)Thus, not recommanded
What is the PowerCube that some posters have mentioned?
I have a Belkin power board with two outlets and only 1 usb, but it is a bit heavy and bulky now that I travel cabin bag only. It has built in surge protection and has served me well for many years, but sometimes one usb port is a pain.
Belkin Powercube - around $25 but no international adaptors.
The direct replacement is the Belkin International Surge Adaptor for around $40-60.
Almost identical in that it has adaptors for most countries, 2x Aus power outputs and 2x USB.
The main advantage over the Aldi one is that it has inbuilt surge protection, which for me is a must in areas with unreliable powerBought one a few years ago when it was on sale. It stopped working after being used on one trip. Would not recommend.
I think you uploaded the wrong image?