USB ports are increasingly becoming the most convenient means of charging electronic devices at work or at home. The past few years have seen a move away from charging leads that feature dedicated three-pin plugs (in the UK) to leads with a USB connection attached.
The reason for this change is one of convenience: it allows people to charge their devices from most places with a USB port, including a PC, laptop or USB plug. Three-pin plugs are also bulky to transport and store.
The next natural step has been to produce power modules (plug sockets) featuring USB ports, either on their own or in combination with standard three-pin power ports.
These ports can be used to charge a range of devices, such as
One of the most popular uses for USB plug sockets is as a communal charger within areas such as:
USB sockets found in these locations are often positioned centrally on a table or bench, rather than at the bottom of a wall near the floor as with traditional plug sockets.
You can choose to position your USB socket almost flush with the surface on which it is placed (in desk) or standing on top of it (on desk). Below is a selection of the USB ports on offer at CMD for either position:
| Image | Description | Product |
|---|---|---|
 | One USB Type A socket (maximum 2.4A) and one USB Type C socket. When plugged into a compatible charger, the smartphone can take advantage of a higher voltage (12V or 9V rather than 5V) and draw on a stronger current as a result. (Note: This only applies to chargers with USB-C sockets.) | |
 | 4A USB charger, guaranteeing 2A per socket. Thermal cut-out and short-circuit protection. | |
 | Choice of international power, data and media connectors. UK sockets are individually fused at 3.15A or 5A to allow compliance with BS 6396. | |
 | Choice of international power, data and media connectors. Fully segregated power and data. | |
 | Four plug sockets available, allowing various configurations of plugs, USB charging, RJ45 and HDMI. |
| Image | Description | Product |
|---|---|---|
 | 4A USB charger (shared between two sockets). Supports a range of international sockets. Designed to deflect spillages. | |
 | Choice of international power, data and media connectors. Smooth-action lid that retracts to allow easy access from both sides. Shadow gap allows lid to be closed while sockets are in use. | |
 | Configurable to include- power, data and media sockets. Available in four cut-out sizes for desk mounting (69mm x 163mm (A); 69mm x 263mm (B); 69mm x 363mm (C); 69mm x 463mm (D)). | |
 | Available as portrait or landscape. Suitable for mounting in soft seating/working walls. |
One thing to take into account when choosing a USB plug socket is the strength of the electrical current it offers (measured in amps). Devices with larger batteries will require higher amps to charge at a reasonable speed. For example, most smartphones need 1A to charge reasonably quickly, while a tablet (containing a larger battery) usually needs around 2A. This means if you try to charge a tablet from a port that only supplies 1A, it is likely to take some time.
The following table shows the current available from different types of charging equipment:
| Device | Current |
|---|---|
USB port in a PC | 500mA |
Smartphone charger | 1A |
Tablet | 2A |
USB plug sockets | Up to 4A |
Some USB plug sockets that contain multiple ports will split the power between devices when two or more are charging. This means two tablets charging from a USB plug that shares 2A between them will each receive 1A of current. This may affect charging times.
USB involves:
In some cases, the host will be a PC or laptop, which can be inefficient. If the host is a mains socket, you will be able to charge at a better rate.
During the transfer of data, information can flow between the host and device, and vice versa.
A USB cable is made up of four wires, while the socket features four pins. The inside pins carry data while the outer pins and the inner pins supply 5V of power.
For more information about USB plug sockets, call our experienced staff on 01709 385485 or click here for more contact details.
