Guide to USB Plugs

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all have just one charger that we could use to charge all the devices that we own? Mobile Phone manufacturers must agree as they’ve just announced that they will be moving over to a Micro USB charger for phones from next summer – which is great, but it’s still restricted to phones. What if you want to be able to charge your Phone, Bluetooth Headset, iPod and Nintendo DSi? Packing for travels means taking 4 chargers with you which all eats in to your weight allowance, and finding enough spare sockets around your house can be a bit of a nightmare.

Well, there is a solution, and it’s been around for years. All you need to be able to charge all your devices with just one charger is a USB Plug adapter.

Before you rush out and buy one, you will  need to check to make sure that your devices support USB Charging.  By this I mean your phone, mp3 player etc, all need to be able to charge when connected to a PC using a USB Cable. If they can, read on!

USB Mains Adapters

There are a number of different mains adapters that you can get that will allow you to charge your devices using the USB Cable that you’ve already got for your phones etc.

Single USB Plug

Single USB Plugs are the most popular USB chargers that we sell and are great as an alternative to a replacement mains charger.  They’re light and portable and are available with either a UK or EU plug and have a standard USB socket for you to connect your USB cable to.

Twin USB Plug

Twin USB Plugs are essentially the same as the Single USB Plug, but with 2 USB sockets and interchangeable plug adapters for the US, UK, EU and Australia. The Jivo World Charger allows you to charge your mobile, PDA, MP3, Digital Camera, iPod or Bluetooth headset using the USB charging cable simultaneously. It also has a built in status LED shows you when the Travel Charger is providing power.

Quad USB Travel Plug

If two charging ports isn’t enough then don’t worry, there are also a couple of 4 port USB chargers available too.  The PowerHub 4 Port USB Plug is for use only in the UK and the Jivo World Charger has interchangeable plugs for use in the US, UK, EU and Australia. The Travel charger automatically adjusts to all voltages so you can charge your devices safely while you’re abroad.

In-Car USB Adapters

Most of use use more than one electrical item in the car, but most vehicles only have one cigarette lighter socket. You can also get a similar USB plug that converts your cigarette lighter socket into a USB Car Charger. This way you can charge your phone and Sat Nav or iPod all at the same time without having to constantly change the charger in your cigarette lighter.

Single USB Car Adapter

There are a number of different styles of USB Car adapters, but as I rarely use the cigarette lighter in my car, the best one I’ve found is the Miniature USB Car Adapter. It’s that small that when it’s in the cigarette lighter, it makes it look as you you have a fitted USB port in your car.  Unlike some of the other adapters that tend to stick out and could potentially catch on your gearstick or handbrake, the Miniature USB Car adapter can be left in permanently with no risk of it getting in the way. Can be used with both 12v and 24v vehicles (Cars, Lorries and Trucks).

Twin USB Car Adapter

The Twin USB Car adapter looks more like a conventional Car Charger, and allow you to charge two devices simultaneously.  Perfect if you use your iPod in the car but need to power your Sat Nav. Can be used with both 12v and 24v vehicles (Cars, Lorries and Trucks).

Quad USB Car Adapter

The 4 Port USB Car adapter will let you charge 4 devices at the same time. Great if the kids in the back need power to their games consoles and the batteries start to go.  It is larger than a standard car charger, so you’ll need to make sure you have space around your socket to accommodate it.  As with the other car adapters this can be used with both 12v and 24v vehicles (Cars, Lorries and Trucks).

What else will you need?

One point to note here is that the USB Mains adapters and USB Car adapters don’t normally  include the cable that connects to your device.  You may need to purchase a USB Cable separately for each device you wish to charge.  You may find that the USB data cable included with most mobile phones and mp3 players will charge your device (Genuine  Sony Ericsson cables don’t support USB charging, so you will need to buy a Sony Ericsson USB Charging Cable).  You can also get a USB Extension cable if your existing one isn’t long enough.

For some of the more popular devices we offer USB Charging packs that include a USB mains plug, car adapter and USB Charging cable.