Most of your devices are now charging via USB ports except for wireless charging devices, because USB charging has revolutionized the way we think about power, and made it easy to charge a variety of devices. It is quite simple when your laptop, tablet or smartphone are sharing the same power supply, all you need is just a multiport USB socket and several compatible USB cables for connection. Sometimes you still need one additional USB AC adapter when your charging port does not match the USB ports. As far as we know, the mobile electric devices are now available for charging simultaneously because wall adapters, car chargers, desktop chargers even power banks are now supporting this functionality. Can we realize this function when it comes to electrical devices? Let’s go and discuss what we find from the market.
The good news is that many power outlets are now available with USB ports built into them. USB outlets have been on the market for charging electronic devices for a decade. Thanks to the fast-growing USB technology, the quick charge technology is now widely used for charging, especially for QC 3.0 and PD technology, have given us amazing speed. If you’re still charging on an old USB Type-A port, you’re not getting the best charge speed for your newer devices.
How to choose a USB Wall Outlet
It is very simple for choosing a USB wall outlet nowadays. You don’t have to be a professional electrician when you need to buy a USB wall outlet. This does not mean that you should be careless. Please check your electronic devices and see clearly the charging technology they are compatible with before you do any purchase.
USB Power Delivery (USB PD) vs. QC 3.0 Charging
Actually, most consumers are not so clearly about the difference between USB Power Delivery (PD) and QC (Quick Charge) 3.0 charging. These are both fast charging technologies via USB port that work faster than ordinary USB. All PD devices can be only charged via USB-C™ port while QC charge devices can be charged via both USB-A and USB-C ports. In other words, you need to know what type of power your device takes before you buy the USB outlet. That said, some devices are actually supporting both PD and QC charging technology. In that case, you need to find out which one is better.
Ordinary USB port can deliver not more than 10 watts of power. USB Power Delivery enabled devices with charging protocol that can deliver up to 100 watts(20V/5A), this is usually required by a laptop that support USB PD. Besides, USB PD technology also support different charging watts such as 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A and 20V/3A. For a smartphone or tablet, all the power need would be at 12V maximum.
PD technology was developed by the USB Implementers Forum. The PD charging can be available only when your electronic devices, USB cable and power source are all supporting this technology. For example, the smartphone will not get a PD charging when your smartphone and power adapter support PD but your USB-C cable does not support it.
QC means Quick Charge that was developed by Qualcomm firstly. That is to say, QC only works if the device runs on a Qualcomm chipset, or on a chipset that was licensed by Qualcomm. This licensing fee means that there’s an extra cost for carrying quick charging technology, beyond the cost of the hardware.
On the other hand, QC 3.0 offers a couple of major benefits that PD doesn’t. Firstly, it will automatically reach up to 36 watts when it is detected the same requirements. Like PD, the maximum wattage of any given USB port can vary, but the lowest possible maximum is 15 watts. However, PD charging is stepped from one voltage to another. It works at set wattages, not in-between. So, if your PD charger can work at 15 or 27 watts, and you plug in a 20-watt phone, it will charge at 15 watts. For chargers that support QC 3.0, on the other hand, provide variable voltage to give a maximum charging watt. So if you have a quirky phone that charges at 22.5 watts, it will get exactly 22.5 watts.
Another advantage of QC 3.0 is that it doesn’t create a lot of heat as it can adjust the voltage slightly from lower to higher instead of jump from one to another. Some other quick charge technologies can deliver excess current. Since this current meets heavy resistance inside the device, it create too much heat. Because QC delivers the exact voltage required, there’s no excess current to create heat.
Safety
USB chargers often provide various safety certifications include overcharging, overcurrent, overheating and short-circuiting protection. Power outlets with quick charging technology, on the other hand, are quite safe as it is UL certified. UL is a highest safety insurance that provides certifications for electrical systems worldwide. It is very safe when you use a UL listed USB outlet for residential or commercial usage.
Post time: Jun-14-2023