Has any one replaced one of their 120 volt outlets with a usb 120 volt outlet? If so did you just go to lowes/home depot and get one there ? If so was there any issues replacing the one in the rv?

Neat but expensive idea for home. But with the lack of conventional outlets in the typical RV I see that as a major negative. Heck, we have a large power strip for all our gadgets and phone now.

I have installed two. Got them at lowes. The ones that I installed just plugged into the existing outlets. I don't like them so much since they have the retaining screw that is meant to secure them to the outlet, but the TT outlets do not have removable cover plates. So far though, they've worked well and been solid just being plugged into the outlets. Word of caution, for best results, make sure the usb outlets are 2 amp. 2 amp usb power has become the standard and work so much better than the various lesser amperage available. I purchased one that took all night to charge my phone. Upon reading the fine print on the back of the outlet, it was only 800mah . With the the 2a, I'm able to charge and use my phone and have it fully charged in about an hour.Not that expensive....I paid $18 each at lowes, but found them for $10 each at Fred's dollar stores and they are 2a.

I prefer the plug in type, inexpensive on ebay.

Unit505 wrote:I have installed two. Got them at lowes. The ones that I installed just plugged into the existing outlets. I don't like them so much since they have the retaining screw that is meant to secure them to the outlet, but the TT outlets do not have removable cover plates. So far though, they've worked well and been solid just being plugged into the outlets. Word of caution, for best results, make sure the usb outlets are 2 amp. 2 amp usb power has become the standard and work so much better than the various lesser amperage available. I purchased one that took all night to charge my phone. Upon reading the fine print on the back of the outlet, it was only 800mah . With the the 2a, I'm able to charge and use my phone and have it fully charged in about an hour.Not that expensive....I paid $18 each at lowes, but found them for $10 each at Fred's dollar stores and they are 2a.Could you provide a link to the model you are using?

A replacement style USB/Outlet link

USB 120 volt outlet | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

tenbear
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
Here is a youtube video on how one person installed a 120v/usb combo. Replacing a 120v outlet is basically the same.
4x4van
Explorer III
Nov 15, 2014
I just installed this in my MH.

Nice & easy; just tap into a 12v source, 12VDC is always on/available. I recommend putting it inside a cabinet, since the blue power LED is fairly bright (or you could run an inline rocker switch to turn it on/off).
Harvey51
Explorer
Nov 06, 2014
I bought two in a package at Costco. I installed one in our house. Quite a job due to the very large size of the thing, just barely fitting into the electrical outlet box. Connection screw for only one black, one white and one safety ground wire, so Marettes and pigtails were required to hook it up in the middle of a multi outlet run, leaving barely enough depth for the big outlet. I doubt if I will install the second one - certainly not in the RV. Green LED stays on all the time.

They say a GFCI uses $3 of electricity a year. I bet this thing does as well. It adds up, especially if you have a couple of arc interrupter breakers using $5 a year as well.
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Nov 03, 2014
westend wrote:
n7bsn wrote:
A replacement style USB/Outlet link
Yup. that's a nice one. Just a word, though, that a residential receptacle will need to be mounted in a box. Many RV's are wired without gang boxes.

That is the one I installed in my MH. Had to do some cutting to add a box. Nice addition. Did away with some clutter and preserved the outlets.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Nov 02, 2014
ICamel wrote:
Found this neat little wall plate adapter at Wally World yesterday. Only downside is that one USB port is listed as for Apple "I" products and the other listed for Android products.
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?slg=en&scy=us&ctn=SPP3038A/17

Apple products like a 2 amp charge whereas Androids charge at 1 amp, however they both are 5 volts.

An Apple product will still charge at 1 amp but will charge slower. The Android can also charge from either except the phone battery may get hot on 2 amps.
ICamel
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
Found this neat little wall plate adapter at Wally World yesterday. Only downside is that one USB port is listed as for Apple "I" products and the other listed for Android products.
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?slg=en&scy=us&ctn=SPP3038A/17
AH64ID
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
I installed one of these where my tv plug was.

USB Outlet

I moved the TV outlet to behind the stereo, never understood why TV power/cable had to be exposed, and then put the usb/120 plug in.

That plug will shut off the output when the device is charged, and has an indicator light. So far it's been a worthy upgrade.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
Bob Vaughn wrote:
I picked up the receptacle yesterday and after removing the receptacle from the rv wall I swapped the mounting tabs from the rv one to the new one and it worked just fine.

I don't know what mounting tabs you mean but I will reiterate what others have said.

When replacing an RV/mobile home receptacle with a residential/commercial receptacle, the new one must be in an electrical box. This is a safety code requirement.
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
I picked up the receptacle yesterday and after removing the receptacle from the rv wall I swapped the mounting tabs from the rv one to the new one and it worked just fine......
beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
I prefer to plug an adapter into a 12vdc receptacle. I always have 12vdc but only sometimes have 120vac.