[Tfug] Opine: Bricks, warts or...?

[Harry McGregor]

Jim Secan wrote:
> Well, first off you appear to be laboring under the faulty assumption that
> the manufacturers give a flying fig WHAT their customers might want. 
> Avoiding litigation is paramount.  That said, I prefer the bricks as long
> as there is enough cord on both sides of the beast that I can locate it
> where I need and not be limited by an 8" cord on one end.  Warts make
> using power strips and the like more difficult, even when the strips are
> designed with extra space.
>
> What would be useful is a universal power supply, wherein you could buy
> one that could serve the needs of multiple devices.  Kinda like a
> standard, but standards are Communistic so I don't see the manufacturers
> going that route.
>   

I really think we already have two good universal power standards, just 
not too many people using them yet.

First one is power from USB.  USB is rated at 500ma, 5 volts, DC, or 
about 2.5 watts.  Many devices are made to take up to 1amp, if provided, 
and thus go up to 5 watts of charging power (Cell phones, etc).  Powered 
USB hubs work well for this, and you can get car USB power adapters, and 
even 110VAC to USB adapters (Apple sells their own cute one for iPod 
use, but you can get cheap ones for less than $1).

For higher power demands, power over ethernet (802.3af and 802.3at).  
802.3af is rated at 48vdc, 312.5ma, or 15 watts, and the new 802.3at is 
going to double that to 30 watts.  Single devices that need more than 
15/30 watts are quite rare for small power supplies.  How many wall 
warts do you run into that are over 12 volt 1.5 amp?

Also many PoE devices only use half power, or about 7 watts, and 3com 
even makes an in-wall switch that uses less than 7 watts, and passes on 
7 watts for a VoIP phone.

http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=WEBBNCNJ220SYS

I love PoE phones, network cameras, wireless APs, etc.

If we can just encourage developers to use the standards (I have seen 
way too many passive non 802.3af PoE devices, that I would love to use 
if they were true PoE), we will be set.

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=60_83&products_id=625

You could have a small PoE switch and an 7 port powered USB hub on your 
desk, and be rather well setup.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122152


                            Harry

> Jim
>
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