@gallogj@werehatrack What are y’all talking about Willis? Like, do you have a device that charges from a USB-A port that pulls more than 15w? I suppose they exist, but I’ve never seen one. Plenty of devices pull more than that from a USB-C port, but that’s not the price range we’re working with here. And the newest and power hungriest iPhone Apple sells (over USB-C mind you) still only charges at 18w by default.
@grovberg@werehatrack my Samsung phone requires at least 2.1 amp. This device has a total amp output of 3.1 amp across 3 usb ports. I assume that means I can only charge my phone or a tablet but not both at the same time. Negating the need of 3 USB ports.
@gallogj@werehatrack You seem to be confusing “charging at maximum speed” with “charging.” Without including volts we’re kinda having two different conversations here, but unless you’re Sonic the Hedgehog (and if so, hey big fan) max speed is not a requirement or anything the average person should spend a lot time thinking about. And if you’re someone who does care about that you sure as hell shouldn’t be shopping for chargers on meh.com. Also since Samsung hasn’t sold a phone that has a USB-A connection on the other end in like 4 years, I gonna go ahead and assume this is all extremely hypothetical for you anyway.
I’m not saying fast charging can’t be useful, but there’s pretty wide gulf between “absolute requirement” and “perfectly fine for most people” especially for a $15 charger. It’s also not as if phones and tablets are the only things that charge with USB. I bought this guy the last time it was here and the USB ports are charging headphones, the TV remote, and yes Virginia, a cable to charge phones and tablets. Sure I suppose it might hypothetically take 4 hours to charge my phone from 0% to 100% instead of 3 if I hooked up another tablet from one of those USB ports, but I manage to stay positive despite living in squalor. I also literally never ever do that—I use this guy to top off my phone while I’m watching TV with the kids and if someone else needs to charge something in the living room I just give them cable.
I mean, if you’re starting a new Twitch channel where you hook up three phones and race to see which ones charges faster, by all means go buy something else.
@gallogj@grovberg
I have measured 4.4A single-device draws from a USB-A port of a capable source, so the design of that A plug is not the limiting factor - but the size of the USB-Micro connector on many devices, and the size of the conductor in the typical A-to-Micro cable, will limit the throughput to less than 3A (often less than 2A for the cables) most of the time. However, I have also observed that a hell of a lot of “chargers” fail to deliver their nominal full rated output; it’s fairly common for the 5V to sag as the current approaches 2A. And don’t even get me started on the externally-powered USB hubs whose second power source craps out at 1A.
So, a HUGE benefit of these that isn’t obvious from any of the marketing copy is that they include a screw in the middle to secure it to the outlet. An enormous design flaw with these things is that if you unplug anything from it, there’s a 50/50 chance the entire thing will come out with it. I’m sure there are others that do this as well but most don’t. Also not actually useful if you use “decorator” outlets.
@grovberg
And you have just nailed one of the two reasons why the second set of prongs to go into the other socket is a damned good idea. The other one is that with both plugs engaged, the whole thing gets a lot more stable, and someone snagging a cord off to one side is unlikely to shred the prongs right out of the back.
@grovberg, are you sure that’s a screw¿? If so, I doubt you screw that screw into the outlet. The plug, by itself, will secure the entire Charging Station to the outlet, wouldn’t it¿?
@1DisabledWarVet Positive. I bought these last time and it is in use. I actually had to swap out a “decorator” outlet for a plain one in order to use it, but pulling the whole thing out drives me nuts so it was very worth it for me.
@somf69
It has just one plug on the back, and the shelf can be installed on whichever end is “up”. If your wall socket is really worn (like all of the ones I’ve seen in hotel bathrooms lately), you’ll want to install the optional screw to keep this mounted to the wall.
@bgammill
Two plugs on the back makes the installation more stable, and reduces the need for the securing screw. I have some two-to-six multipliers that have both plugs on the back, and I’ve learned to want the advantage of that.
@stolicat It is vaguely possible, but very unlikely that these have 2.1 amp PTC fuses to limit current on each individual USB socket in addition to the intrinsic limit of the power supply.
