Public power outlets

[bcla]

Just thinking about how ubiquitous portable electronics are these days. I’ve seen people parked at a fast food restaurant near an outlet. Of course airports and malls have AC and even USB power, but I’m seeing more of these at restaurants. One Target around here has free charging, but it goes into a locked box where the customer gets a receipt to get it back. At many cafes the most in demand spots are near AC outlets where one can charge a laptop.

Still, I just saw a strip of outlets at a communal counter at a fast food place. I’ve seen some casual dining restaurants with outlets in booths but obviously tables aren’t the ideal setup for providing power. I’m wondering if those tabletop tablets might be suitable for providing USB power.

 

[Moliphino]

I've seen outlets under the bar. I think it was at Abracadabar? Or maybe Nomad? Handy when you stop in for a couple drinks.

 

[jdb in AZ]

DH and I are part of the notorious ECV people (oh the horrors!) at WDW and DLR. When the scooter batteries are running low we've been known to plug into electrical outlets at the Disney restaurants.

 

[AuntieMe3]

They even have charging ports on some new slot machines in Vegas.

 

[NotUrsula]

If anyone knows this one, it's public librarians. These days, a huge percentage of traffic in any library are folks who are there for the power, the wifi, or both. Libraries are spending a LOT of money retrofitting older buildings for this need. Whenever I go to trade shows, there are always at least 10 vendors showing equipment to provide public charging capability.

I keep 2 spare phone batteries and a mini power strip with me at all times if I'm working &/or traveling; makes it a lot easier to share.

 

[Brett Wyman]

If anyone knows this one, it's public librarians. These days, a huge percentage of traffic in any library are folks who are there for the power, the wifi, or both. Libraries are spending a LOT of money retrofitting older buildings for this need. Whenever I go to trade shows, there are always at least 10 vendors showing equipment to provide public charging capability.

I keep 2 spare phone batteries and a mini power strip with me at all times if I'm working &/or traveling; makes it a lot easier to share.

Chris: What's a library, dad?
Peter: Oh, it's just a place where homeless people come to shave and go BM

 

[Southernmiss]

I plugged my phone in a wall outlet at a restaurant in New Orleans a few months ago. It was just a wall outlet near our table and there was a chair near the outlet, so I plugged my phone in.

We were in the City having medical tests run for DD and the wait for those tests had me on my phone a lot. And getting directions runs the battery.

I think more power options and USB options are a great idea in all establishments.

Love that libraries are innovative and working with the idea.

 

[bcla]

I think more power options and USB options are a great idea in all establishments.

I guess the question is what kind of USB? Right now it's primarily the same kind of USB-A that's been around for 20 years. It was traditionally limited to 500 mA, but of course a lot of devices draw 2000-3000 mA now. And then there's USB-C, which operates on a number of voltages and even is the charging source for a lot of laptop computers. It's supposedly capable of up to 130 watts. They can charge USB-A devices with a simple adapter and and are supposed to default to a USB-A compliant 5V unless it detects something that can deal with higher voltage. I guess with so much flexibility, there might be complaints if someone has a laptop computer but it only provides something like 15 watts meant for phones or tablets.

 

[kdonnel]

I would NEVER plug into a public USB outlet no matter the type.

https://www.techlicious.com/tip/never-use-airport-public-usb-charging-ports/

 

[wenrob]

I don’t use them so I don’t really notice them. I’m aware that if I did need one it wouldn’t be hard to find one. I use CarPlay through a USB port in my truck so I’m charging as I’m out and about. When I’m on vacation I carry a power bank in my bag but even using location apps, the camera and more frequent texting with my family all day I’ve never actually used it. I’m just not a power user I guess. My DH is pretty much the same.

My oldest on the other hand always carries a spare block, cord and power bank with her and keep a cord in her car. She is on the go ALL day and is not the best about plugging her phone in at night. I have to hassle the younger two to plug in their phones at night as well. Those two live on the edge and don’t carry their spare blocks or power banks unless they’re going to a sleepover, lol. My DS has a teacher that provides charging stations but if you plug in you don’t get your phone back until the end of class.

I guess the question is what kind of USB? Right now it's primarily the same kind of USB-A that's been around for 20 years. It was traditionally limited to 500 mA, but of course a lot of devices draw 2000-3000 mA now. And then there's USB-C, which operates on a number of voltages and even is the charging source for a lot of laptop computers. It's supposedly capable of up to 130 watts. They can charge USB-A devices with a simple adapter and and are supposed to default to a USB-A compliant 5V unless it detects something that can deal with higher voltage. I guess with so much flexibility, there might be complaints if someone has a laptop computer but it only provides something like 15 watts meant for phones or tablets.

