Class 387 power sockets

[ess]

What a shame the power sockets on these new trains don’t include a USB socket. It would have been a marginal additional cost for great customer benefit.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What a shame the power sockets on these new trains don’t include a USB socket. It would have been a marginal additional cost for great customer benefit.

The problem with these is shifting standards. Old or new USB? The three pin mains plug is going nowhere anytime soon.

Furthermore the USB A socket is not particularly robust unlike the mains socket.

 

[rebmcr]

The problem with these is shifting standards. Old or new USB? The three pin mains plug is going nowhere anytime soon.

Furthermore the USB A socket is not particularly robust unlike the mains socket.

Ideally, everything on the planet begins to converge on USB-C over the next few years...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ideally, everything on the planet begins to converge on USB-C over the next few years...

Indeed, though even that standard is unlikely to last as long as the 3-pin 230VAC plug has and likely will. There is simply no prospect of it being replaced. The design gets slightly refined from time to time, primarily on the socket rather than the plug, but there is really very little motivation to change it because it is an absolutely excellent piece of design and very safe indeed (unless you stand on an upturned one). Probably the best mains plug and socket design in the world.

Though, of course, if you do the on-train infrastructure as 230VAC then it's just a case of swapping faceplates when the extra-low voltage standard changes from USB to something else.

USB-C is great for electronics, but for example it's no use for plugging in an electric fire, a toaster, a kettle or similar. So it'll never win out for universal household use, though I think faceplates with it on will become more common.

 

[James James]

Indeed, though even that standard is unlikely to last as long as the 3-pin 230VAC plug has and likely will. There is simply no prospect of it being replaced. The design gets slightly refined from time to time, primarily on the socket rather than the plug, but there is really very little motivation to change it because it is an absolutely excellent piece of design and very safe indeed (unless you stand on an upturned one). Probably the best mains plug and socket design in the world.

Though, of course, if you do the on-train infrastructure as 230VAC then it's just a case of swapping faceplates when the extra-low voltage standard changes from USB to something else.

USB-C is great for electronics, but for example it's no use for plugging in an electric fire, a toaster, a kettle or similar. So it'll never win out for universal household use, though I think faceplates with it on will become more common.

Haha, most of the rest of the world doesn't really agree on it being a good socket design. Even the Schuko is better, but even that is comparatively clunky. It's particularly bad if you're trying to travel, not only does it waste space in your bag, but the adapter is huge and will block other sockets in many countries.

And although high-powered devices might not run on USB-C, the vast majority of household items can. Apart from my kitchen, I only need more than 100W (the USB-C limit) for my desktop computer. Arguably a hoover might also need higher power, but a lot of the new ones have batteries. My rarely used drill similarly - most people are now on batteries (and battery charging is comparatively low power, just slow).

 

[BestWestern]

Surely the USB fad is primarily about devices, and the next step there is wireless charging. That it hasn't become the universal standard yet is puzzling, but it can't be far around the corner. A simple charging plate is surely a far easier, lower maintenance and safer bit of kit than fiddly USB sockets, although admittedly it requires a flat surface of course. I would have thought there's a market for a seat with a drop-down table incorporating a wireless charging surface.

 

[185143]

I've been on a couple of bus with wireless charging. Seems a really good idea, until you take into account the rough ride which kept throwing my phone off the charging pad. I had to hold it still the entire time.

However, on a train the ride would be much smoother so it'd be fine.

 

[rebmcr]

the next step there is wireless charging. That it hasn't become the universal standard yet is puzzling

There's a format war ongoing.

 

[BestWestern]

There's a format war ongoing.

There's a surprise!

 

[NotATrainspott]

There's a format war ongoing.

Not really. Apple threw their weight behind Qi, and the competing standards knew that was the end.

 

[43096]

There's a format war ongoing.

You mean VHS vs Betamax still isn't settled?