In my experience, few USB power supplies can actually manage their rated total power for an extended period of time, unless they are from a premium manufacturer like Anker. I might be mistaken, but I don’t believe Aduro has a premium reputation.
Imagine if a YouTuber modified a toaster to make strawberry Pop Tarts burst into flame, and toasted Spam instead. Eventually, they could get it to make a grease fire. Which wouldn’t be very exciting. So they could try again with another modified toaster, but this time presoak the Spam in gasoline. That would be worth a few views.
I might be mistaken, but I don’t believe Aduro has a premium reputation.
Having bought a couple of their items, and delved into the specs of a bunch more, I can say that they emphatically do not have a “premium reputation” with me.
Seems like a great idea to charge your phone while it’s right next to the toaster, or the bathroom while taking a shower, or next to the kitchen sink while doing dishes.
@robson, 1st of all, robson, the Toaster’s usually off un-less ya have bread [or spam] being toasted. 2nd of all, if ya have outlets that close to the shower, somebodies do not know how to construct a safe bathroom. 3rd of all, who in the world washes dishes now days!?
@robson, Great & I knew that, but I love sarcasm too!! That is exactly why I thought you’d appreciate my sarcastic remarks! Regardless, if ya know those people who wash dishes, do pleez, send’em over; it would give my old auto dishwasher a much needed break!! As I said, I also love sarcasm!!
@seeden Of course that isn’t your kitchen. That’s MY kitchen! How did you get these pics without my permission? jk I probably couldnt afford just the barstools …
@G1@seeden I will claim that fireplace, esp given the offer yesterday of the alcohol markers. I can always use them to re-color it. And if that doesn’t work, it’s ok - I’ve still got alcohol markers with bullet nibs (I have no idea what that is btw.) Getting to partake in alcohol combined with bullet nibs overshadows any ugly fireplace in my book!
@algae1221@er1c@Kyeh, I don’t know why, maybe it’s my PTSD Paranoia, but it do looks like bucktooth Glen is giving me, or rather, everyone the finger!!
Will that Breaker in your Fuse Box flip due to the load if all the outlets & ports are being used, or will ya have to get a higher wattage breaker,… or what?
@1DisabledWarVet
It’s all in the load. A 1500 watt coffee maker and a 1500 watt microwave that are both on at the same time and plugged into the same two-socket wall outlet will trip a 20A breaker, and that’s just two devices. On the other hand, a half-dozen things that all draw an amp or less will not even get the socket warm. So your question can only be answered if you specify what is plugged in, and how much current it demands.
@werehatrack, rightly said,…I didn’t give any load specifics. I will admit I was recollecting the time I hooked up 2 space heaters in my bath & they did overload the breaker. Looking back, of course, that shoulda been expected with a 20Amp Breaker, but a 30 Amp might not have faired much better, since it was 30000W in that same outlet. Thanks, for your wise input.
@zachdecker Why? The shelf can be attached to either the top or bottom of the outlets, or it can be left off entirely. So even if Chicago requires that the ground pin be installed at the top, the the shelf can still be installed at the top.
If Chicago requires that outlets be installed with the ground pins facing left or right, then you will need to use glue or tape to attach the shelf.
Alternatively, if these are useless in Chicago, simply because they are close to useless everywhere on the planet, then I agree with you.
I have one of these and I love it. Have it in the bathroom to charge my small things, like my Fitbit and my hair trimmer that I got here. Exactly what I needed.
I bought two of these for bathrooms and neither of them worked because the shelves would not fit because the outlets were too close to a medicine cabinet and a mirror.
@Sarisin Similar issue here, though it will just clear fitting under the medicine cabinet, the outlet is near the corner, so the shelf would hit the mirror. Maybe I can cut the shelf, but it’s still going to be right under the cabinet door, so not like anything can be kept on the shelf when the medicine cabinet is opened.
@kevinrs@Sarisin, You can just scrap that [optional] shelf & stick the devices & whatever in your medicine cabinet! Please, tell me you are Not storing your meds in your medicine cabinet!!
