Thankfully, our Associate Partners at Legrand have an answer for that; beautiful public space charging stations. If you’re quoting public space work, airports, hospitals, university or college campuses and metro stations, you may just be interested. A station like this one offers:
• Charging & Illumination – Combine power with area lighting in one pedestal to maximize functionality of outdoor spaces.
• 2- or 3-Gang Options – Customize the station with two or three gangs of devices to meet your facility’s unique needs. Prewired versions include weather-resistant GFCI outlets and 4-port USB outlets. Also available unwired.
• Outdoor-Rated Construction – Rugged aluminum form designed for durability in all weather conditions. UL listed to NEMA 3R requirements to ensure optimal performance.
• Durable, Premium Finishes – Available in three outdoor-rated finishes to complement your space design. Choose from black, bronze, or silver, or select a custom color.
• A/V & Communication Compatible – Add an A/V-Communication Kit to 3-gang versions to accommodate Wiremold AVIP plates as well as decorator A/V or communication devices. Enables pedestal to support outdoor presentation areas and classrooms, eliminating the need to bring cables from inside a building.
• Device Shelves – Add up to two pairs of shelves to hold mobile devices while charging.
• Door Options – Interior illuminates when door is open. Replace standard color-matched door with a transparent version to make devices inside more visible. Or, select a lockable door for added security or to ensure use is limited to facility personnel.
• ADA Compliant – Meets all specifications for ADA guidelines, including unobstructed reach requirements.
*See http://www.legrand.us/wiremold/outdoor/charging-station-with-area-light/xcslf-charging-station-with-area-light.aspx
But Grant, you say, is a Power Station a station I should be comfortable pulling in to??? Aren’t public charging stations dangerous?
Kevin Kohl, Pass and Seymour Product Manager at Legrand has your answers:
“If I plug my cell phone into a public port, aren’t I risking theft of my data?”, “Won’t I get hacked?”
NO. USB ports can’t read data. Per Kevin:
“USB charging ports must be designed, tested and certified to meet the specifications outlined by the USB Implementers
Forum, which is comprised of the creators of USB technology. The USB Battery Charging Specification Revision 1.2 states
that dedicated charging ports that output power through a USB connector cannot be capable of detecting, identifying
or communicating with a downstream device to which it has been connected. To comply with this mandate, manufacturers short the data pins in the USB connector. Information cannot be transmitted or received when a device is plugged into a charging station.
It is also important to note that charging stations are part of the electrical infrastructure, just like a traditional wall receptacle. It is powered by 110 volts and contains a transformer that steps down the power to five volts for safe, efficient mobile charging. Because the charging station is part of the electrical system — and not the A/V or data infrastructure — it does not contain network connections or storage servers that would allow information to be recorded or sent to another device. In other words, the USB port can’t read data from your phone— and even if it could, the charging station doesn’t have the technology to process or transmit it to a third-party.”
Thank you, Legrand.
That low battery flashing on my cell phone, while I’m waiting for a flight at BWI, no longer terrifies me.
Grant Shmelzer
Executive Director
IEC Chesapeake
