Scanstrut will be a familiar name to many readers. Makers of various mounts and pods for radomes and marine electronics they have just introduced this handy USB socket. I have a couple of the ubiquitous cigarette lighter type sockets on the boat and they work well enough for charging the latest tablet, phone or iThing but they do have a couple of deficiencies. Namely the adaptor that plugs into the socket does not always make the best electrical connection, you think that your phone or whatever is charging on to find out that it isn't often at a bad time, and second, although the sockets work OK below decks they are far from ideal on the flybridge or the cockpit in an open boat where they are likely to get doused in spray.
Both these issues are addressed in the new socket which features not just one but two USB outputs, one 1 amp and a second 2.5 amp, allowing you to charge two things simultaneously. As can be seen from the pictures a flip cover seals out water with a neoprene gasket and the design of the cover means that water tends to drip off. The units has only just been introduced in the USA and although some online retailers are advertising it for around $30 there may be a slight delay until you can actually get your hands on one.
If I do have a complaint is that the front sticks out some and could get caught even when not in use - the cigarette lighter socket wins on this count as with nothing plugged in it's almost flush with the dash, console or whatever.
Really great article...Thanks a lot
Posted by: | May 10, 2017 at 07:47 AM