I got one of these in an IRK a few weeks ago, so I can put in a plug for them…
Six dismayed faces and three sad slots in the shadow of a shelflet. Meh.
@werehatrack
https://shirt.woot.com/offers/theyre-watching
@werehatrack So is it fair to say that your last get-together wasn’t very electrifying?
Can we
tableshelve this discussion for a while?OH MY GOD THEY HAVE GLEN ENGAGING IN BATHROOM HUMOR!!!
No Meh, you can’t charge me tonight.
3.1 amp total? That means only 1 tablet or 3 phones from 1996?
@gallogj
One older or smaller tablet. Some of the new ones won’t fast-charge at a measly 5V/3.1A.
@gallogj @werehatrack What are y’all talking about Willis? Like, do you have a device that charges from a USB-A port that pulls more than 15w? I suppose they exist, but I’ve never seen one. Plenty of devices pull more than that from a USB-C port, but that’s not the price range we’re working with here. And the newest and power hungriest iPhone Apple sells (over USB-C mind you) still only charges at 18w by default.
@grovberg @werehatrack my Samsung phone requires at least 2.1 amp. This device has a total amp output of 3.1 amp across 3 usb ports. I assume that means I can only charge my phone or a tablet but not both at the same time. Negating the need of 3 USB ports.
@gallogj @werehatrack You seem to be confusing “charging at maximum speed” with “charging.” Without including volts we’re kinda having two different conversations here, but unless you’re Sonic the Hedgehog (and if so, hey big fan) max speed is not a requirement or anything the average person should spend a lot time thinking about. And if you’re someone who does care about that you sure as hell shouldn’t be shopping for chargers on meh.com. Also since Samsung hasn’t sold a phone that has a USB-A connection on the other end in like 4 years, I gonna go ahead and assume this is all extremely hypothetical for you anyway.
I’m not saying fast charging can’t be useful, but there’s pretty wide gulf between “absolute requirement” and “perfectly fine for most people” especially for a $15 charger. It’s also not as if phones and tablets are the only things that charge with USB. I bought this guy the last time it was here and the USB ports are charging headphones, the TV remote, and yes Virginia, a cable to charge phones and tablets. Sure I suppose it might hypothetically take 4 hours to charge my phone from 0% to 100% instead of 3 if I hooked up another tablet from one of those USB ports, but I manage to stay positive despite living in squalor. I also literally never ever do that—I use this guy to top off my phone while I’m watching TV with the kids and if someone else needs to charge something in the living room I just give them cable.
I mean, if you’re starting a new Twitch channel where you hook up three phones and race to see which ones charges faster, by all means go buy something else.
@gallogj @grovberg
I have measured 4.4A single-device draws from a USB-A port of a capable source, so the design of that A plug is not the limiting factor - but the size of the USB-Micro connector on many devices, and the size of the conductor in the typical A-to-Micro cable, will limit the throughput to less than 3A (often less than 2A for the cables) most of the time. However, I have also observed that a hell of a lot of “chargers” fail to deliver their nominal full rated output; it’s fairly common for the 5V to sag as the current approaches 2A. And don’t even get me started on the externally-powered USB hubs whose second power source craps out at 1A.
Buy a separate wireless charger for the shelf and pretend like this is modern tech and be happy with your purchase!
Forget the charger. Where can I get some of those electric grapes?
@wlodarczyk
And is their dish an inductive charger?
@wlodarczyk Try a tobacconist or dispensary.
When do the miniature toasters go on sale?
@glubash
At least it doesn’t appear that the toaster is USB…
So, a HUGE benefit of these that isn’t obvious from any of the marketing copy is that they include a screw in the middle to secure it to the outlet. An enormous design flaw with these things is that if you unplug anything from it, there’s a 50/50 chance the entire thing will come out with it. I’m sure there are others that do this as well but most don’t. Also not actually useful if you use “decorator” outlets.
