Power adapters and extension cords (again!)

[FigmentSpark]

I'm looking at this unit for charging electronics:

http://www.j5create.com/our-products/power-charger/jup50.html


Does anyone know if it would be considered an extension cord (and therefore confiscated) or just a plug (and allowable)? I have no intention of bringing something on board that could start a fire, but I'd like something to charge my electronics.

 

[missyp]

It is allowed but I had a similar one and it was too big and was unable to use it. I can't remember what it was interfering with, it may have been a light switch.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Do you mean one you plugged directly into the socket, as opposed to having a cord to connect it to the socket?

 

[squirk]

It should be fine. However, if you want to eliminate uncertainty, here's what we have used for three years with no pushback from DCL: http://a.co/1wOeY4K.

Yours and mine look almost exactly the same.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I did look at the Anker. They do seem almost the same. Have you taken this and used it on the ship?

 

[squirk]

I did look at the Anker. They do seem almost the same. Have you taken this and used it on the ship?

Yes. Sorry. That is what I meant by the "three years" thing. We cruise once a year, and we've used it on three consecutive cruises without hassle.

 

[Starwind]

A note about such devices, completely aside form whether Disney allows them or not.

We have an Anker one. It gets HOT when charging things. If you read through the mountain of Amazon reviews you will discover that they had a period where some would get so hot they would actually **melt things** including in some cases part of the device, but especially surfaces they were on.

There were also a slew of media reports over the years of "third party" USB chargers for Apple devices that would overheat and in some cases even start fires. Apple even issued some statements about those ones. We bought our Anker one before the reports of the melting came out, so we are very very cautious with it.

I therefore don't fully trust them and ONLY use them when an adult human is around/in the same room. So, no plug in and leave it while I go do things elsewhere in the house or even worse leave the house. We don't bring ours on the cruise.

If they were made by a reputable brand name like Belkin I would have more trust in the product, but Belkin doesn't make devices in that style. Likewise if the product was by a name I don't recognize but sold at e.g. the Apple Store as approved for their products. Instead they are made by these third parties who you have never heard of and who only sell online.

A safer solution which works for us:

I have about 4 external battery charger things. Depending on their capacity they will charge most USB-chargeable devices [be careful buying them if you have something like an iPad that has a larger current draw to make sure the external battery you are contemplating will meet its power needs]. So, for example, the ones I have will recharge my iPhone fully about 4 times. Each one can charge two devices at a time.

So, I charge up the external batteries using the available power sockets in the room --- I only ever need to have two charging at a time, max. I then use the external batteries to charge my devices. We only use the original manufacturer's (OEM) charging cables that came with our devices for ANY charging.

The external batteries are also handy when out and about. I can put one in my bag, along with the OEM cable(s) for the devices. Allows me to charge in the bag or at a destination. Forgot to charge the phone overnight ? Plug it into the battery, toss the two in the bag and in an hour or two you have a charged phone.

We do have a couple Belkin adapters that plus right into an outlet and give you e.g. one power plug + 2 USB ports. the problem is when you don't have unobstructed access to the outlet it won't fit. IIRC the cruise outlets are slightly recessed and/or have other obstructions that may preclude using something like those.

=====

Ok, I just did a quick search at the Apple store and discovered a new Belkin product !! Yeah !!!! Once I am done this post I will be buying one and tossing our Anker multiport charger. Obviously I have never used it so can't speak to this Belkin, but nice to see they have multi-port USB chargers now.

Belkin Family RockStar™ 4-Port USB Charger:

http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/HKJD2ZM/A/belkin-family-rockstar-4-port-usb-charger

http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F8M990/

Amazon sells it as do others.


SW

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks. I'll have to check out the Belkin one. I had seen the other one on a Black Friday ad. Maybe that should be my first clue about how good it might be.

 

[OKW Lover]

I did look at the Anker. They do seem almost the same. Have you taken this and used it on the ship?

Yes, we have the Anker and have brought it on board several times. We travel a lot (not just cruises) and the Anker has served us well. Never a problem and we have no overheating issues with it.

 

[Starwind]

Thanks. I'll have to check out the Belkin one. I had seen the other one on a Black Friday ad. Maybe that should be my first clue about how good it might be.

Well a Black Friday ad from say Apple (btw, the email they sent to us today suggests they will be having some kind of black friday sale on accessories, though they gave few details) is rather different than a random Black friday ad showing up on a website (I ignore all third party ads on websites and will not click through them; if I notice one for a retailer I like I will open a new tab and directly go to that retailer's page, not use the ad click to do it, since clicking the ad you never actually know where it is going to send you) or even Amazon.

