Nano vs. Panasonic - safe to use?

[ExpatOilWorker]

I want to install some wall mounted USB sockets and this, to me unknown, brand Nano seem to dominate the online sites.

While Panasonic is about 1,500 baht, Nano is less then 200 baht, but is it safe to use?

 

 

 

 

[sometimewoodworker]

USB power supplies are not equal. Cheap ones are quite capable of killing 

Udon death as husband Praiwan Saenprasert found his wife dead when he got home.

 

Cheap power supplies often do not have sufficient isolation between the high voltage (several hundred V) and the low voltage output (5 V) and can bridge and kill your device or you.

 

The price of a power supply is a good indicator of its quality. Cheap is always lower quality.

 

The above is only about the dangers to you and your equipment, there is also the danger of the power supply burning out which (it is always on) is a fire risk.

TLDR Panasonic, good. Nano, not good

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by sometimewoodworker

[Gottfrid]

I wouldn´t go big on safety regarding electric in Thailand. It will all depend on how safe the installed system you have today is. If that is not up to the highest standards, you choosing Panasonic will not help. 

I would go for Nano, as many people already are using it, and there has not been any noise about they are unsafe.

[KhunLA]

I wouldn't buy a 200 baht or a 2000 baht one.  something wrong with the one that come with your device?

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I wouldn´t go big on safety regarding electric in Thailand. It will all depend on how safe the installed system you have today is. If that is not up to the highest standards, you choosing Panasonic will not help. 

I would go for Nano, as many people already are using it, and there has not been any noise about they are unsafe.

While I to a degree also agree with Woodworker, then I find it hard to justify the near x10 Panasonic price and feel you pay a lot for the name printed on the unit.

[Crossy]

Warning - Personal opinion only!

 

I would opt for regular 2-pin outlets and branded plug-in chargers.

 

I thought these things were a nifty idea when we built the house and installed several of various brands in the bedrooms and lounge. NONE of them are now functioning! Failure modes have gone from them simply not working, to going bang, to emitting significant amounts of smoke and fizzing noises (and NOT opening the 20A breaker).

 

If you DO decide to use them I would certainly arrange for the mains inlets to be switched so you can turn them off when not in use.

 

It would probably be wise not to use your wired cans whilst the phone is charging (even with your branded charger).

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

29 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

USB power supplies are not equal. Cheap ones are quite capable of killing 

Udon death as husband Praiwan Saenprasert found his wife dead when he got home.

 

Cheap power supplies often do not have sufficient isolation between the high voltage (several hundred V) and the low voltage output (5 V) and can bridge and kill your device or you.

 

The price of a power supply is a good indicator of its quality. Cheap is always lower quality.

 

The above is only about the dangers to you and your equipment, there is also the danger of the power supply burning out which (it is always on) is a fire risk.

TLDR Panasonic, good. Nano, not good

 

 

 

I think the below models are the ones we from time to time hear electrocute people.

 

[northsouthdevide]

I would stick to normal plug sockets, as theres not only the issue of safety, but I get the feeling that usb will be took over by type B connections in the future. 

But 2 pin sockets will always be around. 

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

While I to a degree also agree with Woodworker, then I find it hard to justify the near x10 Panasonic price and feel you pay a lot for the name printed on the unit.

The difference between the Panasonic, that is virtually certainly built correctly using first quality components, quality controlled and has a name  and reputation to maintain and the nano that is likely to have little to no quality control, probably using components that haven’t passed the QC process or have no QC at all along with a cheap as possible PCB. 

Here is a tear down of a couple of quality USB power supplies, along with the opinion of an electronic tech who is unlikely to be persuaded by brand.

 

Panasonic is no Dior YSL etc so can’t get a name premium.

 

The real question is not why is the Panasonic 10 x more expensive but how many corners have been cut in the nano supply to get it down to 1/10th the cost of a quality unit.