@grovberg
And you have just nailed one of the two reasons why the second set of prongs to go into the other socket is a damned good idea. The other one is that with both plugs engaged, the whole thing gets a lot more stable, and someone snagging a cord off to one side is unlikely to shred the prongs right out of the back.
@grovberg
Problem: the hole for the mounting screw is missing on the majority of GFCI outlets of my experience.
@grovberg, are you sure that’s a screw¿? If so, I doubt you screw that screw into the outlet. The plug, by itself, will secure the entire Charging Station to the outlet, wouldn’t it¿?
@1DisabledWarVet Positive. I bought these last time and it is in use. I actually had to swap out a “decorator” outlet for a plain one in order to use it, but pulling the whole thing out drives me nuts so it was very worth it for me.
Any chance there is a pic of the back, is there one or two plugs?
@somf69 according to a low rating in the comments it only has 1 plug but blocks both.
@somf69 according to one of the AMZN reviews it’s just one plug but covers both
@omni72 @somf69 Do I hear an echo? Do I hear an echo?
@hchavers @omni72 @somf69
This is how Skynet becomes activated.
@somf69
It has just one plug on the back, and the shelf can be installed on whichever end is “up”. If your wall socket is really worn (like all of the ones I’ve seen in hotel bathrooms lately), you’ll want to install the optional screw to keep this mounted to the wall.
@haydesigner But failed. It needed those two plugs.
@hchavers @omni72 @somf69
“but plug”…
Heh heh heh…
There is no reason for 2 plugs. It would be unbelievable if there were 2 sets of plugs.
@bgammill
Two plugs on the back makes the installation more stable, and reduces the need for the securing screw. I have some two-to-six multipliers that have both plugs on the back, and I’ve learned to want the advantage of that.
In that second-to-last picture there appears to be slices of Spam in the toaster. Is this a thing in some parts of the country?
On a more technical subject, if you only have one thing plugged into the USB ports do you get the full 3.1A? Is that what “shared total output” means?
@stolicat
In order:
Yes. Yes.
@stolicat It is vaguely possible, but very unlikely that these have 2.1 amp PTC fuses to limit current on each individual USB socket in addition to the intrinsic limit of the power supply.
In my experience, few USB power supplies can actually manage their rated total power for an extended period of time, unless they are from a premium manufacturer like Anker. I might be mistaken, but I don’t believe Aduro has a premium reputation.
Imagine if a YouTuber modified a toaster to make strawberry Pop Tarts burst into flame, and toasted Spam instead. Eventually, they could get it to make a grease fire. Which wouldn’t be very exciting. So they could try again with another modified toaster, but this time presoak the Spam in gasoline. That would be worth a few views.
@hamjudo
Having bought a couple of their items, and delved into the specs of a bunch more, I can say that they emphatically do not have a “premium reputation” with me.
Seems like a great idea to charge your phone while it’s right next to the toaster, or the bathroom while taking a shower, or next to the kitchen sink while doing dishes.
@robson, 1st of all, robson, the Toaster’s usually off un-less ya have bread [or spam] being toasted. 2nd of all, if ya have outlets that close to the shower, somebodies do not know how to construct a safe bathroom. 3rd of all, who in the world washes dishes now days!?
@1DisabledWarVet I was being sarcastic
@robson, Great & I knew that, but I love sarcasm too!! That is exactly why I thought you’d appreciate my sarcastic remarks! Regardless, if ya know those people who wash dishes, do pleez, send’em over; it would give my old auto dishwasher a much needed break!!
As I said, I also love sarcasm!!
How far above the prong is the shelf? Will it fit under my kitchen cabinet?
[This is not my kitchen!]
The screw on the front shows where the center of the outlet is…
@seeden Of course that isn’t your kitchen. That’s MY kitchen! How did you get these pics without my permission? jk I probably couldnt afford just the barstools …
@dskin1127 @seeden with the hideous backsplash and the color-so-wrong-it-should-be-illegal fireplace?? Who would claim that?
@G1 @seeden I will claim that fireplace, esp given the offer yesterday of the alcohol markers. I can always use them to re-color it. And if that doesn’t work, it’s ok - I’ve still got alcohol markers with bullet nibs (I have no idea what that is btw.) Getting to partake in alcohol combined with bullet nibs overshadows any ugly fireplace in my book!
