I’m thinking about replacing an outlet with a USB charging outlet, of which there are plenty of options. With a dedicated place for charging our electronics, there might be less of a tangled charging cable nest in the hallway. But… which outlet? A kitchen outlet? One by the front door? Where’s the best place for this. What if I change my mind – that would necessitate an additional upgrade.
When searching for a new surge protector power strip, I came across this CyberPower USB charging station (CSP105U). Hmm… that could work.
It’s got a 5-foot cord, (2) USB charging ports with 2.1A output (so it can charge a tablet), and a 15A 3-prong power outlet.
The power station seems to output 2.1A total across both USB ports, and so you probably couldn’t fast-charge two tablets. It’ll still charge them, but slower. But two phones should be alright. I guess that one could always plug a tablet charger into the power outlet to ensure that the device charges as fast as it’s meant to.
And it’s also not a surge protector.
Although it’s only around $11, I’ll run it by the wife. On one hand the CyberPower USB charging station turns one outlet into (2) USB charging ports without giving up the ability to plug something into the AC power. In theory, this could mean (3) USB charging ports for one outlet. But on the other hand, will it really eliminate the messy pile of charging cables below one of our wall outlets?
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Maybe I’ll get one of these, and in a couple of months we’ll circle back to whether or not to upgrade an outlet to one which has built-in USB ports. Another option I’m considering is Belkin’s 3-outlet travel adapter (~$18 via Amazon).
What do you use to charge multiple devices in a centralized location with less clutter?