Leviton USB wall adapter teardown

[rsjsouza]

The other day I decided to get one of these USB wall adapters from a reputable brand (Leviton T5632) and take a look inside its guts before installing it.

I was glad to see the quality and the build were very reasonable for its price (US$24.00 in the local store).
Faceplate


Another shot of the faceplate


Back cover with vents


Faceplate removed with the ground terminal


Ground terminal removed


Removed the back cover


Another angle with the view of the main board


Main board with the suppressing capacitor between primary and secondary. Shown are the beefy diodes, the suppressor capacitor, the MOSFET (FDD5N50?), the poly fuse and the tiny SOT flyback controller (UCC28700). I am not crazy about the solder joints that connect to the USB connector daughtercard (close to C2)


Input MOV, poly fuse and common mode choke


Filter inductor, main cap (Capxon, but at least it is 105C), flyback transformer and DC filter caps (not sure about their brand)


Another view with filter caps, flyback transformer, main cap and inductor filter


Detail about the press wire contact


Wire terminals and the PCB edge of the low-voltage USB. I did not disassembly the unit entirely, but it can be seen some SOT devices that are probably the voltage regulator.


Detail of the USB connector and the insulation between the AC and DC sides


Another shot at the insulation between the AC and DC sides

[a210210200]

I wouldn't buy a in-wall USB charger with all the quick charge 1.0/2.0/... stuff from qualcomm  + and apple/android fast charge detection differences. I'd much rather have GFCI or AFCI outlets that increase safety and just plug a surge protector then official charger. I also don't really like all those vent holes as stuff can get in there (insects, spiders, ants, wires, ...) I also tape up my connections so that would be pretty bad for that plug which would need clear ventilation. In a stuffed box it might get a bit toasty.

[TheBay]

These things should never be manufactured. Sockets are 40 years plus old in houses over here. I wouldnt want to leave something like that on 24/7. Plus they aren't meant to last year's. Crapxon caps lol! Also a stray AC wire comes lose and touches a USB shield?  Primary and secondary sides not spaced enough either and AC input close to USB port. No fast blow fuse that I can see either.

[a210210200]

I think I do know why these outlets exist though. Some apartment units I've seen advertise built in charging place with one of these type of outlets. It does look cleaner although I don't really think they make sense to myself.

[saturation]

I wouldn't buy such myself for home but I do see more of these at airport kiosks and coffee shops; I think its a trend that will succeed.  I don't have a pressing need to be a pioneer of it and risk arrows in my back, should it snafu.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/U-Socket-15-Amp-AC-Standard-Duplex-Wall-Outlet-White-with-Built-in-USB-Charger-Ports-ACE-7169/203423602

When you have your own USB based AC-DC converter, at least for tech folks, it usually means you've the chance to test it to some extent, to provide the rated output and isolation/or protection against mains; with built in USB versions, you have to trust the source does the same thing.  If your a traveler and your device malfunctions due to a wall socket USB charger or you depend on it and no longer bring the converter and can't find such a socket  [ it could be fine at first but damaged by the user before you], you'll be SOOL or your device and its data could be damaged, will be difficult to replace on the road.

[MarkL]

...
No fast blow fuse that I can see either.

In the photo of the main board there's a yellow fuse mounted in the rectangular cutout (LittleFuse 3A).  Can't see the other markings, though.  Could be a slo-blo, but at least it's fused.

[Precipice]

I particularly like the smaller slots for mini-USB connections.