SW

 

[cedricandsophie]

I have the one shown above. I just used it again on the Fantasy. It works great. Plugs in easily on the desk.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Well a Black Friday ad from say Apple (btw, the email they sent to us today suggests they will be having some kind of black friday sale on accessories, though they gave few details) is rather different than a random Black friday ad showing up on a website (I ignore all third party ads on websites and will not click through them; if I notice one for a retailer I like I will open a new tab and directly go to that retailer's page, not use the ad click to do it, since clicking the ad you never actually know where it is going to send you) or even Amazon.

SW

I agree about 3rd party ads and Amazon (lately), but this was a Best Buy ad in their flyer, so at least I thought there is some accountability.

I have the one shown above. I just used it again on the Fantasy. It works great. Plugs in easily on the desk.

You have the one in the picture I posted or the Anker that PP posted?

 

[Steelers0854]

I have a similar product and have taken it on multiple cruise (albeit not on DCL yet, but all the lines have somewhat similar policies) without an issue.

I don't know what types of phones or devices you are charging but beware this charges everything at 2.4 amps, which is what most tablets take as a charge. You can charge cell phones using this amp level but phones like iPhones are designed to be charged at a lower level, 1.2 amps. Charging at 2.4 amps will charge your phone faster but can negatively impact your phones battery over time. You may want to look at ones that's are "smart" and adjust the levels depending on what is plugged in, RAVPower makes a couple of chargers that have this technology.

There were also a slew of media reports over the years of "third party" USB chargers for Apple devices that would overheat and in some cases even start fires. Apple even issued some statements about those ones. We bought our Anker one before the reports of the melting came out, so we are very very cautious with it.

The biggest concern isn't the chargers but the lightning cables. If you buy a USB charger from any reputable supplier (Anker, Belkin, RAVPower etc) you are fine. The main concern is that lightning cables not certified by Apple (MFi), or chargers made to impersonate Apple chargers but were not made by Apple, are a hazard due to substandard design and construction.

 

[squirk]

I don't know what types of phones or devices you are charging but beware this charges everything at 2.4 amps, which is what most tablets take as a charge. You can charge cell phones using this amp level but phones like iPhones are designed to be charged at a lower level, 1.2 amps. Charging at 2.4 amps will charge your phone faster but can negatively impact your phones battery over time. You may want to look at ones that's are "smart" and adjust the levels depending on what is plugged in, RAVPower makes a couple of chargers that have this technology.

That is what the Anker does. They call it "Power IQ" or something. It detects what kind of device you have plugged in and modifies the amperage to match.

 

[sandydk]

Oh good! I have one of those and thought it wouldn't be allowed since it's corded. Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

beware this charges everything at 2.4 amps, which is what most tablets take as a charge. You can charge cell phones using this amp level but phones like iPhones are designed to be charged at a lower level, 1.2 amps.

Actually, the charge rate for phones is dependent on the phone itself, not the fact that a charger can potentially deliver more amps (which is a measure of current flow) than it needs. So a phone that only needs 1.2 amps will only draw that much from the charger.

Some phones (and iPhones may be in that category, I just don't know) are capable of charging faster if the current is available. Those phones would be designed so that doing so won't damage the phone.

 

[PurplePencil]

If they were made by a reputable brand name like Belkin I would have more trust in the product, but Belkin doesn't make devices in that style. Likewise if the product was by a name I don't recognize but sold at e.g. the Apple Store as approved for their products. Instead they are made by these third parties who you have never heard of and who only sell online.

Anker is a reputable brand, some brands are reputable, you just don't realize it since their often built-in or rebranded

 

[Steelers0854]

Sorry but this information is in correct. If the charger only delivers a charge at 2.4 amps the phone cannot decide to take only 1.2. Some chargers offer a variable amperage and then the phone would dictate what it accepts. But when offered only 1 option it takes what it can get.

This was in response to OKW Lovers post. For some reason the quote didn't work.

 

[DisneyWonder'09]

Sorry but this information is in correct. If the charger only delivers a charge at 2.4 amps the phone cannot decide to take only 1.2. Some chargers offer a variable amperage and then the phone would dictate what it accepts. But when offered only 1 option it takes what it can get.

This was in response to OKW Lovers post. For some reason the quote didn't work.

Soryy steallers this article disagrees https://www.quora.com/What-happens-...arger-Will-charging-faster-damage-the-battery

 

[DisneyWonder'09]

Actually, the charge rate for phones is dependent on the phone itself, not the fact that a charger can potentially deliver more amps (which is a measure of current flow) than it needs. So a phone that only needs 1.2 amps will only draw that much from the charger.

Some phones (and iPhones may be in that category, I just don't know) are capable of charging faster if the current is available. Those phones would be designed so that doing so won't damage the phone.

yes, current is pulled and voltage is pushed