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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: bkenobi on April 24, 2012, 02:01:34 PM

Title: USB in-wall charger
Post by: bkenobi on April 24, 2012, 02:01:34 PM

I have a few devices that (can) charge via USB.  One of these in particular comes with a AC/DC cube that creates a lot of noise and damages PLC (iPod touch 120/220 switching charger).  I was thinking about getting a filter for this charger or getting a different charger that isn't so noisy.  Then I saw this:

http://www.smarthome.com/21675WH/Cooper-Wiring-Devices-TR7740-W-USB-Charger-with-Tamper-Resistant-Receptacle-White/p.aspx

Anyone know if these would be clean for use with PLC signals?  I have a couple phones and the iPod in a charging thing on my night stand.  I was thinking I could swap out the outlet for something like this and not even need to worry about chargers (in that location) again.  However, if they would cause the same type of noise...pointless.

Title: Re: USB in-wall charger
Post by: cjhallx on April 24, 2012, 02:34:03 PM

APC P4WUSB Essential SurgeArrest 4 Outlet Wall Mount with USB

http://www.ebay.com/itm/APC-P4WUSB-Essential-SurgeArrest-4-Outlet-Wall-Mount-with-USB-/150797249412?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231c376b84 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/APC-P4WUSB-Essential-SurgeArrest-4-Outlet-Wall-Mount-with-USB-/150797249412?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231c376b84)

Title: Re: USB in-wall charger
Post by: bkenobi on April 24, 2012, 02:47:26 PM

That product includes RFI/EMI filtering which could mean a capacitor across the hot-neutral.  If so, then that could be a problem even without the USB adapter.  I had considered a surge protector with USB ports, but even the good quality power strips I have require filtering.  At that point, I'm no better off than just getting a filter and using my current setup.

Thanks for the suggestion!