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Topic: 110v / USB Charging Outlets (Read 1095 times) previous topic - next topic

110v / USB Charging Outlets

This Leviton outlet has been referenced before.  One outlet, 2 USB ports, 2.1 amps max.

Leviton T5630-W 2.1-Amp High Speed USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle,...

It is not enough power to charge both an iPhone and an iPad at the same time as shown on ads for this product.

It maybe still available but it has been discontinued and replaced by a 3.6 amp USB capability with either a single or duplex 110 v outlet.

I wrote a review on Amazon highlighting this shortcoming.  Leviton sent me an email and then a new higher power, duplex outlet.  Very nice of them.

Amazon.com: Leviton T5632-W 15-Amp USB Charger/Tamper Resistant Duplex...

These are useful.

Roger

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #1 –
Great product.  Thanks for the link. 
2019 Pleasure Way Lexor

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #2 –
I use one of those handy outlets too - up front in our GV. Use it for phone and tablet charging.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #3 –
I was at Home Depot today getting other items. While I was there I saw the Leviton USB plug. Same price as Ebay.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #4 –
Now, does anyone know how these units work (the USB part) on a MSW inverter???

In other words, is the USB charge port "clean" given MSW input???

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #5 –
I presume that the charging voltage for all periferals are the same?  Just asking.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #6 –
But, is "square wave" input the same as "pure sine wave" in terms of output?

Given the number of MSW inverters out there, this is an critical question.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #7 –
Great questions, Brett.  I sent an email to the tech person at Leviton that has been helping me with this to ask these questions.  These have smart chip controllers that monitor and control the charge volts and amps.  5 volts dc charge.

That makes me wonder what happens if we just plug in our chargers for whatever we have into an outlet in the coach?  If the inverter is not a pure sine wave output then what happens to that charger output?

I'll report the feedback that I get.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #8 –
Quote
Now, does anyone know how these units work (the USB part) on a MSW inverter???

I use mine with the inverter. It's the original Freedom 25 MSW unit. So far, so good.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Home2fromHastings –
Great questions, Brett.  I sent an email to the tech person at Leviton that has been helping me with this to ask these questions.  These have smart chip controllers that monitor and control the charge volts and amps.  5 volts dc charge.

That makes me wonder what happens if we just plug in our chargers for whatever we have into an outlet in the coach?  If the inverter is not a pure sine wave output then what happens to that charger output?

I'll report the feedback that I get.

Roger

Thanks, Roger.  Would sure like for everyone to know that the USB power is "pure" and not just that they got away with using a MSW inverter to power it.  Can see a burned up device charged from it and a denial of warranty.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #10 –
Question: Does the USB port not provide DC voltage to charge these periferals?  If so, does it still make a difference if MSW or pure sine?
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #11 –
I'm not sure, Peter.  The outlets have smart chips in them to regulate voltage to 5 volts and the power output to meet the device demand.  My guess is that they are pretty input independent.  The Xantrex inverter in our coach says it is a true sine wave with THD of 1%.

We have been using plug in chargers for more than 4 years without issues and have a couple of 12v charger ports (look like 12v cig lighters) that are supposed to be smart chip controlled as well.  They work my tablets and phones fine.

Brett maybe referring to some of the older coaches.

Probably a wide range of quality in these plug in charger devices.  Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #12 –
The second link that Roger provided shows a price of $23.40. For some reason, the 2-pack is shown as $60.86, on the same link.
 
I found the 2-pack at Sam's Club today for $29.xx!
 
Enough said!
 
Trent

Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #13 –
The two pack includes wall plates.  Prices vary by color too, for some reason.  The older versions had less amps to the USB chargers.  If the Sam's Club find is the newer one, then great find!  Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Home2fromHastings –
The older versions had less amps to the USB chargers.  If the Sam's Club find is the newer one, then great find!
Roger,
 
I think it was only rated at about 2.1 amps. For the price, though, it is still a bargain!
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #15 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Thanks, Roger.  Would sure like for everyone to know that the USB power is "pure" and not just that they got away with using a MSW inverter to power it.  Can see a burned up device charged from it and a denial of warranty.


What do you mean "pure"? It's DC voltage that comes out. Why would a a 5v USB charger have an inverter on it?

I'm not an electronics expert, but my understanding is all modern chargers or things like this USB plug use switched mode power supplies (or switching power supplies?). Cell phone and laptop chargers usually say on them 100-250V and 50-60hz input, but probably can take a wider range than that. Basically, they really aren't that sensitive to what comes in because they have all the gizmos inside to make what goes out a fairly decent DC 5v.

So I fail to see where a pure sine or modified sine wave is of any importance with modern chargers. I regularly run my laptop and cell phone chargers off a cheap $15 amazon inverter that I plug in to the cig lighter---I'm sure it's the crappiest of crap MSW or whatev. They all work fine.

Switched-mode power supply applications - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also, here is a good explanation of the differences, followed by some posts of guys saying they never had any problems with MSW inverters running anything: Modified Sine Wave VS True Sine Wave Inverters
1998 U270 34'

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #16 –
Modified sine wave inverters will run step down  regulated switching power supplies without problems (USB chargers).  It does affect the duty cycle of the input stage of the Switching power supply, and the DC link voltage will be slightly different.  The output however will be regulated 5V as required by USB charge devices so your devices will not know the difference.

Modified sine wave inverters power most devices without problems except large inductive loads such as motors etc. and clocks.  I have used modified sine wave inverters in industrial applications for many years without issue on oil rigs and power generation projects.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #17 –
I have heard that some switching power supplies in computers are problematic with MSW inverters.  I also know some "pure"or "true" sine wave inverters are only approximations to sine waves.  Be that as it may, I have never had any issues with anything plunged into my Xantrex Prosine inverter, which I believe to be very truly pure, as close to pure an an inverter can be.  I have also on occasion used no-name "sine wave" inverters, and again had no problems with various devices, including laptop computers with switching power supplies.

These wall outlets should be fine.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer
 

Re: 110v / USB Charging Outlets

Reply #18 –
I heard back from the Customer Service fellow at Leviton.  He forwarded my question about pure sine wave vs a square wave or other type of inverter.  He replied ...

"Product Management ... believes the performance of the device will depend on the inverter itself.  It is recommended that you use an inverter that produces a sine wave instead of a chopped/squared wave."

It would be interesting to see what Apple or any other manufacturer of plug-in chargers has to say.  I am sure they are all assuming you will be plugging it into a normal household outlet with utility supplied power.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN