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Forbidden from using power socket in station waiting room

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infobleep

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On a slight tangent, a while back I once saw a bloke with a standard class ticket put his phone in first class (which was empty save for one or two people) and sit in standard whilst it charged. I think the guard later saw what he was doing, and started trying to get his details for using the first class facilities without a valid ticket. Unfortunately I had to get off whilst they were still arguing so I don't know the eventual outcome, but given that first class was pretty much empty and the man was sitting in standard, I did think it was a bit officious. Although obviously a line has to be drawn somewhere, otherwise standard passengers will start helping themselves to free food, etc.

What are peoples' opinions on that?
I assume this perticular train had no declassified first class or plug sockets for public use in any standard class carriage.

If it did then he didn't need to use any first class facilties. If it didn't, then he's was just unlucky to be on a train that only provided electricity to first class passengers.

I wonder what percentage of UK trains only have plug sockets in first class vers them being in standard class as well as first class? Obviously not every train has plug sockets, even some which have first class!
 
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plugwash

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I wonder what percentage of UK trains only have plug sockets in first class vers them being in standard class as well as first class? Obviously not every train has plug sockets, even some which have first class!
I remember seeing older intercity stock with sockets built into the table lamps in first class and no sockets in standard class. IIRC sockets for passengers in standard class became a thing with the introduction of the pendolinos and voyagers with older intercity stock being refurbed to have them some time later.

I imagine most of the "intercity" stock without sockets has been refurbed to add them by now though, maybe i'm wrong.

One problem on the pendalinos is that while there are sockets in standard class it can be tricky to get one as they are only at table seats which tend to be among the first to fill up.
 

dgl

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The 444's as built, aside from 1st class, only had sockets at the tables in the DMSO.
 

al78

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No more so than a mobile phone or laptop, they just contain a lithium-ion battery like any such device (they are basically a laptop battery in a box with a couple of USB ports on it, and often a torch because they can). Don't buy dirt-cheap rubbish from the far East (or expensive rubbish from the far East such as the Galaxy Note) and you'll be fine.

What is meant by "dirt cheap rubbish" (or how much should I be spending)? I am planning to buy a power bank for a weekend backpacking trip.
 

Bletchleyite

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What is meant by "dirt cheap rubbish" (or how much should I be spending)? I am planning to buy a power bank for a weekend backpacking trip.

The rubbish ones are generally the dirt cheap (less than £5) low capacity ones from pound shops and the likes.

I just did a search for "power bank" on Amazon, and the majority of what came back were about 3 designs, all of which I've had over the years and had no specific problems with.

Anker and Poweradd are reputable brands, but it's all made in China, so if it looks the same it almost certainly is.

I'd spend about £18-25 (not related to the Railcard :) ) and look for a capacity of 20,000mAh or more, which will give you 4-5 days charging for an average smartphone (or 1-2 charges of an iPad).

My current one is this one:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Poweradd...1_9?keywords=power+bank&qid=1574099574&sr=8-9
and it's fine.
 

infobleep

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The rubbish ones are generally the dirt cheap (less than £5) low capacity ones from pound shops and the likes.

I just did a search for "power bank" on Amazon, and the majority of what came back were about 3 designs, all of which I've had over the years and had no specific problems with.

Anker and Poweradd are reputable brands, but it's all made in China, so if it looks the same it almost certainly is.

I'd spend about £18-25 (not related to the Railcard :) ) and look for a capacity of 20,000mAh or more, which will give you 4-5 days charging for an average smartphone (or 1-2 charges of an iPad).

My current one is this one:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Poweradd...1_9?keywords=power+bank&qid=1574099574&sr=8-9
and it's fine.
I have never had a problem with Anker myself and I've had two of their battery chargers. The only reason I stopped using the first one was due to my new mobile being too powerful for it.
 

Bletchleyite

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I have never had a problem with Anker myself and I've had too of their battery chargers. The only reason I stopped using the first one was due to my new mobile being too powerful for it.

For the record I've never had one (of any brand) fail on me - I just have a habit of breaking them myself, e.g. losing them, dropping them in a puddle, getting them wet when camping, breaking the USB sockets by leaving the plug in etc. My carelessness rather than design issues.

Not as bad as iPod Nanos, which I broke about 3 of by washing them in my shirt pocket as they were too light to notice! In the end I bought an iPod Classic because it was big and heavy enough to be noticeable :)
 

infobleep

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For the record I've never had one (of any brand) fail on me - I just have a habit of breaking them myself, e.g. losing them, dropping them in a puddle, getting them wet when camping, breaking the USB sockets by leaving the plug in etc. My carelessness rather than design issues.

Not as bad as iPod Nanos, which I broke about 3 of by washing them in my shirt pocket as they were too light to notice! In the end I bought an iPod Classic because it was big and heavy enough to be noticeable :)
I'm often break my USB cables.
 

Bletchleyite

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I'm often break my USB cables.

