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It seems like USB A/C are going to be that. You can already buy outlets that have both mains and USB ports, there are even dual USB C outlets now, that can do 3

It seems like USB A/C are going to be that. You can already buy outlets that have both mains and USB ports, there are even dual USB C outlets now, that can do 30 watts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTWG5DV https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTWG5DV

Spooky23 7y ago
The author makes the valid point that USB-A is too low power, and USB-C requires active cables. (Translation: expensive or dangerous)
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  USB-A can support power delivery. The standard predates USB-C.
  - joecool1029 7y ago
    In practice I haven't seen USB PD 1.0 in the wild. Most of the non-PD charge standards signal charge rates using varied voltages on the D+/D- lines. When current manufacturers claim USB-PD they mean PD 2.0 which requires the CC line (Only included in usb-c to usb-c) to signal and set the voltage. When PD 3.0 is included, they usually call it quickcharge 4.0 or PPS.
- Johnny555 7y ago
  If you want one port that can charge multiple devices of varying needs safely, you need smarter cables. Sounds like a reasonable tradeoff. Otherwise every single cable would have to be built to handle the highest possible power delivery rate (100W for USB-C).
  - lostlogin 7y ago
    Looking at that plug and how chunky the holes are for ac power, when access is limited and you can’t see, shoving a usb c plug into the ac hole is going to happen often.
    - zamadatix 7y ago
      The long vertical slot you could come in contact with is neutral. The bottom peg is ground. The top right vertical strip is hot but it also has recessed connectors and is smaller than the usb c connector. I'd be impressed if you could cause a short on purpose with significant force let alone fumbling in the dark.
    - Johnny555 7y ago
      You'd have to shove awfully hard -- hard enough to crumple the metal shell of the USB connector, since it's wider than the opening in 120VAC socket. (I just tried it with a spare electrical outlet, and even with a fairly hard push and wiggling it around, I couldn't make it fit)
      - lostlogin 7y ago
        Yikes and thanks - I’m in New Zealand and our plugs are way smaller so you couldn’t make that mistake here, but it’s good to know the terminals are far enough in that it’s safe. I’ve seen some surprising things people have forced into the wrong port. USB into Ethernet etc.
  - Spooky23 7y ago
    The problem lies in that you're pushing the problem into the hands of anonymous cable makers and clueless end users. It's really difficult to stick a standard plug into a 30 amp socket. It's really easy to buy some substandard USB-C cable that lies about it's capability.
    - Johnny555 7y ago
      The same issue would exist with any universal in-wall DC power supply -- if consumers buy a substandard product, it can destroy their device. Unless you want separate ports different voltage/power output then the user has to buy separate cables for each one.
- ianburrell 7y ago
  USB-C doesn't require active cables. Only 100W USB-PD and longer high speeds require active cables. The marker chip for 5A charging cables is cheap. Both USB-A and USB-C chargers require active logic. USB-C is more complicated because includes both USB-C and legacy USB logic. USB-PD is the most complexity.
MaupitiBlue 7y ago
I was going to link to that exact product. I put in the USB A one a few weeks ago and love it. When the iPhone 12 is released I’ll switch to USB C.
- dspillett 7y ago
  > When the iPhone 12 is released I’ll switch to USB C Depending on what standards your existing ports support and what power input the iDevice can accept, you may find that a simple A->C adaptor will suffice. You may not get the fastest charge possible so in that case will want to move over sooner rather than later, but this may be an inexpensive (in terms of money and effort) stop-gap measure.
- djrogers 7y ago
  Why wait for the iPhone 12? The current iPhone already charges significantly faster over USB-C than USB-A, as do all iPads released in the past ~3 years.
  - mixmastamyk 7y ago
    I read here recently that fast charging is bad for batteries.
    - rhinoceraptor 7y ago
      There's really no reason to worry about it. Battery replacements (at least from Apple) are $70, and all modern phones have sophisticated battery management controllers. Also, fast charging your battery more often could be better since you're not fully discharging and recharging your battery.
protomyth 7y ago
Do to circumstances beyond our control, we had to replace all the outlets in my parent's condo, so we used the USB (A) outlets. It works quite well. I do wonder if we will see USB-C quick charging outlets.
rwmj 7y ago
I stayed in a newly built hotel a few years ago that had two USB-A sockets integrated in every single power outlet, both in the room and around the lobby. What actually worries me about this is that they are all backed by tiny switch mode power supplies, and if not designed and built correctly they have a habit of exploding. So now your hotel has hundreds of potentially explody boxes hidden in the walls.