@dskin1127 @seeden Yeah, I guess I have had many good memories that started with alcohol and fireplaces.
Or so I’ve been told…
@G1 @seeden Lol. I’ll drink to that my friend…
all five of the teethbrush are glen’s.
@er1c They don’t seem to be doing him much good.
@er1c @Kyeh Why does he need five of them? He’s only got four teeth.
@algae1221 @er1c @Kyeh Why does he need any of them? He doesn’t have arms.
@algae1221 @er1c @Kyeh @macromeh
Glen has one arm, but I ain’t gonna say where. Nossir. Not gonna do it.
@algae1221 @er1c @Kyeh, I don’t know why, maybe it’s my PTSD Paranoia, but it do looks like bucktooth Glen is giving me, or rather, everyone the finger!!
Will that Breaker in your Fuse Box flip due to the load if all the outlets & ports are being used, or will ya have to get a higher wattage breaker,… or what?
@1DisabledWarVet
It’s all in the load. A 1500 watt coffee maker and a 1500 watt microwave that are both on at the same time and plugged into the same two-socket wall outlet will trip a 20A breaker, and that’s just two devices. On the other hand, a half-dozen things that all draw an amp or less will not even get the socket warm. So your question can only be answered if you specify what is plugged in, and how much current it demands.
@werehatrack, rightly said,…I didn’t give any load specifics. I will admit I was recollecting the time I hooked up 2 space heaters in my bath & they did overload the breaker. Looking back, of course, that shoulda been expected with a 20Amp Breaker, but a 30 Amp might not have faired much better, since it was 30000W in that same outlet. Thanks, for your wise input.
Again, these things are useless to everyone in Chicago.
@zachdecker Why? The shelf can be attached to either the top or bottom of the outlets, or it can be left off entirely. So even if Chicago requires that the ground pin be installed at the top, the the shelf can still be installed at the top.
If Chicago requires that outlets be installed with the ground pins facing left or right, then you will need to use glue or tape to attach the shelf.
Alternatively, if these are useless in Chicago, simply because they are close to useless everywhere on the planet, then I agree with you.
@hamjudo It is not required by code, but most outlets in Chicago are horizontal since everything must be in conduit here (Unions!
).
@zachdecker i dun goofed and bought this… great paperweight though!
@hamjudo @zachdecker
That’s odd. Boxes have knockouts on the side, there’s no good reason to rotate them, and a lot of reason not to.
I have one of these and I love it. Have it in the bathroom to charge my small things, like my Fitbit and my hair trimmer that I got here. Exactly what I needed.
I bought two of these for bathrooms and neither of them worked because the shelves would not fit because the outlets were too close to a medicine cabinet and a mirror.
@Sarisin Similar issue here, though it will just clear fitting under the medicine cabinet, the outlet is near the corner, so the shelf would hit the mirror. Maybe I can cut the shelf, but it’s still going to be right under the cabinet door, so not like anything can be kept on the shelf when the medicine cabinet is opened.
@kevinrs @Sarisin, You can just scrap that [optional] shelf & stick the devices & whatever in your medicine cabinet! Please, tell me you are Not storing your meds in your medicine cabinet!!
@Sarisin my one in my bathroom had a USB cord plugged into it to charge something.
Found the cord all black and charred one day, glad it didn’t burn the house down.
Not sure if it was the Aduro, the cord, or the cord somehow.got wet at fault…
… I never plugged it back in after that.
Specs
Product Dimensions
What’s Included?
Price Comparison
$59.98 for 2 at Amazon
Warranty
Limited 1 year Warranty
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 20 - Monday, Dec 27
The writeup missed “It’s so versatile that it has more than one safeword.”
Is it still possible to order this Deal?
Both shelves and their clips were snapped off out of the box. Disappointing. Fixed with Gorilla glue but still disappointing.
One of them already stopped working. USB ports are now useless in a month and a half.