Charging Ahead

Charging Ahead

Various devices and their chargers plugged into a power strip

Charging portable electronics can be tough with only a few 120-volt AC receptacles in an RV. Adding a multiple-port plug-in adapter can end the hassle.

By Bill Gehr / Photos by author

never thought that at my age I would have so many electronic gadgets, but the convenience of having these devices is just part of modern daily life — especially for full-time RVers. Heck, I easily have more than a dozen devices that must be charged on a daily basis — and finding enough 120-volt AC power receptacles can be challenging. RVs typically are fitted with multiple duplex-only outlets and some are mounted in less-than-ideal locations, making it necessary to scatter chargers all over the place.

I found an adapter on Amazon that makes it possible to charge all my devices from one location. It’s called a “USB Wall Charger Surge Protection 5 Outlet Extender” but if you search for “Addtam wall charger” you’ll find it listed on Amazon for only $17.95. This product features four USB ports (with one being a USB C outlet), rated for a total of 4.5 amps of charging; three ports provide 2.4 amps, while the USB C outlet is rated for 3 amps. It also has five 120-volt AC power outlets with wide spacing, which come in handy if a higher-power charging module is needed. Surge protection is rated at 1,800 joules, so the need for a power strip is eliminated. Total 120-volt AC current is 1,500 watts.

The USB wall charger adapter simply plugs into any standard duplex 120-volt AC outlet. It’s small enough to fit into close-fitting spaces typically found in RVs.

Multiple charging ports on USB wall adapter

Plugging in the adapter converts a standard duplex outlet into a multi-device charging station. This model features three standard USB ports, one USB C outlet and five 120-volt AC outlets that are rated for 1,500 watts (total maximum output) and have wide spacing for plugging in larger charging modules.

Installation is completely plug-and-play; the adapter is designed to fit into any standard duplex outlet and can be moved at will. The compact design also makes it possible to plug the adapter into outlets mounted in close quarters, commonly found in RVs. Plus, the adapter is available either in white or black to complement most interiors, and similar models also feature a light sensor with a night light option.

Rarely do all my devices require charging at the same time, but with this power adapter I no longer need to dig out the individual charging modules. While one of these power adapters could suffice, I found it convenient to install another one near the nightstand in the bedroom to plug in the electric blanket, alarm clock and phone.

Multiple devices being charged at once using USB wall adapter

Just about anything can be charged via the wall adapter, but total output will limit how many at one time. This image illustrates the variety of devices that can be charged from one location, and there is no need for a power strip since this adaptor has built in surge protection of 1,800 joules. Now, I just need to clean up all those cords.

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