Spooky23 7y ago

The author makes the valid point that USB-A is too low power, and USB-C requires active cables. (Translation: expensive or dangerous)

kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
USB-A can support power delivery. The standard predates USB-C.
- joecool1029 7y ago
  In practice I haven't seen USB PD 1.0 in the wild. Most of the non-PD charge standards signal charge rates using varied voltages on the D+/D- lines. When current manufacturers claim USB-PD they mean PD 2.0 which requires the CC line (Only included in usb-c to usb-c) to signal and set the voltage. When PD 3.0 is included, they usually call it quickcharge 4.0 or PPS.
Johnny555 7y ago
If you want one port that can charge multiple devices of varying needs safely, you need smarter cables. Sounds like a reasonable tradeoff. Otherwise every single cable would have to be built to handle the highest possible power delivery rate (100W for USB-C).
- lostlogin 7y ago
  Looking at that plug and how chunky the holes are for ac power, when access is limited and you can’t see, shoving a usb c plug into the ac hole is going to happen often.
  - zamadatix 7y ago
    The long vertical slot you could come in contact with is neutral. The bottom peg is ground. The top right vertical strip is hot but it also has recessed connectors and is smaller than the usb c connector. I'd be impressed if you could cause a short on purpose with significant force let alone fumbling in the dark.
  - Johnny555 7y ago
    You'd have to shove awfully hard -- hard enough to crumple the metal shell of the USB connector, since it's wider than the opening in 120VAC socket. (I just tried it with a spare electrical outlet, and even with a fairly hard push and wiggling it around, I couldn't make it fit)
    - lostlogin 7y ago
      Yikes and thanks - I’m in New Zealand and our plugs are way smaller so you couldn’t make that mistake here, but it’s good to know the terminals are far enough in that it’s safe. I’ve seen some surprising things people have forced into the wrong port. USB into Ethernet etc.
- Spooky23 7y ago
  The problem lies in that you're pushing the problem into the hands of anonymous cable makers and clueless end users. It's really difficult to stick a standard plug into a 30 amp socket. It's really easy to buy some substandard USB-C cable that lies about it's capability.
  - Johnny555 7y ago
    The same issue would exist with any universal in-wall DC power supply -- if consumers buy a substandard product, it can destroy their device. Unless you want separate ports different voltage/power output then the user has to buy separate cables for each one.
ianburrell 7y ago
USB-C doesn't require active cables. Only 100W USB-PD and longer high speeds require active cables. The marker chip for 5A charging cables is cheap. Both USB-A and USB-C chargers require active logic. USB-C is more complicated because includes both USB-C and legacy USB logic. USB-PD is the most complexity.

MaupitiBlue 7y ago

I was going to link to that exact product. I put in the USB A one a few weeks ago and love it. When the iPhone 12 is released I’ll switch to USB C.

dspillett 7y ago
> When the iPhone 12 is released I’ll switch to USB C Depending on what standards your existing ports support and what power input the iDevice can accept, you may find that a simple A->C adaptor will suffice. You may not get the fastest charge possible so in that case will want to move over sooner rather than later, but this may be an inexpensive (in terms of money and effort) stop-gap measure.
djrogers 7y ago
Why wait for the iPhone 12? The current iPhone already charges significantly faster over USB-C than USB-A, as do all iPads released in the past ~3 years.
- mixmastamyk 7y ago
  I read here recently that fast charging is bad for batteries.
  - rhinoceraptor 7y ago
    There's really no reason to worry about it. Battery replacements (at least from Apple) are $70, and all modern phones have sophisticated battery management controllers. Also, fast charging your battery more often could be better since you're not fully discharging and recharging your battery.

protomyth 7y ago

Do to circumstances beyond our control, we had to replace all the outlets in my parent's condo, so we used the USB (A) outlets. It works quite well. I do wonder if we will see USB-C quick charging outlets.

rwmj 7y ago

I stayed in a newly built hotel a few years ago that had two USB-A sockets integrated in every single power outlet, both in the room and around the lobby. What actually worries me about this is that they are all backed by tiny switch mode power supplies, and if not designed and built correctly they have a habit of exploding. So now your hotel has hundreds of potentially explody boxes hidden in the walls.