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22-01-2021, 17:05
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the boat, somewhere in Australia.
Boat: Swanson 42 & Kelly Peterson 44
Posts: 9,112
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USB charging blocks
Hi all,
Looking for recommendations for a decent brand of USB charging block from 12 volts.
I notice the cheaper models can get quite hot when charging in the higher current mode.
A low standby power consumption would also be a bonus.
Matt
__________________
Refitting… again.
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22-01-2021, 17:26
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Boise, Idaho and Port Ludlow, WA
Boat: Yamaha 33
Posts: 194
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Re: USB charging blocks
Quote:
Originally Posted by GILow
Hi all,
Looking for recommendations for a decent brand of USB charging block from 12 volts.
I notice the cheaper models can get quite hot when charging in the higher current mode.
A low standby power consumption would also be a bonus.
Matt
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You mean like a USB power port? I tried the Seadog. I occasionally have had problems charging my tablet from it, even though the rating should be more than adequate. I just picked up the Blue Sea 1039. We'll see if that does any better. It has a higher amp rating than the SeaDog.
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22-01-2021, 17:31
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,336
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Re: USB charging blocks
We went with a blue seas 5 place (I think, been away from the boat for almost a year now ) It has 3-4 USB outlets and 1-2 DC outlets for variety. Back lit 1.5”x6-7”
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22-01-2021, 17:37
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Petersburg, AK
Boat: Outremer 50S
Posts: 4,229
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Re: USB charging blocks
Depending on USB or USB-C, I've been quite happy with an Anker 10-port USB hub that comes with a 12V brick. It has been quite happy for a couple of years running between 12 and 14.4V.
I haven't measured idle current, I do turn it off when not in use.
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22-01-2021, 18:27
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Boat: Tartan 3800
Posts: 4,759
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Re: USB charging blocks
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BL3GT4
Very reliable on my boat
Negligible standby current
Supports USB-C power delivery for tablets and laptops and USB-A for older stuff
Has screw terminals so you don't need to splice on a connector
Will run on either 12v or 24v
__________________
The best part of an adventure is the people you meet.
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23-01-2021, 01:44
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the boat, somewhere in Australia.
Boat: Swanson 42 & Kelly Peterson 44
Posts: 9,112
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Re: USB charging blocks
Thanks to all for the links.
Have any of you checked the temperature of these while they are charging?
__________________
Refitting… again.
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23-01-2021, 02:42
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#7
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,683
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Re: USB charging blocks
If I was buying one today, I would get a block that also supported USB-c. “C” appears to be the new trend. Would truly stink to put a new piece of gear in that is outdated in a year
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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23-01-2021, 03:37
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,750
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Re: USB charging blocks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammer
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BL3GT4
Very reliable on my boat
Negligible standby current
Supports USB-C power delivery for tablets and laptops and USB-A for older stuff
Has screw terminals so you don't need to splice on a connector
Will run on either 12v or 24v
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I've been looking at that one.
Note that the other chargers mentioned in this thread do not support either PD or QC so will not charge laptops at all and won't rapid charge other devices.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snore
If I was buying one today, I would get a block that also supported USB-c. “C” appears to be the new trend. Would truly stink to put a new piece of gear in that is outdated in a year
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It's inevitable that whatever we install now will be outdate soon. How much stuff have I installed and then pulled out and tossed later -- welcome to the technological age.
To be up to date as of 2021 you need Power Delivery so you can charge laptops and some tablets, and you need QCIII so that you can charge other devices. QCIII works over USB-A with a USB-A to USB-C charging cable; PD requires, AFAIK, USB-C to USB-C.
Next year it will be something else, I'm sure.
__________________
"You sea! I resign myself to you also . . . . I guess what you mean,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
Walt Whitman
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23-01-2021, 08:52
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 692
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Re: USB charging blocks
I installed this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Reasons for it:
- quick charge
- has volt-meter, which helps to keep tabs on batteries
- has mechanical on/off switch so it doesn't draw anything when turned off
- has dark cover that makes it hard to see that there is a USB port, so guests don't start plugging in and charging their devices and draining batteries.
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23-01-2021, 09:27
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lake Ont
Posts: 8,547
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Re: USB charging blocks
Quote:
Originally Posted by George_SD
I installed this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Reasons for it:
- quick charge
- has volt-meter, which helps to keep tabs on batteries
- has mechanical on/off switch so it doesn't draw anything when turned off
- has dark cover that makes it hard to see that there is a USB port, so guests don't start plugging in and charging their devices and draining batteries.
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Agreed that's a nice unit. If I was just installing one or two, that's what I would choose as well.
On our small boat, I installed a salvaged dual USB socket on each side of the cabin. All 4 sockets are powered from one cheap far-east DC-DC 2A stepdown board. This has been working well for 3 or 4 years.
To do it again, I would use 12v to USB adaptors like this in the cabin:
I have a few in stock, and I just measured the no-load current at just under 5 mA. Yes they're harder to mount, but they're really inexpensive. For saltwater boats, give the boards a spray of some protectant.
The USB standard is really flexible, and used by so many devices, including our handheld GPS. Our night-time reading lights are little gooseneck USB lights from IKEA
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23-01-2021, 10:35
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,678
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Re: USB charging blocks
When selecting USB charging sockets consider the parasitic drain (ie the power consumed when nothing is plugged in). This draw can mount up with numerous outlets. The efficiency converting the 12 or 24v to a lower voltage also varies enormously.
Unfortunately, these details are not always listed, or in some cases the specifications are hopelessly optimistic.
The only practical solution, if power consumption is important, seems to be to purchase one of various units and test them for yourself.
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23-01-2021, 18:01
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Boat: Tartan 3800
Posts: 4,759
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Re: USB charging blocks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead
Next year it will be something else, I'm sure.
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USB-A was in widespread use as a charging source starting sometime before 2010 and has become obsolete for two reasons: the stupid design where you can't figure out if the plug is upside down, and insufficient power handling capability.
USB-C is unlikely to become obsolete anytime soon because it delivers all the power the UL standards will allow and trends are towards lower power use.
__________________
The best part of an adventure is the people you meet.
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24-01-2021, 01:32
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#14
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Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,750
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Re: USB charging blocks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammer
USB-A was in widespread use as a charging source starting sometime before 2010 and has become obsolete for two reasons: the stupid design where you can't figure out if the plug is upside down, and insufficient power handling capability.
USB-C is unlikely to become obsolete anytime soon because it delivers all the power the UL standards will allow and trends are towards lower power use.
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USB-C is very cool, and although I have been using it for years, I just found out that there is a lot I didn't know about it. I learned a lot from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C Maybe others will, too.
__________________
"You sea! I resign myself to you also . . . . I guess what you mean,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
Walt Whitman
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24-01-2021, 09:38
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#15
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Re: USB charging blocks
Quote:
Originally Posted by noelex 77
When selecting USB charging sockets consider the parasitic drain (ie the power consumed when nothing is plugged in). This draw can mount up with numerous outlets. The efficiency converting the 12 or 24v to a lower voltage also varies enormously.
Unfortunately, these details are not always listed, or in some cases the specifications are hopelessly optimistic.
The only practical solution, if power consumption is important, seems to be to purchase one of various units and test them for yourself.
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Quiescent is around 5-10mA in my experience
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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