Outlets of the Future aka in-wall USB Charger

Your Iphone is dead, someone has run off with your Ipod wall charger, if only it where the future and all outlets were USB! 

This instructable will show you how to convert a standard outlet into an inwall USB Charger.  In about 30 minutes and for under $10.00.

Not only will this add a permanent place to charge your USB devices.  It will get your home ready for the future, when most appliances are USB.  (I make no guarantees this will happen)
 

Step 1 Materials / Tools

Materials
2 - Mini USB chargers ($3.00 - $9.00 on eBay)
1 - Blank wall plate (screws included)
1 - Existing wall Duplex.
Epoxy or other strong Glue

Tools
Flat Screw Driver
Exacto or utility knife
Drill or Dremel
Pencil or other making device.

Comments

[ajriding]

I have always understood that these AC to DC converters were always on and drawing current. There has been a lot of whining about leaving your unused phone chargers plugged in all the time bc of the current draw and wasting electricity. If they are on then they are producing heat potentially. That is the potential fire hazard in your wall.
I am guessing this outlet is using a plug in converter hardwired to the outlet wires and attached to the cover plate. Maybe it need an on/off switch.
Great idea though otherwise.

[radams-lyons]

Your theory seems MOST likely. Ether to HOT or just a WASTE.

[TheRealDutchOwner]

Sure, that little thing will explode your house. Just saying, this does NOT produce that much heat. It gets warm, maybe. An off/on switch however is not a bad idea, as it is draining power.

[explosivebass1414]

pretty ballin

[zack247]

those comments about wasting power and burning houses down seem a little far-fetched to me, my phone charger is basically the same thing (just with a cord and no usb port) but even while its charging my phone it doesnt get warm, and if the phone isnt plugged in its not doing much work so there isnt very much power being wasted at all.

i know these chargers are completely different things but i highly doubt they generate enough heat to start something on fire. as far as electrical code..
i dont see much wrong with it, the sockets are just set deeper in the wall, is all.

[ilpug]

This goes beyond a facepalm to more like a facepunch. WHY DID I NOT THINK OF THIS. Ah well, you thoguht of it, and it is AWESOME. I am in the process of making it too.

[Diabloscope]

my Wife found this somewhere , USB turns on when plugged in . Sorry no info on this all it says in the back Made By WWW.SAKAR.COM item # is 76170 but its not on their product line . ?

[Diabloscope]

Belkin Actually has a good one as well ,

Fastmac is currently not shipping

i'm definitely going to take this apart and incorporate into a standard GFCI wall Socket

[David97]

thats awsome

[David97]

nice job

[timbarrett1977]

Forgive me if someone else has already suggested this, but perhaps you could put the outlet on a switch that way it is off unless you are using it?
or a timer that only allows power durring hours that you are present.

[asheldon7]

Why not just buy a outlet with built in usb ports?
http://fastmac.com/usocket.php

[Hextor]

When I first made this instructable there were no commercial products available. besides that why buy when you can make, if you don't prescribe to the philosophy, it's curious why you are on this site. And of course it's funner to build than to buy.

[sokamiwohali]

because some things are meant to be built proffesionally so you dont burn down ur house. just because that plug isntshowing signs that something will happen dont mean an outlet somewhere else is going to be a problem down the road. but cool project NTL.

[oanderson]

Because this whole website is about making your own. I'm sure that lots of Instructibles are available to buy but where's the fun in that?!
;)

[d_o1213]

your still wasting electricity by having them plugged in sorry :/

[Hextor]

This is a debate that will go on for ever, if it does draw power without an ipod plugged in, it doesn't even register on a Kill-a-watt after 24 hours. I can live with that!

[oanderson]

Yeah, ought to have a little switch for each one.

[mattccc]

take a look at this device
http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=458

[Markus Laumann]

Sadly, that outlet at fastmac has been on backorder since 2009 (apparently STILL awaiting safety approval). I hope one day it ships, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

It does look like they updated the design. You can see the older version in a comment below from me. Notice the date of the post...

[asheldon7]

I just got mine the other day. I love it!

[bjreicks]

What you want is a custom plate to hold an ipod iphone to the right or left side with a retractable / fold away power cable from the usb adapters (located under the ipod shelf / holder )......................... Ideally you would want a custom plate with dual light switches. One switch for lights and one switch with dedicated power to your usb chargers under the ipod tray. It also should have a green power on led :) ..........................This would get your ipod iphone at a proper hand level............................... Home Depot should be selling these for about 25 bucks - IMHO.

[PowerLion1]

COOL IDEA! However to cover the code violation I would just rather buy one of these: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/e81a/.

[ferdna]

what dremel bit are you using here?

[dgabrielle]

LOVE this. Especially since its in MY kitchen!

[therockmandolinist]

oh cool :)

[theo67]

Why not just plug them into an outlet directly when needed and forget all the mods.  Why create work when you do not need to, as well as endangering yourself fiddling around with high voltage and bare wires.!!!!

[hammerhead1]

Occam's razor applys even to "those who must tinker." The simple solution is always the good/best solution. Plug 'em into the wall when you need power for your I phone.

[Project D]

Because we here at Instructables.com are tinkerers, and tinkerers tinker. Do we really *need* any other reason to create more work for ourselves? Why cook food when organically-grown raw food is more nutritious? Because fire makes it better! And tinkering makes *ANY* device better!

[jo'connell]

Well said!

[theo67]

Point taken. Do you cook your roots and berries? Strange????

[Project D]

Some, yes. Because fire makes it better.

[mrxavia]

Fire also makes it easier to digest, reducing the time & volume of food required to eat and allowing more time for tinkering ;-)

Cooked food, (especially meat) is why we are tinkerers not tree dwellers :-)

[uberdum05]

It looks neater...

[ItsTheHobbs]

A) It's USB. You cant plug USB cables directly into a wall without this.
2) If you could, it would kill whatever device you are using because the standard wall socket has WAY to much electricity to charge anything with.

[Ben The Builder]

Congratulations, your idea's caught on

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/e81a/#tabs

[DavidHParry]

Nice project.
However, if the mains voltage to 5V USB converters use mini transformers to convert the voltage down then the high voltage windings of the transformers will be PERMENENTLY connected to mains voltages and so powered all the time... inside your wall behind a plastic panel. As these get warm (or HOT, depending on make and quality) they won't get cooled by airflow over them... they're in a sealed cavity in the wall of you house... where you live.

Electrical equipment is rated and tested for a reason... it fails.

If your house burns down, your insurance company will NOT pay out over unauthorized modifications to your mains.

I like the idea... but those cheapy mains-to-ubs units would worry me.

[wolff000]

Then don't do it you cry baby. Leave the modding to the modders. Awesome instructable Hextor keep up the good work.

[Arc Trooper 5555]

If left alone they will not draw a current. To draw a current the circuit must be closed. For this to happen something must be plugged in. : ]

[csquyres]

What about your vacuum or your toaster or your coffee pot or your hair dryer or any number of other electricity based gadgets that have nothing to do with a computer..this idea doesnt make sense to replace ALL electrical outlets. Perhaps having a couple in logical places like an office etc. would be cool and convenient...but then there's all the points above people made as well. Cool thought though.