Like socks in the washing machine, USB chargers seem to disappear on a regular basis around my house. Everyone in my family has iPhones, and each of us has the charger the phone shipped with, but it’s a rare day when my charger is in my office where it should be, when I need it. (My teenage son and his buddies may have something to do with this.) Thanks to the SnapPower USB Charger ($20), this is no longer an issue. The SnapPower is an electrical outlet cover that contains a built-in USB charging station. It installs in minutes without any wiring, and it works like a charm. It isn’t very decorative and it’ll cost you a lot more than a traditional plastic cover, but it’s always there when you need it.
Design and Features
The SnapPower USB Charger is made of plastic and is available in two styles: Duplex for traditional round dual outlet receptacles, and Decor for rectangular decorative dual outlet receptacles. Color choices are limited to white, light almond, or ivory. Both styles are rectangular, measure 5.5 by 3.0 inches (HW), and contain a built-in 1-amp USB charger that juts out about half an inch, which allows you to use it on an outlet that is covered by furniture. The charger offers one Type A USB port. You can buy a single charger for $20, a two-pack for $38, a three-pack for $54, a five-pack for $85, or a 10-pack for $160.
The 1-amp charger provides the same output as the charger that comes with most smartphones, and it offers built-in surge protection. At the time of this review a 2.1-amp charger for tablets is not available, but the company plans to release a more powerful version later this year. The backside of the cover has two plastic prongs with metal contacts. When you press the cover onto the receptacle and screw it in, the prongs come in contact with the receptacle’s hot (black) and neutral (white) wiring screws, drawing power and delivering it to the charger. The SnapPower is compatible with most standard household outlets but does not work with GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets.
Installation and Performance
You don’t have to be an electrician to install the SnapPower. Simply unscrew your existing cover plate and replace it with the SnapPower plate. If the outlet’s terminal screws are covered with electrical tape, remove the tape (it’s a good idea to turn off the power to the outlet if this is the case). If the contacts don’t match up with the outlet’s terminal screws, you can flip the SnapPower plate upside down so that the charger is on top. Attach the cover plate to the outlet using the included screw, and you’re done.
In my tests, the SnapPower USB Charger worked perfectly and remained cool while charging. It took a little under two hours to completely charge an iPhone 5s and an iPhone 6, which is pretty much in line with each phone’s original plug-in adapter. It needed around 10 hours to charge a 4th-generation iPad, which is almost twice as long as it takes the adapter that comes with the iPad (that makes sense, given the iPad adapter offers more than twice the power output, at 2.4 amps). It also completely charged a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge in just under 2 hours.
Conclusions
The SnapPower USB Charger is ideal for households that have multiple users charging multiple devices. It’s very easy to install and can be used on just about any duplex wall outlet, and its low profile allows you to install it behind furniture. These wall plate covers don’t come cheap, especially if you want to install them in several rooms, but they charge just as quickly as most original phone USB chargers and offer built-in surge protection to guard against sudden spikes in electricity. More design and color choices would be nice, as would a more powerful 2.1-amp charger for tablets, but neither gripe prevents me from recommending the SnapPower Charger, especially if your power adapters frequently go missing.
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SnapPower USB Charger
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