Charging electronics gadgets

[ckcklopic]

Hi everyone, hope you are enjoying your January. We have just returned from two weeks at Nagambie Lakes Leisure Park. Kids had a ball, as did we.
Has anybody got any ideas regarding a tidy way of charging the likes of iPads, iPhones and iPods. We have 3 iPads, 3 iPhones, and 2 iPods. Seem to have charging cables going everywhere,
Cheers Kim

 

[icetechaus]

The choices that come to mind are to 1. get a plug pack with multiple USB ports to charge devices from rather than individual wall warts for each i device.
2. Get a powered USB hub to charge them, this shouldn't need to be plugged into a computer to provide power. Jaycar do a 10 way (XC4946) with a 3A plug pack (it should be able to cope with 6 at a time. Each port should be rated at 0.5A)
Dick Smiths do a 13 port with a 4A plug pack (safely do 8 devices)(XH1237) 7 port (XH2114)
Thats a starter and we'll see what everyone else comes up with. It doesn't get rid of the cables but at least it's only one power point.

 

[mrhappi]

8 devices = 8 cables, so not much you can do about that. As above you can use hubs to keep everything together, the other tip would be to use your iPad charges to charge your iPhones and iPods if they're available. These put our more amps and will therefore charge the smaller devices quicker.

 

[Brad]

We have a similar problem. Difference with us however is the kids wouldn't be seen dead sleeping the same van as my wife and I. (Surely my wife's snoring is not that bad).
So they have tents with an extension chord in each tent that has a charger charging something that starts with "I".
Free camping however means that they need to share the same 12v outlet as everyone else.

 

[Burnsy]

For years at Xmas time we have friends that camp unpowered and always bring their gadgets to us for charging. This year however they came prepared....they now bring all their gadgets to us plugged into a power board so I only need to find one outlet! Still allot of wires though!

 

[Capt. Gadget]

I installed a 12v outlet in the cupboard which has two USB charger adaptors on one side that keeps the cables hidden out of sight

 

[zerosecta]

All those devices have the same connector for charging or maby you have an iPhone 5 or ipad 4 then there will be the new smaller cable as well...

Either way that's only two cables - so get yourself one of the 12v plugs that got two USB ports in it, plug into it two apple cables and make sure the rest of them stay at home...

That's it your done, from 8 cables to 2 and all devices can be charged, just not at the same time

 

[icetechaus]

The fun part is rostering the family. Mum from 4:00-5:00, dad from 5:00-6:00 ;-)

 

[zerosecta]

This is True - However with that said, an Ipad should last at the very minimum 2 days before it needs to be recharged same should apply with Ipods - Its only the phones that really require charging every day

 

[brookes2622]

Ahh leave them all at home....

So Kensington make a 4 port 240v charger that also comes with International plugs, so we use it in the van and also when we go O/S. Works pretty well. We are not an "i" family so really only charge phones, but I believe the "i" devices can be choosy when it comes to USB output.

 

[macca]

I have just velcroed a 4 spot power board under the TV cabinet for that reason. I purchased an extra ipad charger as they charge a bit quicker. We have a big mix of apple stuff and a couple samsung tablets. I do find the samsung stuff stays charged a lot longer for some reason. I dont mind one apple lead out but not 3, we just take it in turns and seem to manage. We also have a docking station which doubles as a charger.

Geoff

 

[straydingo]

We take one cable and that has to make do for all apple devices. If one device goes flat; tough - go outside and play, or pick up a book
(except my phone - it takes precedence)

 

[Xpandafan]

Like Straydingo one charger cable usually does us (though at the moment catering for 3 iPhones and my iPad). Have a 12v plug with twin sockets that plugs in above the TV. One powers TV & the other the signal amplifier. Usually charging something all day in summer and also in the evenings if watching DVD's when the amp isn't needed. Going to add another outlet at rear bed end somehow/sometime but not No 1 priority. (If your battery is flat it's time to stop playing solitaire, dear, and get out a book.
Going to do a Captain gadget (again) and get some of the leads, etc out of the way and into the cupboard above the TV.
back of Telly looks like spaghetti junction.

 

[andrea]

We use the PowerPoint in the robe so they're out of sight. We just rotate turns though we only have 3 iPhone and an iPod touch.

 

[Grover]

i have a little thumper which i carry around free camping which has 12 volt socket u charge this by solar panel i also use this for my 12 volt tv when the kids are in tent carry it in tent to use,plug in 12 volt socket with dual usb outlet to charge 2 items at once

 

[ckcklopic]

All of the responses are interesting. Unfortunately with 13 year old having autism, saying 'tough' do something else is not a possibility for our sanity and also for the serenity for neighbouring vans. I am sure we will work something out with a combination of ideas.
Kim

 

[chartrock]

Hi Kim, I feel your pain, have a look at this site. It may help with an answer.