 

can you get quality units for a lower price? As above, yes, but you need a big name high volume producer to get them from.

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by sometimewoodworker

[ExpatOilWorker]

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

installed several of various brands

Do you recall what brands you installed? Bought online?

 

[MrJ2U]

11/11 sales everywhere online if you can wait.

 

I usually have better luck with electric things on Ali Express.

 

I bought what your looking for and placed them outside, in an  electric box to protect from the weather.

 

There useful and my security cameras need a USB port.

 

I know they were cheap and there still working after 3 years.

 

Heres an example.  But there's loads of them.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[Crossy]

40 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Do you recall what brands you installed? Bought online?

 

Sadly no, it was a while back. 

 

One was definitely Haco which I have down as a half decent brand, it went bang IIRC. The others were probably off-brand like Nano. Note that, anticipating potential issues, I put them all on switched supplies.

 

Have a look how much they cost in the UK and make your own choices ???? 

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=usb&Submit=Search

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

24 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

11/11 sales everywhere online if you can wait.

 

I usually have better luck with electric things on Ali Express.

 

I bought what your looking for and placed them outside, in an  electric box to protect from the weather.

 

There useful and my security cameras need a USB port.

 

I know they were cheap and there still working after 3 years.

 

Heres an example.  But there's loads of them.

 

Good luck!

 

 

It didn't even cross my mind to check AliExpress, as I assumed the sockets would be of a difference size, but lo and behold for less than $2 you can install a death trap in ur living room.

The one you got look of better quality, but I don't want a different size outlet. Thanks anyway. 

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

Another WOW!

60 cent. How is that even possible?

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

16 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Have a look how much they cost in the UK and make your own choices ???? 

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=usb&Submit=Search

Prices in the UK are actually very reasonable and make the 33 pound Panasonic look lime a total rip-off. 

Based on your experience and Woodworkers excellent advise and video I will just add another standard socket and plug the below unit in.

The IKEA unit sound both safe and top quality from the video.

 

[Muhendis]

I wouldn't touch those USB/mains sockets with a barge pole. I am very aware of what might happen inside. I got myself one of these which is highly recommended. Apparently it has German ancestry.

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, Muhendis said:

I wouldn't touch those USB/mains sockets with a barge pole. I am very aware of what might happen inside. I got myself one of these which is highly recommended. Apparently it has German ancestry.

 

At 315 baht it is hard to say how much German quality you bought.

Maybe this Randy fellow got a production agreement with Gump?

 

[sometimewoodworker]

3 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Prices in the UK are actually very reasonable and make the 33 pound Panasonic look lime a total rip-off. 

Based on your experience and Woodworkers excellent advise and video I will just add another standard socket and plug the below unit in.

The IKEA unit sound both safe and top quality from the video.

 

I have 1 of those that failed, as I am not near Bangkok I was unable to return it under the 1 year guarantee.

 

I also have enough items that a 3 outlet supply is not enough, supplies I use are IKEA (3ports), Baseus (4ports), Anker (5 &6 ports), Aukey (4 ports) and Apple single ports. There are a few others I would consider, but you have to be careful of your supplier as these are copied by low quality knockoffs 

Edited November 4, 2021 by sometimewoodworker

[digbeth]

By the way things are going, USB-c with Power Delivery standard is the way forward, in 2-3 years time your device probably won't come with USB-A to C but rather USB-c to c which has faster charging, you'll be stuck with the slow USB-A in your wall socket which is already too expensive and not easily replaceable.

 

Imagine if you're stuck with 1 amp charger and micro-usb cable to charge your phone all over the house in these day and age 

 

2 years ago I start buying the big row of USB charger with 5 or 6 USB-A and single USB-C with PD, the usb-c port is used most, for things like our daily phones, power banks and iPads, only a few things that I don't need straight away get to use the slow charging usb-a and then using USB-A to C cable 

I won't buy any device that has micro usb charging port only now