British Standard for USB built into wall sockets?
- Thread starter curium
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I recall a customer of mine buying wall plates with USB-A sockets when he rewired his house a couple of years ago. I did ask him why he didn't buy sockets with USB-C ports. He gave me a blank look, in part because he was an Apple fan. Now that he owns an iPad pro and his kids have devices with USB-C and fast charging, he finds that he is ignoring the USB ports and plugging in the 3 pin fast chargers.
The datasheets for MK 'Logic Plus' ones say the following (see below). One would obviously expect the 'socket aspects' to comply with BS 1363-2. BS 5733 is a very 'general' Standard ("Genersl Requirements for Electrical Accessories") ...
Kind Regards, John
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If there is a standard there is no guarantee that the socket complies with it. Some of the low cost imported device are likely to NOT comply.
What is the hazard of having a power supply unit in the back of a socket. If ( when ) that power supply fails it could be that an electrician ( or competent DIYer ) will be needed to replace the failed socket before the RCB for that circuit can be reset.
I have had to remove a socket for a neighbour where the USB module had burnt out leaving the rear of the socket coated with conductive material, soot and metal that had vapourised and then condensed. These deposits created a Live to Earth fault. It was an on-line purchase
What is the hazard of having a power supply unit in the back of a socket. If ( when ) that power supply fails it could be that an electrician ( or competent DIYer ) will be needed to replace the failed socket before the RCB for that circuit can be reset.
I have had to remove a socket for a neighbour where the USB module had burnt out leaving the rear of the socket coated with conductive material, soot and metal that had vapourised and then condensed. These deposits created a Live to Earth fault. It was an on-line purchase
Whilst that is obviously true, it's no different from any other "fake goods". The UK is constantly flooded with such fakes of all types, and not just "designer goods", CDs/DVDs etc. etc. since there are far more frightening examples- there have, for example, been cases of 'fake spares' for aircraft, and it appears that a frightening number of fake medicines find themselves into the UK supply chain.
At the extreme, one is obviously most suspicious of products which are "too cheap to be true". However, it seems that some manufacturers of fakes are becoming wise to this, so that the fact that something has a reasonable (or even 'high') price does not preclude the possibility of it being a fake (ripping off purchases even more than if they sold it as cheaply as they could!).
Kind Regards, John
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I do have some USB outlets built into 13A sockets, and up to today no problems. However things can go wrong, in last years had to replace 4 faulty sockets, 3 likely water damage, one in my house two in daughters, and one a wifi controlled socket started turning its self off/on.
One scoket did cause the RCD to trip, and non were USB, so it really does not matter if USB or not, they can still go faulty.
The more in the socket, the more likely to fail, even a simple on/off switch, but with the RCD protection used today the danger involved with a socket failure is low.
One scoket did cause the RCD to trip, and non were USB, so it really does not matter if USB or not, they can still go faulty.
The more in the socket, the more likely to fail, even a simple on/off switch, but with the RCD protection used today the danger involved with a socket failure is low.
With regard to standards I believe the relevant international one is IEC 62680. This is essentially a straight copy of the relevant USB-IF standards. However the version based on USB Type-A receptacle seems to have been withdrawn in favour of a version using the Type-C receptacle. This is logical because it allows powers up to 100W (so far). I am not totally certain whether such a receptacle would have the USB logo to indicate compliance, or whether this would not apply if tested to IEC 62680, but the only compliance procedure I am aware of is the USB-IF one. It is pretty clear that the vast majority of existing combined 13A sockets/USB receptacles (if not all) do not carry the USB-IF compliance logo.
Interesting. As you can see in what I posted above, the MK ones do not claim compliance with IEC 62860. On the other hand, they do claim compliance with IEC 61558-2-16 - what does that relate to?
Kind Regards, John
The danger is losing power to the all the sockets on the circuit and not direct harm to the person. Losing power could result in consequential harm to the person ( or food in the fridge / freezer )
Depending upon how wide is their definition of "power transformer" (I hope that our resident pedant is not reading this
), it sounds as if that might well be an/'the' appropriate Standard for the 'USB part' of one of these accessories. doesn't it (although you mentioned only IEC 62680) ?Kind Regards, John
I fitted 2x lap Euro module usb chargers at my sisters house. They were both used to charge a smart phone and or tablet nightly. Both failed within 2 years and both tripped the RCBO when they died within weeks of each other but failed open circuit so the RCBO could be reset.
Interesting. Do I take it that the modules are 'Class II', such that nothing which happened to themwould trip an RCD?
I must say that I've never been tempted by the sockets with USB outlets. I have plenty of sockets around, and am quite happy to plug 'USB chargers' into some of them - so that if/when the socket or (much more likely) 'charger' fails, I don't have to replace the whole lot
Kind Regards, John
IEC 61558-2-16:2009 Safety of transformers, reactors, power supply units and similar products for supply voltages up to 1 100 V - Part 2-16: Particular requirements and tests for switch mode power supply units and transformers for switch mode power supply units.Depending upon how wide is their definition of "power transformer" (I hope that our resident pedant is not reading this
Kind Regards, John
USB Charging has a lot more detailed requirements than that. For example the voltage which appears, its tolerance, the current available to be drawn, the signaling to determine the level of current and the connector details. I have seen a review of tens of USB supplies and I can say that I would be unwilling to plug anything expensive of mine into a random adapter without first putting it on an oscilloscope.
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