Phone USB charging - hotels - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PerranOak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 03:24:32 pm
content: I've stayed in some iffy hotels where the USB charging points have not worked at all.It occurred to me that if some provide zero voltage, some may provide too much.I don't want to wreck my phone by plugging it into one of these but it is much more convenient than taking the plug/transformer with me.Is there a cable gizmo that can protect the phone?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 03:33:32 pm
content: I take the view that I have zero control over the quality of the USB charger built into hotel facilities and I do not trust them as a result. For the additional space and effort, I always use my own, trusted power supply that I know will provide my expensive equipment with exactly what it needs. Whilst a special “surge arrester” might be available for USB/USB-C, that is an additional expense and still does not provide you with a guaranteed decent USB charger, or any charger for that matter if it detects a fault.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 03:36:28 pm
content: just take a charger,them yer covered for 99% of eventualitys,plus no chance of juice jacking

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 03:52:49 pm
content: same here, use a good charger, not the wall usb outletsi did it only once, and i was on alert all the time ...

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 03:58:15 pm
content: If you really want a cable that incorporates protection, I found one for you. It’s £42 inc VAT and comes from a very reputable company that supplies ATEX kit. It is the only USB protection cable recommended by some Industrial equipment manufacturers for the safe charging of their products in locations that may have voltage transients etc.https://airacomsystems.com/devices/atex-mobile-phones/zone-1-smartphones/is530-1-accessories/charging-set-zone-1-21-protector-2-0/It does not look any more convenient than packing and using your own, good quality, USB charger thoughFraser

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 01:34:53 pm
content: I thought this thread would be about accessing data from your phone. I would certainly only use a two wire charging cable incapable of data transfer. That could limit you to low speed charging. A charger isn't much to pack though a bunch of outlet adaptors would.

author: PerranOak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 02:38:35 pm
content: Guess I've little choice, cheers all.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2025, 02:08:25 am
content: Aside from the power aspect, never trust unknown USB ports, even if they appear to be just for power. "Juice jacking", albeit fairly rare (in my opinion) can still occur. Not only do I carry my own mains power adapter, I travel with a USB data blocker that attaches to the end of the cable to prevent anything going along the data pins.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2025, 02:16:05 am
content: Quote from: themadhippy on July 22, 2025, 03:36:28 pmand the many cases where there is no charge point

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 11:01:56 am
content: for travels i use a power pack from ali express, i did put some 16650 in it, and this one has a small solar panel on itnever failed me, when sunny it charges by itself, small bar graph on a sidesure twice a phone thickness, but same shape.search solar powerbanck .... and they love playing with huge xxxxxxxma numbers loll a 200 amp powerbank if you convert the digits in some

author: Funn_Indication
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 20, 2025, 08:23:14 am
content: I've stayed in some iffy hotels where the USB charging points have not worked at all.It occurred to me that if some provide zero voltage, some may provide too much.I don't want to wreck my phone by plugging it into one of these but it is much more convenient than taking the plug/transformer with me.Is there a cable gizmo that can protect the phone?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2025, 12:09:29 pm
content: Reply #4, above, answers your question

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 25, 2025, 12:09:14 am
content: Quote from: PerranOak on July 22, 2025, 03:24:32 pmYes, your own USB charger. Thank f for USB C PD. One AC adaptor can charge my laptop, phone, tablet, earphones, battery.

author: kite31
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2025, 01:20:30 am
content: My solution does not reduce the load. I carry a recharger and a 10AH power bank, about the size of the phone and more than adequate for another day. There is never a data connection available from phone to wall, and the recharger itself need not be high capacity and is thus small.