hacking usb wall outlet as embedded power source?
Matias N. wrote 05/11/2019 at 21:34 • 0 pointsI'm thinking about the possibility of designing a small device that would fit as a module as part of a wall outlet. As I don't wan't to deal with mains voltage myself, I thought about off the shelf solutions. One options is to use one of this (next to my own device, occupying another space in the wall box): https://http2.mlstatic.com/modulo-kalop-cargador-usb-doble-2-amp-carga-rapida-D_NQ_NP_684483-MLA26113488489_102017-F.jpg
The exterior case seems removable so I should be able to grab the USB power lines and expose them to the side. Maybe the USB socket itself is still usable after this mod. What do you think?
Looking into this I realized this kind of wall outlets vary greatly by country, so I'm not sure if others have these kind of modules.
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Put a USB Rubber Ducky in there /s
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One possible option: Go read the fire code for in-wall speakers. Summary linked below. Basically if you MAINTAIN the fire rating, then you may be able to "hide" your device "in" the wall. Also you can get electrical boxes that fit between the wall studs - people claim this is a code-friendly way to embed/hide their routers and switching boxes.
See: https://www.cepro.com/article/are_you_up_to_code_fire_rated_speaker_boxes_may_be_required
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NEC - and your insurance provider's expectations - are VERY strict about what you can put in your walls. There are no firebreaks inside walls (except timber, which is also fuel).
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Technically you can route POE or USB voltage over in-wall-rated wires, from a box that produces low voltage (but consumes high), over to the true low-voltage box. HOWEVER, you then run up against rules about enclosing "consumer devices" in an in-wall box (you can't). Your best bet is a "plug-in project box" that will enclose everything in a giant wall-wart.
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How would you install such a module in the wall without dealing with mains voltage? (And needing to have electrician certification in some countries.) These things are basically SMPS modules that are meant to be "permanent". Around here one can buy wall power points that have USB charging ports for a hefty permium over the normal ones with no USB ports.
Also if you hack the module, it probably becomes decertified for installation, even if you have the electrician certification.
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Of course this won't ever be certified, it is a hack after all. I'm aware this would imply accessing the USB module, however I trust this much more than building the AC/DC adapter into the device myself.
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Around here installing such a hacked module would invalidate property insurance.
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I guess a safer option which does not require to hack the module is simply make the device be plugable to the slot on the side. However, my intention was to actually integrate the device into the wall.
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If you want a project that can be used by anybody, just specify USB power input and let the user find a way to power it.
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https://i.imgur.com/f1OVXWy.png
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I mean what is that in the picture, I can see the picture.
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Ah, sorry, I guess that indeed wall sockets are really different in other places. Maybe my original question does not even apply outside my country.
Here power outlets are embedded in the wall (usually a metal box with two holes for screws). The plastic front then holds up to three modules which may be empty, a power outlet or a light switch.
This is what it would look like assembled: https://http2.mlstatic.com/cargador-de-embutir-con-puerto-usb-ichar12w-tgw-D_NQ_NP_435901-MLA20435877435_092015-F.jpg
So I was thinking on designing a device with the size of one (or if it doesn't fit, two) of these modules, with the third one being this USB output, where I can leach the power from.
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What's pictured?
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