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New York, 1:15 AM
Fri Dec 18
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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of petertew001 petertew001
    12/11/09

    In reply to Most Popular DIY Projects of 2009
    Aren't those ping pong ball lights supposed to be super dangerous cause they can catch on fire really fast?
     Reply
    Unionhawk approved this comment petertew001 was starred petertew001 was unstarred
    Image of Unionhawk Unionhawk
    12/12/09

    @petertew001: How would they catch on fire? They're made of plastic.
     Reply
    Unionhawk was starred Unionhawk was unstarred
    Image of cadenlaguna cadenlaguna
    12/12/09

    Unionhawk: very fun to do when u crack a pingpong ball
     Reply
    Unionhawk promoted this comment Edited by cadenlaguna at 12/12/09 11:01 PM cadenlaguna was starred cadenlaguna was unstarred
    Image of Unionhawk Unionhawk
    12/12/09

    @cadenlaguna: hmm... well, I stand corrected then
     Reply
    Unionhawk was starred Unionhawk was unstarred
    Image of zshelby zshelby
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    Won't the transformers in these run constantly, thus driving up your electric bill all the time?
     Reply
    CaseyG approved this comment zshelby was starred zshelby was unstarred
    Image of CaseyG CaseyG
    12/04/09

    @zshelby: No.

    "Please also note that the USB ports only draw power when something is physically connected to the port. We didn't want a vampire port that continually sucks and wastes power when not in use so this was one of the features on the top of our priority list during the design phase."
     Reply
    CaseyG was starred CaseyG was unstarred
    Image of iMiiTH iMiiTH
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    Maybe USB could become the worldwide standard.
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment iMiiTH was starred iMiiTH was unstarred
    Image of Jules Winfield Jules Winfield
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    I can finally charge my PS3 controller without turning the damn system on.
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment Jules Winfield was starred Jules Winfield was unstarred
    Image of geolemon geolemon
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    I'd feel safer plugging my cell (ie. my life) into it if they had GFCI built in, or at least surge protection...

    I'm not sure I like the idea of plugging my sensitive electronics direct into the wall bypassing that stuff.
     Reply
    Bos'un's Mate promoted this comment geolemon was starred geolemon was unstarred
    Image of Bos'un's Mate Bos'un's Mate
    12/04/09

    @geolemon: If the first outlet on a circuit is GFCI, the remaining outlets are covered. [www.thecircuitdetective.com]
     Reply
    Bos'un's Mate was starred Bos'un's Mate was unstarred
    Image of queboi queboi
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    It should have an on/off switch for the USB ports. Haven't they heard of the power companies' message of unplugging the power adaptors when not in use?
     Reply
    CaseyG approved this comment queboi was starred queboi was unstarred
    Image of CaseyG CaseyG
    12/04/09

    @queboi: Yes. Yes, they have.

    "Please also note that the USB ports only draw power when something is physically connected to the port. We didn't want a vampire port that continually sucks and wastes power when not in use so this was one of the features on the top of our priority list during the design phase."
     Reply
    CaseyG was starred CaseyG was unstarred
    Image of queboi queboi
    12/07/09

    @CaseyG: Really? Are there contact switches built into the USB ports themselves or does the circuit sense current draw on from the ports? If contact switches, how reliable are they under normal usage - plugging and unplugging? If current sense then is the curuit that senses the current a vampire circuit?
     Reply
    queboi was starred queboi was unstarred
    Image of CaseyG CaseyG
    12/07/09

    @queboi: Much like your first question, this can be answered with information in the article:

    "If you have any questions about this specific product please contact mlowdermilk at fastmac.com."
     Reply
    CaseyG was starred CaseyG was unstarred
    Image of AwesomeSquad AwesomeSquad
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    I've never actually noticed how much electrical sockets look like frowny faces. D=
     Reply
    AwesomeSquad was starred AwesomeSquad was unstarred
    Image of STiger STiger
    12/04/09

    @AwesomeSquad: It's because they're always shocked.
     Reply
    chauncy that billups promoted this comment STiger was starred STiger was unstarred
    Image of SergioAM SergioAM
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    YES.

    I think it was yesterdays article on a DIY of one of these but just USB's and since I've never been a DIY-er for that kinda thing I gotta pick one of these up :]
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment SergioAM was starred SergioAM was unstarred
    Image of subsammy subsammy
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    I plug my iPod into a firewire adaptor because it charges faster. Can I get a USB/FW combo plug?
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment subsammy was starred subsammy was unstarred
    Image of Spatchmo Spatchmo
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    My heart just goes out to those plug sockets, poor things, they look terrified at the prospect of having some new neighbours.

    Hang on little buddies, you'll become friends, i promise!
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment Spatchmo was starred Spatchmo was unstarred
    Image of k2backhoe k2backhoe
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    Great, wasting 8 watts of electricity at every outlet. You pay for the $10 outlet cost again every year on your electric bill. BAD idea
     Reply
    Xeno approved this comment k2backhoe was starred k2backhoe was unstarred
    Image of Gene Gene
    12/04/09

    @k2backhoe: Uh, if you actually read the product description, they explicitly state that zero vampire current was one of their top criteria.
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment Gene was starred Gene was unstarred
    Image of Ian Wish Ian Wish
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    From the site - "Please also note that the USB ports only draw power when something is physically connected to the port. We didn't want a vampire port that continually sucks and wastes power when not in use so this was one of the features on the top of our priority list during the design phase."
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment Ian Wish was starred Ian Wish was unstarred
    Image of Xagest Xagest
    12/04/09

    @Ian Wish:
    Wow, finally someone who actually read the article. I hope more people see this post
     Reply
    Xagest was starred Xagest was unstarred
    Image of Webran61 Webran61
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    This is only logical, however manufacturers would need to start making USB cords longer than 6 inches.
     Reply
    Mark Wilson promoted this comment Webran61 was starred Webran61 was unstarred
    Image of theirishcreme theirishcreme
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    The idea is good, but this will be exactly like having an AC adapter plugged in all the time, because one must be built into this device. Without a power button, it will always be consuming power, whereas a standard adapter can be disconnected.

    Also, it will always be generating heat (I understand a tiny amount, but an amount all the same), and I prefer my heat-generating devices be outside the walls when possible.

    I'd suggest this be wired in a switched circuit for those conscious of these possible downsides.
     Reply
    Xagest promoted this comment theirishcreme was starred theirishcreme was unstarred
    Image of Xagest Xagest
    12/04/09

    @theirishcreme:
    From the article:
    "Please also note that the USB ports only draw power when something is physically connected to the port. We didn't want a vampire port that continually sucks and wastes power when not in use so this was one of the features on the top of our priority list during the design phase."
     Reply
    Xagest was starred Xagest was unstarred
    Image of SSgtTEX SSgtTEX
    12/04/09

    @Xagest: You are expecting way to much here. Do you really expect people to read instead of complain about problems that are not there?
     Reply
    Xagest promoted this comment SSgtTEX was starred SSgtTEX was unstarred
    Image of Xagest Xagest
    12/04/09

    @SSgtTEX:
    Which is why I copied part of the article here.
     Reply
    Xagest was starred Xagest was unstarred
    Image of BeyondtheTech BeyondtheTech
    12/04/09

    In reply to $10 USB Power Outlets Sound Like a No-Brainer
    They should put in a network jack and do the whole integrated PowerLine Networking thing in the outlet.
     Reply
    Edited by BeyondtheTech at 12/04/09 11:28 AM BeyondtheTech was starred BeyondtheTech was unstarred
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