Thoughts on mains sockets with USB power as well ?

[skotl]

I suspect the whole "bursting into flames" thing, for external chargers and these in-built ones, is somewhat overblown.
While there probably is an issue with fake / no-name devices being bought from the Far East for £0.80 on ebay, something with a genuine CE mark sold by a reputable vendor is no more likely to burst into flames than your clock-radio.

 

[GW8IZR]

Like a lot of things in life, convenience costs - if you want the convenience of the outlets you have to accept the very small additional running cost, the increased purchase cost and the extra cost and inconvenience in the event you need to replace on failure. I don't fit them as I'm not prepared to accept the inconvenience of having to swap them in the event of surge damage and I won't increase the RF noise level at my home unnecessarily.

As @skotl correctly points out the risk of fire with reputable stuff is minimal although I would point out that even a genuine CE mark is no guarantee of safety.

As a slight digression but related to 'fake' products there is about to be a huge increase in popular media exposure to this, now getting bored with the DIY, Homes in the country,and celebrity cooking shows our great TV audience will soon need a new fix .... I predict entire shows demonstrating that if you are terminally stupid you can poke a kitchen knife into a washing machine hose and flood your kitchen. All this of course fuelled and funded by the likes of Dyson etc who want to protect their overblown profit margins ... I cant wait :-)

 

[zx9]

I was watching the sparkies installing Wandsworth USB outlets, just 2x USB no 13A outlet in a single gang frame, in one of the hotel health clubs we were working in. Those things have a massive power supply leaving not much room for the wiring in a 35mm deep boxes which had all been installed at first fix before the marble wall slabs were fitted overall depth available would have been about 45mm / 47mm including the marble.
God knows how much they cost but they looked far more durable than anything Screw Station or Tool Fix sell, I had been considering a dual 13A outlet with chargers for our kitchen but have since decided against it, at least untill the 20 plus year old consumer unit is changed for one with RCD / RCBO protection.

 

[GW8IZR]

<snip>... I had been considering a dual 13A outlet with chargers for our kitchen but have since decided against it, at least untill the 20 plus year old consumer unit is changed for one with RCD / RCBO protection.

I think that's a very wise approach