Useful USB Port Built Into Mains Wall Socket

UK Mains Socket with USB

Maplin have just introduced a new UK 13A mains wall socket with built-in USB.  The £14.99 device should help to clear up the scourge of the dreaded wall wart that scars the walls of many a room.

The recent move to micro USB chargers by mobile phone manufacturers will mean you can use it for your cell phone as well as power or charge iPods, MP3 players, game consoles, digital cameras and a host of other consumer electronics.

The initial design is available in a single socket format only (one each mains and USB sockets) and is un-switched.  Read on for the full specs…

  • Standard 13A wall socket with a built-in USB socket
  • Charge any USB powered device without losing the use of your wall socket
  • USB socket is suitable for charging and powering mobile phones, iPods, iPhones, PDAs, MP3 players, game consoles, digital cameras and more
  • Safety shutter on USB socket
  • Input : AC 100-240V / 50/60Hz / 80mA / 3W
  • Output : DC 5V / 600mA
  • Dimensions: 86mm (l) x 86mm (w) x 35mm (d)
  • Weight: 97g

Available now from here [Thanks Stuart]

Want More? – Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, or subscribe to our RSS feed. You can even get these news stories delivered via email, straight to your inbox every day

 

7 Comments on "Useful USB Port Built Into Mains Wall Socket"

  1. John Lawrence | March 3, 2010 at 11:58 am |

    ooo almost perfect,

    ive been thinking about making something like this for ages just never got round to it.

    Shame its only 600mA id like to see at least 2 amps on a usb socket that is only for power

    would definatly help charge up my A10JQ maplin MIDs

  2. I presume this has some kind of inbuilt transformer. Does anybody know if this consumes power when not in use?

  3. It does not consume power when not in use. It will only be activated when the latch door opens and the LED lights up.

  4. Could do with a double socket. Most sockets in house are double and I’d be happy to spend the extra money to replace a lot of my sockets with ones with USB chargers built in

  5. does this require any further wiring besides the normal required for a 13A electrical socket ?

  6. mark muddimer | May 21, 2011 at 10:20 pm |

    Bring on the double sockets!

  7. Geoff Collins | August 9, 2011 at 8:31 am |

    The 600ma decision was a bad one. Can’t charge iPads, Galaxy Tab, certain high power phones.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.