Browse Forums What's New 1 Aug 18, 2010 12:28 pm I stumbled on this yesterday and thought fellow renovators might be interested. They seem to be direct replacments to normal double powerpoints and can charge my iphone. http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/08/sockitz-gives-your-powerpoints-added-usb-charging-goodness/ Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 2Aug 18, 2010 1:05 pm Brilliant idea. My first concern was that the power poitn would draw power all the time, however apparently the power converter switches off when you unplug the USB cord. Nice. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 4Aug 18, 2010 1:42 pm Yeah i thought same thing. but has the little doors that shut off power. here is main website the link,the one on gizmodo is a bit ******* http://www.sockitz.com.au Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 5Sep 23, 2010 9:19 am crowfoot Yeah i thought same thing. but has the little doors that shut off power. here is main website the link,the one on gizmodo is a bit ******* http://www.sockitz.com.au I disagree with their claim of "futureproofing" by installing USB sockets. I work in IT and there's one thing that's constant - physical connectors and the standards behind them are constantly changing. What might be suitable now for low-power device charging could be obsolete in 2012. Not to mention things like Apple requiring specific hardware in the power source to be able to be used on iPods/iPhones. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 6Sep 23, 2010 8:26 pm RJ45 ethernet has been a standard for many years. and will continue to be or along time to come. USB is also pretty stable. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 7Sep 23, 2010 8:34 pm Casa2 RJ45 ethernet has been a standard for many years. and will continue to be or along time to come. USB is also pretty stable. RJ45 is just the socket, since it began we've gone through CAT5, 5e, 6, now 6a and 7. The wiring requirements have changed. Try to get 1Gbps speeds in a building wired with CAT5 - you won't have much luck. Upgrade the jacks to CAT6 and you'll improve the situation but ultimately it's a case of obsolecense. Using USB for power is relatively new, yet the new USB Charging standard ratified just recently to be standardised in 2012 is actually mini-USB, so these wall plates are already obsolete unless they release new versions. Also there are new ways to do things emerging all the time. This year brought HDBaseT a new standard endorsed by Samsung, Sony and LG to use CAT5e/6 cabling to transmit uncompressed video, audio, 100Mbps Ethernet, and upto 100W of power. There was a demo 40" LCD connected soley with one of these cables providing it power, media feed, and network. Just goes to show how fast things change. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 8Nov 13, 2010 5:42 pm Only problem is how you would position them? If it's a low wall socket then it's not easily accessible so you've got to put it mid-height under a desk somewhere? I guess it's probably something more suited to a kitchen. I think i'll just keep charging the way i currently do. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 9Nov 13, 2010 7:29 pm For $25? Sure, I'd install one in my kitchen and/or study. I wouldn't do the house in them but at that price, it isn't much investment and it would be useful for a couple of years. Easy enough to replace with the next gen version or a plain powerpoint down the line. That does, of course, assume I can lean on family to install/remove them for free; labour charges not so much fun. Status: sold our first house, moved in with parents, bought our second in Pakenham, still planning to build in a few years time. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 10Nov 13, 2010 7:35 pm Trinia For $25? Sure, I'd install one in my kitchen and/or study. I wouldn't do the house in them but at that price, it isn't much investment and it would be useful for a couple of years. Easy enough to replace with the next gen version or a plain powerpoint down the line. That does, of course, assume I can lean on family to install/remove them for free; labour charges not so much fun. Ditto.. ..maybe not the free condition ..always a barter going on in my home. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 11Nov 14, 2010 7:34 am YBBroker Only problem is how you would position them? If it's a low wall socket then it's not easily accessible so you've got to put it mid-height under a desk somewhere? I guess it's probably something more suited to a kitchen. I think i'll just keep charging the way i currently do. It would only be suitable for power outlets above benches (for example kitchen). Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 12Nov 14, 2010 7:56 am I have had a look at the website for these outlets but judging by the pictures the units appear to have a fair bit of bulk on the back to allow for the mains connections, the 240 volt to 5 volt supply and the USB connectors. May pay to keep this in mind if you plan to have these fitted into a brick or masonary wall as a fair chunk may have to extracted out of the wallbox to allow all the extra depth to be accomodated. It looks like the release has been delayed to December: Shipping ETA change Saturday, 25 September 2010 12:08:51 PM Australia/SydneyThe final mould is currently undergoing manufacturing. However we had to push back the delivery of final product due to Moon Celebrations in China which shut dowm all manufacturing for 10days. We are now hoping to have product mid to late december. All those that have pre-ordered units we are still offering full refunds if you no longer wish to wait From: http://sockitz.com.au/news/shipping-change/ Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 13Dec 17, 2010 11:47 am Quote: I disagree with their claim of "futureproofing" by installing USB sockets. I work in IT and there's one thing that's constant - physical connectors and the standards behind them are constantly changing. What might be suitable now for low-power device charging could be obsolete in 2012. Not to mention things like Apple requiring specific hardware in the power source to be able to be used on iPods/iPhones. On the site it mentions a new universal charging format that the big phone manufacturers have signed and agreed to to charge all their device via micro USB. Now as USB is a standard i would assume it wont change from 5.5 volts. So i think usb will be around for a long time to come. more info and links to the new charging guideline is here http://sockitz.com.au/new-charging-guidelines/ Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 14Dec 21, 2010 6:56 am I love this idea! I think it will be a definate add to our study nook space I've only just joined this site but can't get off it with tons of ideas from so many people. We have only just signed up to build a home and already my question list is pages long. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 15Feb 26, 2011 12:51 am taththi ......Using USB for power is relatively new, yet the new USB Charging standard ratified just recently to be standardised in 2012 is actually mini-USB..... Not micro-USB ??? PD . Block settled 07 June 2011 Our little piece of the Interwebs on HomeOne....... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48577&start=0 Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 19Jul 01, 2011 12:06 pm The web site says: Once the retractable doors close after charging the power to the port is cut The don't say the power to the TRANSFORMER is cut. This is a concern as that is where leakage occurs.... I would need to be 100% certain that NO power is used in standby ie. not even 0.1W. Re: New powerpoints with USB ports for charging stuff 20Jul 01, 2011 1:03 pm 3timesbuilda The web site says: Once the retractable doors close after charging the power to the port is cut The don't say the power to the TRANSFORMER is cut. This is a concern as that is where leakage occurs.... I would need to be 100% certain that NO power is used in standby ie. not even 0.1W. I've been following this discussion cos they sound like such a neat idea but if this is one more thing to worry about using power in standby that's a bummer. Okay sorry silly me, my wife has solves the mystery for me. It’s because the labels on the ports are all wrongly positioned by the builder hence it confuses me. 2 1578 It is true that a builder can ignore your independent inspection report as it is not part of the contractual arrangement but that is stupid because he cannot avoid fixing… 9 47322 A person needs to be licensed to offer financial advice. Surely the accountant you use would have been chosen for his/her expertise in this field. Have you asked your… 1 7233 |