RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel

RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel
  • 2 USB Charging adapter
  • Charge smartphones, tablet PCs, MP3 players, gaming devices and digital cameras
  • Full speed charging

The Kindle Fire comes with its own charger, and if you're happy with that, then this probably won't apply to you. But if you have multiple devices that can use a USB charger and you need to consolidate the number of extra items that you may be carrying, then this RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel may fit your needs, and do it better than you think.

The Kindle Fire comes with a charger that has a DC output of 5V, 1.8A. Many of the third-party chargers that people have substituted as backup do not have the needed 1.8A (Amps) necessary to charge the device. Simply put, you'll find your Kindle Fire isn't functioning when you want or need it to do so. But this RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger has two outlets, and one is clearly marked with 2.1 Amp output (2100MA), so it will meet the needs of the Kindle Fire quite easily.

Pros:

* Dual USB ports; one marked 2.1 Amp output charges the Kindle Fire every time

* Charges two devices at the same time, just watch the power requirements

* Excellent quality with a compact design; well made

* Has a 3-prong grounded plug, useful in some environments where it required

* Rubberized plug cap protects the 3-prong grounded plug

* Fast charging times

Cons:

* Some may find the 3-prong grounded plug inconvenient with older 2-prong wall outlets

* Rubberized plug cap could get lost or misplaced

* No power indicator light

Observations:

The direction sheet states that this unit will shut down if you try to charge devices that consume too much power, and if that happens, they suggest that you try charging each device independently. I observed no problems charging a number of different devices simultaneously with the Kindle Fire, so you'll have to determine how that works in your individual case. There is no power indicator LED so you'll have to check the charge indicator lights on the individual devices. A red power indicator LED is found on the AmazonBasics Wall Charger with USB Outlet (2.1 Amp Output), but that one has only a single USB port, though it has a convenient swing-away 2-prong plug.

So far I've successfully used this RCA 2-outlet USB portable charger simultaneously with the following devices, and all combinations of two:

Kindle Fire

Kindle 2

Plantronics Voyager PRO+ Bluetooth Headset

BlackBerry Curve 9330

Be aware that this USB charger comes with no USB cable, which you will need. The Kindle Fire and the other devices listed above require a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B male cable, and below is a list of ones that I've used with the devices listed above. Some are higher in price than others, but each of these will work with this charger:

* Cloth Jacketed / Ruggedized USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B Cable, 6 feet, manufactured by Gator Crunch

* AmazonBasics USB Cable 2.0 A Male to Micro B, 6 feet / 1.8 Meters, gold-plated connectors

* Mediabridge USB 2.0 A-Male to Micro-B Cable, 6 feet, gold-plated connectors

You may want to check the reviews and the prices on these, but the one that I use daily for charging and data transfer is the ruggedized one made by Gator Crunch.

If you don't like the black color, there's also the RCA PCHUSB2R Portable 2 Outlet USB Charger for iPod/iPhone/Blackberry and Other Devices in white, but check the prevailing prices between the two units.

Summary:

Other than the minor irritation of there being no power LED on this USB charger, it's a good product, and is well constructed. I also have the AmazonBasics Wall Charger noted above, and both of these are excellent devices with two different ways of approaching USB charging. Just remember that you need a USB 2.0 A-male to Micro-B cable if that's the one that fits your needs. I'm knocking off half a point because of no power LED on this RCA Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger, but will round it up since there are no half stars here. It's a highly recommended 4.5-star device that does its job, and does it well.

7/3/2012

Buy RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel Now

All those cables, chargers, supplies to take when traveling. And those hotel room plugs are usually never enough or inconvenient to use.

This little gizmo is small and can charge two devices from the same outlet. Unfortunately it has a three prong (grounded) plug. Good luck finding a three prong jack on a table lamp jack. But when you do, this has the ability to charge any of your devices. One of the USB slots is labeled 2.1, so that is enough for an iPad, Kindle Fire, pretty much anything. Lots more power than hooking a USB cable to your laptop.

While I wish it were a two prong device, it is small, easy to use, simple to throw in a bag and not fragile. Just be careful you don't lose the cap.

Read Best Reviews of RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel Here

The portable USB charger is about the size of a small candle or medium sized pencil sharpener, the USB plastic casing measuring 1.5 inches tall (not including the prongs) and about 1.25 in diameter. The included protective cap covers the USB plug's 3-prongs to prevent bending. There are no lights on this charger which I'm glad for since when on the go, I usually charge my devices at night in the same room I'm sleeping in and I prefer no extra lights to interfere with my sleep. This charger comes with a 12-month limited warranty.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this USB charger charged nearly all of my USB devices using each device's USB charging cable:

iPhone4

iPad 1

Kindle Touch

Kindle Keyboard 3G

Nook Color

Nook Simple Touch

Jabra Drive Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone

But it couldn't charge my Sony Reader PRS-T1. If wasn't for this one, this would be a 5-star product.

I was able to charge any combination of the devices listed above with the exception of the Sony Reader with no problem, as stated in full-speed charging mode. I liked that the USB slot for the iPad is clearly marked in a bright green outline with 2.1 AMP notation so there is no mistaking which USB slot to plug it into.

I would definitely recommend this portable USB charger, especially at the low price of this one.

Want RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel Discount?

I have several other USB wall chargers at home. Used to be hard to find one, but now with all the smart phones out it seems like they collect around here like coat hangers. However, this one is quite unique to my collection since it has two USB ports.

The charger is slightly larger than some others I've had, but then again that's understandable because of two ports. It's important to note that they ARE NOT equal ports. Both are USB A female slots, the generic connection nearly every computer has, but they have different power outputs. One is a 2.1 amp port and the other is only a 1 amp port. For a device that needs more power, the 2.1 amp is a necessity. For a device that requires less, but can adapt to greater power being available, this port acts as a rapid charger. I didn't notice that much time saved on charging my devices, but maybe a little bit of a boost.

This is very important. If you have a cable in BOTH ports, then BOTH ports will only output 1 amp. The directions are very clear, if you have something like an iPad and your phone plugged in and it's not charging right, take one out and charge the devices one at a time. It's the same as a battery charger taking longer to charge 4 batteries than 2. The device's plug is a 3 prong grounded plug that is accessed by removing the cap on the bottom. You'd need an adapter if your power strip doesn't take 3 prongs.

What keeps me from giving it my top recommendation is that it's big enough you'll probably store it in your checked luggage, but while it's got a cap for the bottom, the top is fully exposed. If you have it bouncing around in your luggage and there's something sharp there's an admittedly small chance that something could stick into the USB ports and damage them. It also makes it susceptible to a shampoo leak which could get in or just dust and crud collecting in there if you have it sitting horizontally on a power strip. The cap is also not attached to anything, making losing it a possibility.

Still, for the price being charged, the quality of the construction, and the benefit two ports gives you, I really have no reservations in saying this is a very good buy.

Save 30% Off

It charges the new iPod touch 5 or the old iPad 2 through the 2.1 amp output. Nice rounded design to throw in a bag and go. Bought two= Happy

0 comments:

Post a Comment