Charge 5 iOS Devices At Once With Griffin's $100 PowerDock 5

What am I missing here. A powered 5-port USB hub with plexiglass separators for $75 price premium?

This would be great if it was (somehow) actual dock connectors and you could just drop devices in *click* but all I'm seeing is some transparent props to hold things up.

So what exactly makes this an "iOS" device charger? Couldn't I just plug in Android mini usb cables there? It doesn't even come with lightning cables..

Ummm No thanks!!! $100 plus and additional $20 for each cable you don't have.

I looked into this a while back and:
1. It's bring your own device cable and
2. It's 10 watt power where the iPad 4 comes with a 12 watt power adapter so it will charge slower on this strip.

I looked into this a while back and:
1. It's bring your own device cable and
2. It's 10 watt power where the iPad 4 comes with a 12 watt power adapter so it will charge slower on this strip.

For this price, we might at least expect the right wattage :(

inb4 too expensive would buy for 50$

I don't know about the $50, but you're right! TOO EXPENSIVE, for a plastic cradle with 5 USB ports, that are underpowered for the latest iPad.

Waiting patiently for Monoprice knock-off.

i.sound has been making these for years and they work great.

not sure if the griffin one is portable but the i.sound docks let me charge 4 devices while camping for example, and are cheaper...

why is it that only huge companies that have close relationships with apple get publicity for products that have been in the marketplace for a while now?

like tile, there have been gps trackers with apps that do exactly what tile does for a long time, but just because they have a pretty video with a pretty girl and turn to kickstarter instead of financeers they get publicity and the others don't?

sorry to vent, more curious than anything else.

Has anyone here actually looked for a hub/charger that can charge 5 iPads at 2.1 amps? There isn't one. All the reasonably priced chargers are usually only 2 max and all the hubs are extremely underpowered and will only trickle charge. As for the separators, it's a great solution if you have cases on your iPads. Most of those drop in and "click" solutions don't work with a case. As for the cables, yeah that's going to be messy but there are not too many solutions if you have a mixed 30 pin and lighting connectors. I've been waiting for this and I put my order in. For you naysayers, good luck finding a better solution.

I much perfer this solution:



http://www.smarthome.com/21680WH/Cooper-Wiring-TR7745-W-Dual-USB-Charger-with-15A-Duplex-Tamper-Resistant-Receptacle-White/p.aspx

These in-wall chargers have come a long way. They've upped the amperage, and now offer them in colors (this idea has been kicking around for years now, but until recently they were available in any color you wanted, as long as it is white...) and both 15A and 20A outlets. (Though color selection is still limited in 20A. However, the 15A is 20A pass-through wiring, so can be used on a 20A circuit. I had to compromise on the 15A for the kitchen, fortunately, I don't plug in anything more heavy-duty than an 800W sous-vide cooker to that particular outlet.)

There are a couple of models of this from Cooper, not sure what the differences are. Mine is actually slightly different, having a round LED instead of rectangular.

This is a dual 3A charger built-in to a duplex wall outlet.

Both iPhone and iPad can be charged faster than with the stock Apple chargers, and I've verified this. I have one in grey on my kitchen (on a split-level island counter - the iPad is always sitting on the counter...) and love no longer having an iPad charger sticking out over my counter.

SmartHome has just shipped me 2 more in ivory and one in light almond for two bathrooms and a bedroom. Looking forward to getting rid of the rest of the plug-in chargers!

For bathrooms, if you have only one outlet this will not work, because they do not offer this with a built-in GFI, and I suppose that's unlikely to happen since that would likely be too much to cram in there. Yet, bathrooms are among the most useful locations for them. (How often have you had guests and they plug their charger into your bathroom outlet, sometimes fighting over plug-in rights? ;) )

I thought ahead, and my master bath has a GFI in the usual location on the back wall behind the counter, but another chained outlet on a side wall between some shelves (so items may be placed on the shelf to charge) and even one inside a large pull-out drawer (toothbrush...).

Guest bath I will have to enlarge the hole and put in a bigger box to hold two outlets. Will be easy because it's already a retrofit box.

iPhone: supplied charger is 1.1A, but will charge at 1.5A, and requires at least 0.5A.

iPad: supplied charger is 2A, but will charget at 2.5A, and requires at least 1.1A (so won't charge on a typical USB hub at all).

I suppose now I need a bunch of cables to further tangle-up the insides of nearby drawers...

Has anyone here actually looked for a hub/charger that can charge 5 iPads at 2.1 amps?

Yes, actually, I have one. I have this becuase I am a mobile developer, and have to test with many devices and keep them charged.



http://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/USB-3.0/Hubs/7-Port-Metal-Industrial-SuperSpeed-USB-3-Hub-Mountable~ST7300USBM

You do have to disconnect it from your computer to charge an iPad. Not sure what that is about, but guess it has something to do with USB protocol. If you disconnect the USB from your computer, it can charge at up to 2A, which accomodates the maximum for iPhone (and more than the supplied charger) and matches the standard charger for iPad (though iPad will charge at 2.5A).

So, at least I can unplug from my Mac Mini and charge a bunch of devices over night, and also leave a bunch of devices plugged-in and save wear and tear on connectors.

You have to provide your own power supply (it's meant as an industrial product, and typically a supply bus would be available). It's up to you to supply enough amperage to support the number of devices you intend to charge. I used an inexpensive voltage-adjustable "netbook" power supply. If you want to charge at full rate on 7 ports, you will need something a bit bigger, say, an adjustable laptop supply (Higher voltage is better - the hub will work on 7-40V.)