I’ve noticed a big push for USB-C on some of the Apple forums. The argument against is that almost everywhere is set up for USB-A. I had planned on upgrading my iPad Pro to a larger size but they put USB-C ports in the new ones. I decided not to do it because I’d have to carry two different cords when I travel.

 

[GoingSince1990]

At the Fantasmic premium dining package in the Riverbelle Terrace in Disneyland, they put a multi-USB charging station at every table.

 

[bcla]

I’ve noticed a big push for USB-C on some of the Apple forums. The argument against is that almost everywhere is set up for USB-A. I had planned on upgrading my iPad Pro to a larger size but they put USB-C ports in the new ones. I decided not to do it because I’d have to carry two different cords when I travel.

Apple is making a big push to USB-C. Basically it's on all their laptop computers now, although they call it "Thunderbolt 3" which is an Intel standard. You mentioned the iPad Pro. Also - many of the newer iPhones are capable of a "fast charge" if charged with Apple's $39 USB-C to Lightning cable and a USB-C power adapter or a computer with USB-C power capable of that.

You wouldn't necessarily need more than one cable. It might need a bunch of adapters and wouldn't charge as fast.

 

[skyblue17]

Here in NYC, there are charging stations on the sidewalk, every few blocks. I'm not sure of the upkeep of them, and I know there has been some vandalism to the kiosks, which are large screens that also display information. Technically you can also place a call on the kiosk if needed, but I usually see them being used for charging purposes. There's not really a place to sit or relax while charging, though, so they aren't really designed for long-term use.

 

[tvguy]

Apple is making a big push to USB-C. Basically it's on all their laptop computers now, although they call it "Thunderbolt 3" which is an Intel standard. You mentioned the iPad Pro. Also - many of the newer iPhones are capable of a "fast charge" if charged with Apple's $39 USB-C to Lightning cable and a USB-C power adapter or a computer with USB-C power capable of that.

You wouldn't necessarily need more than one cable. It might need a bunch of adapters and wouldn't charge as fast.

Google Pixel Phones use USB-C

 

[mrodgers]

I wish I knew where all these charging stations are. I never see any.

When touring on a bicycle, electronics charging is one of the harder things you have to do. I have front light, rear lights, flashlight and headlamp taking AA or AAA rechargeables, 3 battery packs, camera, and phone. Very few campgrounds have electric where they put you in tents. We stealth charge. As soon as it's dark we start roaming around hunting down electrical outlets. My battery packs are cheap at Walmart so I don't have a problem with plugging one in if I'm trying to stealth charge and leave it overnight. Others I ride with have $100+ batteries so they won't leave them.

Occasionally we stop somewhere where there are electrical outlets at the table, but then it's only 2 plugs and there's 5 or 6 of us with 3 or 4 devices each we want to get some charge into.

The batteries are the most important as everything else can be charged from them, but it may be several days and you can have everything depleted. Bicycle lights are 2nd priority. The phones are the least priority as I only use it to map the trip with GPS.

 

[tvguy]

I had some electrical work done and the guy who came out and did the estimate said they are doing more and more jobs putting locks on electrical outlets to prevent people from plugging devices in. Not to prevent theft of electricity, but apparently people string their charging cords places people can trip on them. Apparently restaurants (with low lighting) are a big part of that.
Although since I retired my Samsung Galaxy 4 and got a Pixel 3A, I can go 4 days on a charge. Battery life has improved vastly.

 

[Moliphino]

Google Pixel Phones use USB-C

Samsung switched to using USB-C with the S8/8+ a couple years ago.

 

[DisneyHardin]

There is a gas station near my work that has a lot of people that just sort of hang around it. There is one electrical outlet on the outside of the building (probably originally put there in case any sort of work had to be done so the workmen could plug in their tools), there are always people laying on the sidewalk in front of the gas station with their phones plugged into that outlet.

 

[bcla]

Google Pixel Phones use USB-C

I certainly get the move to USB-C when the previous standard was Micro-USB. Micro-USB is horrible. The connectors break easily and look like they were designed by someone incompetent. Apple's Lightning connector is actually pretty robust. I've never seen a connector or port fail. I've had Lightning cables fail for various reasons, but never because the connector fell apart.

 

[bcla]

There is a gas station near my work that has a lot of people that just sort of hang around it. There is one electrical outlet on the outside of the building (probably originally put there in case any sort of work had to be done so the workmen could plug in their tools), there are always people laying on the sidewalk in front of the gas station with their phones plugged into that outlet.

It's kind of sad but I see a lot of homeless hanging around fast food restaurants. Many have portable devices and prefer to sit near an outlet and charge them.