OCD Alert?

[MattF]

Having spent years telling the family to turn off un-used mains adapters / chargers, I am more than a little unsure about those double 13A outlets with USB power supplies built in.

IMHO, stuff like that should always be separate to something like a switch unit, not part of. Call me the paranoid type, but I like to know there's mechanical/physical control, and that you aren't relying on someone elses concept of isolated or safe. Removing/disconnecting something from the supply is as safe as it gets. Plus, you don't have a useless thing on your socket when the USB portion eventually goes tits up. An external adaptor/charger is simple to replace.

 

[zx9]

IMHO, stuff like that should always be separate to something like a switch unit, not part of. Call me the paranoid type, but I like to know there's mechanical/physical control, and that you aren't relying on someone elses concept of isolated or safe. Removing/disconnecting something from the supply is as safe as it gets. Plus, you don't have a useless thing on your socket when the USB portion eventually goes tits up. An external adaptor/charger is simple to replace.

The more I think about them they have a place, hotels or airport lounges perhaps but not in my house. A double USB outlet with mains isolation and an indicator LED to show status would be ideal for our kitchen, I would even take out one of the double 13A outlets to make room for it.

 

[Ian X]

After delays, setbacks and problems I'm finally getting there with the man cave/darkroom/office

Did some on the electrics today, due to one of the aforementioned delays the sockets are surface mounted (I'm ok with this) I ordered sockets the same make, just one has built in USB sockets, but.....
View attachment 67780

Checking my receipt they have supplied different normal sockets to the ones I asked for

Will I be able to cope with it right in my eye line when I'm at my desk, or am I going back?

Think I know the answer already

Even if you was to hang a calender over them they would be there behind it with you knowing that.

 

[MattF]

Even if you was to hang a calender over them they would be there behind it with you knowing that.

That just made me think of "The Tell-Tale Heart".

 

[Ian X]

That just made me think of "The Tell-Tale Heart".

Edgar Allan Poe crossed my mind when I posted. Well spotted!

 

[Kayos]

The more I think about them they have a place, hotels or airport lounges perhaps but not in my house. A double USB outlet with mains isolation and an indicator LED to show status would be ideal for our kitchen, I would even take out one of the double 13A outlets to make room for it.

There are modular systems, so you could use (say) a 2g faceplate with a USB outlet and a DP isolator so it could be switched off

As to "diy" brands, I've used second cheapest from Screwfix for years without a problem, both on my own and other people's jobs, if a customer wants MK etc then they would be given a new price and most of them change their minds

(Just to note, I no longer do customer work, I just do my own)

 

[captain-destructo]

i noticed the switches are all switched off
we once had a friends girlfriend believing that if you didnt switch all the plugs off the electric would escape and she would have a masive bill

 

[Ian X]

i noticed the switches are all switched off
we once had a friends girlfriend believing that if you didnt switch all the plugs off the electric would escape and she would have a masive bill

Nail on head. Once upon a time I knew a facilities manager at Westminster House in Manchester. His maintenance man frequently replaced tap washers on two catering sinks used by a dear OCD plagued lady. She would bend her head and study the tap outlets looking for drips. Not satisfied that the taps had closed she would exert some more force on the faucets until she was not so certain that they might leak and flood the building, or not. She told the maintenance man that she was afraid her house might catch fire as a cover was off "some electrics box". I rolled about but he was more sympathetic and I did feel bad. One of my brothers used to go downstairs late on and check if the front and back doors was locked, three times usually.

 

[brightspark]

i have a habit of squaring everything up. beer mats plates knives and forks . even do it with me comp keyboard a few people have noticed it