Mains socket with USB built in

Oh sure, but I would have thought not as commonly used as when mine were put in (c. 1934).
I'm sure that's true. Of course, the ones that are currently available (and like I have) were not available as early as you have been talking about, since that was decades before anyone had even dreamed of BS1362 fuses!
Certainly more recent than mid 90s but I'm not sure I'd say appreciably more recent. USB has always had power as well as data and before devices used proper (i.e. standards compliant) USB connections, many manufactures used USB-type cables to connect & power their devices but with software on the computer (or a dedicated wall-wart) so you had to buy a proprietary product.
That's obviously true, but individual experiences vary. For example, my current mobile phone and tablet are the first I've had which have used USB charging (rather than a wallwart).
No real idea. USB will still be common, as you said, for at least a decade. If something clearly better comes along then it drop back reasonably quickly on new devices. However it is being updated (for data and for power) so anything that replaces it will need to have a clear advantage to make a change worthwhile.
It would be nice to think so, but manufacturers of mass-market products have the ability (which they sometimes exercise) to effectively 'force' changes on consumers/users, even if the existence of a 'clear advantage' (other than to those selling the 'new technology) is debatable! Maybe 'non-contact' (no connectors at all) charging will start showing its face?

Kind Regards, John
 
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I have some with 2 USB outlets and some with 4 USB outlets, all seem to be paired as far as max current goes, so 4 outlet = 2 x 2.1 amp although marked at 4.2 amp you can't get that from one socket, others are marked 3.1 amp per pair. However the output also depends on the leads used, the Samsung own lead charges a lot faster than a pound world lead both from the same USB outlet. Think I have 6 in mums house and one in caravan, and one at home that will change when we return home.

The main advantage is items are not unplugged I would find before USB sockets the main central heating hub unplugged so some one could charge their phone now there are enough outlets without people doing that.

I would be interested to see if any device actually takes the full 3.1 amp from a socket? At 1650 mAh at 3.1 amp it would take just over half an hour to charge from flat, never seen a phone charge that fast so suspect they don't use the full 3.1 amp even at 2.1 amp that's 50 minutes not even seen one half charge in an hour so in real terms does not seem to matter if rated 3.1 or 2.1 amp they in real terms take same time to charge phone as in the main it is the lead which limits the charge.
 
Out of interest...
The IEC and Europe both created a requirement that all new phones should charge via USB in order to reduce the movement to landfill of millions of proprietary chargers. This seems to have been very successful.
The industry is moving towards a new USB connector (Type-C) together with PD (Power Delivery) which offers up to 100W on a smaller flippable connector. It is expected that this connector will totally replace Type-A and Type-B, and indeed some major vendors are now offering only Type-C USB.
The IEC have recently taken the unusual step of publishing (at a fee) the already freely available USB-IF Power Delivery Spec, which requires type-C connectors for its delivery, so we can anticipate that charging phones (and other things) will soon use the Type-C connector as the result of European law.
 
Hurrah! What a wonderful thing international co-operation can be!
 
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I have one of these in my youngest's bedroom (21) he uses it to charge his phone while he sleeps all day... :)
Seems to work well.

Bernard, can I ask what PCB CAD system it is you use with that dongle?
 
Looking at the reviews on Screwfix, it seems to suggest you need quite a deep back box (to house the transformer I assume)

I've never had to change a back box before, are they all pretty much the same size, apart from the depth?

As the transformer is built into the socket, I guess it is unfused too.
 
Looking at the reviews on Screwfix, it seems to suggest you need quite a deep back box (to house the transformer I assume) ... I've never had to change a back box before, are they all pretty much the same size, apart from the depth?
Yes, more-or-less identical - as they have to be since accessories are all the same size.
As the transformer is built into the socket, I guess it is unfused too.
If they are of a reputable make, one would hope that they would have some internal protection ('fusing'), in case a fault results in excessive current, but it would presumably not be a 'replaceable' fuse.

Kind Regards, John
 
Just took off the front socket bit, there is a 25mm deep metal back box. It looks like it is right up against breeze block, so swapping with a 35mm one would not be a simple straight swap.
 
I think it will still be a good while yet before the USB port is retired. They might upgrade the data rate of it again, but the power pins should stay the same for backward compatibility.

If a USB socket is £20. and lasts say 2 or 3 years before the technology is old hat, than that's good enough for me. I wouldn't do every socket in the house though.

It seems I would have to drill/chip some wall away to accommodate the deeper back box, so I might put this project on hold for a bit...
 
I think it will still be a good while yet before the USB port is retired. They might upgrade the data rate of it again, but the power pins should stay the same for backward compatibility.
As I understand it, it's far from as simple as that. For a start, USB-C connectors are not (physically or electrically) compatible with the A/B ones we currently use - and they use 'intelligent leads' (necessary because the connectors are reversible, like the iPhone 'Lightning' connector). So, as I said, adapters or adapter cables will be necessary to use USB-C devices with current USB sockets.
If a USB socket is £20. and lasts say 2 or 3 years before the technology is old hat, than that's good enough for me.
If that's how you feel, then that's obviously fine, since I'm sure they will have plenty of use for at least 2-3 years!

Kind Regards, John
 
I think it will still be a good while yet before the USB port is retired. They might upgrade the data rate of it again, but the power pins should stay the same for backward compatibility.

If a USB socket is £20. and lasts say 2 or 3 years before the technology is old hat, than that's good enough for me. I wouldn't do every socket in the house though.

It seems I would have to drill/chip some wall away to accommodate the deeper back box, so I might put this project on hold for a bit...
BG make USB sockets which fit a 25mm knockout box. They’re not even really a squeeze. They’re no MK or Hager but a ton better than a 99p shop adapter.

Alternatively the likes of Schneider make a 10/16mm spacer shelf so it spaces the socket off the wall, but also adds a lip at the top so you can put your device on the shelf to charge
 
Tell a lie, the shelf is not a spacer, but they do make a spacer and the shelf you could use in tandem. Everything I’ve mentioned is available from Screwfix
 

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