Today we are going to take a look at something a bit different from the usual items found at Bigbruin.com, but it could make using all of those other items much more convenient. What we have is the Newertech Power2U AC/USB wall outlet, which will basically replace an existing wall outlet with not just a pair of 3-prong 120V receptacles, but also a pair of USB ports for charging your devices.



For those not familiar with Newertech - they have been around since the 1980’s developing products for the Apple community. Over time, as they saw a need in the marketplace they worked to develop a product for it. You can see a timeline of this development here, which gives you a better understanding of what they have come up with.

Before taking a look at the Power2U provided for review, let's look at some of the product's features and specifications...

Features and Specifications:

» (2) USB ports with combined charging capability of 2500mA
» Smart Power feature only outputs enough charging power required by the attached device
» Integrated USB door shuts off “vampire” draw and keep connections clean
» (2) NEMA 5-15R compliant receptacles, 15A 125V
» NEC tamper resistant outlets
» UL/CUL Listed (E339607) - For use in United States & Canada
» Operating temperature -10C to 35C
» Operating humidity <=75%
» Includes faceplate and all screws needed for installation
» Available in four decorator colors:
   » White
   » Black
   » Ivory
   » Light Almond

In addition to the 15A version we are going to cover, there is also a 20A version available in all of the same colors.

Packaging and Accessories:

My unit came neatly and securely packed in a box which I much prefer over the more common clamshell packaging. Inside you’ll find the outlet and an installation guide. The first thing you’ll notice is this outlet is big, bigger than even the largest duplex GFCI outlet I have seen.