Fortunately USB cables are mostly sacrificial, the USB standard has the sprung components in the plug rather than the socket (one way they win out over Apple) which is a very good piece of design indeed. However if you bend them too hard the socket can get damaged.
 

MotCO

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I seem to recall electric plug sockets on trains (maybe tube?) where the earth pin was lying horizontal rather than vertical, and the live and neutral pins lay vertical. Thus Joe Public could not use these plugs, but official rail staff could. Can someone please verify this (to save my sanity :D:D)?
 

dgl

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I seem to recall electric plug sockets on trains (maybe tube?) where the earth pin was lying horizontal rather than vertical, and the live and neutral pins lay vertical. Thus Joe Public could not use these plugs, but official rail staff could. Can someone please verify this (to save my sanity :D:D)?
Yes, on the tube iirc, 120V? too. The BBC also used a similarly different design.
 

plugwash

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I seem to recall electric plug sockets on trains (maybe tube?) where the earth pin was lying horizontal rather than vertical, and the live and neutral pins lay vertical. Thus Joe Public could not use these plugs, but official rail staff could. Can someone please verify this (to save my sanity :D:D)?
Sounds like the "walsal gauge" 13A socket. https://www.flameport.com/electric_museum/plugs_13A_non_standard/walsall_gauge_socket_plug_13A.cs4 , no longer made unfortunately.

Probablly the most common nonstandard 13A socket nowadays is the MK one with the T shaped earth pin, never seen one on a train though.
 

Belperpete

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The problem with power banks is that over time they lose charge unless you remember to keep them charged up. If you leave it in your bag for 6 months, it will likely have little charge left. Whereas a charger left in a bag for 6 months will still be good to go.

A spare phone battery is likely to be both smaller and cheaper than a power bank.
 

plugwash

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A spare phone battery is likely to be both smaller and cheaper than a power bank.
Power banks have a few advantages over spare batteries.

1. They can work with any phone.
2. They can be charged without the phone being present.
3. They can be brought into service without rebooting the phone.
4. You can choose the capacity rather than leaving it up to the phone vendor.

The downsides of course are that using one battery to charge another is inefficient, so they will indeed be bigger and heavier for the same amount of usable power and you have to be careful how you put the phone/powerbank combo into your pocket so you don't stress the connectors.
 

Bantamzen

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Although it's been a while since I have had a phone with a removable battery.

Indeed, having the capacity to replace the phone battery without opening it up & invalidating it's warranty is becoming increasingly uncommon.

Power banks have a few advantages over spare batteries.

1. They can work with any phone.
2. They can be charged without the phone being present.
3. They can be brought into service without rebooting the phone.
4. You can choose the capacity rather than leaving it up to the phone vendor.

The downsides of course are that using one battery to charge another is inefficient, so they will indeed be bigger and heavier for the same amount of usable power and you have to be careful how you put the phone/powerbank combo into your pocket so you don't stress the connectors.

I've had the same one for a couple of years now, with 3 USB ports and enough charge from full to give my wife & I's phones a couple of full charges, and give my 10" tablet at least 1.5x - 2x charge. It is a little on the heavy side I'll admit, but as I use it whenever travelling I'll usually have at least a rucksack with me so it's not really noticeable. Its even got 4 blue LEDSs on to show how much charge it's carrying so I don't forget to top it up! Not bad for £25 (for a 26,800maH unit).
 

al78

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Power banks have a few advantages over spare batteries.

1. They can work with any phone.
2. They can be charged without the phone being present.
3. They can be brought into service without rebooting the phone.
4. You can choose the capacity rather than leaving it up to the phone vendor.

5. Some of them have solar panels so can be charged (slowly) by sunlight. Leave it on a south facing upstairs window when not in use, may be enough to trickle charge it until needed.

The rubbish ones are generally the dirt cheap (less than £5) low capacity ones from pound shops and the likes.

I just did a search for "power bank" on Amazon, and the majority of what came back were about 3 designs, all of which I've had over the years and had no specific problems with.

Anker and Poweradd are reputable brands, but it's all made in China, so if it looks the same it almost certainly is.

I'd spend about £18-25 (not related to the Railcard :) ) and look for a capacity of 20,000mAh or more, which will give you 4-5 days charging for an average smartphone (or 1-2 charges of an iPad).

My current one is this one:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Poweradd...1_9?keywords=power+bank&qid=1574099574&sr=8-9
and it's fine.

Thanks, I have been looking at ones in the £25-£60 range which have solar panels.
 

trainophile

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TK Maxx usually have a decent range of power packs for a lot less than the RRP, probably end of line stock but can be quite a saving.

I have an American one with an inbuilt lightning connector, cost me about £8 off the clearance shelf, works very well.
 

TUC

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Given how pubs like Wetherspoons just quietly let people use sockets that happen to be randomly near some tables (as opposed to being specifically provided), I do think this is another issue where the rail industry is years behind the times.
 

kristiang85

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Given how pubs like Wetherspoons just quietly let people use sockets that happen to be randomly near some tables (as opposed to being specifically provided), I do think this is another issue where the rail industry is years behind the times.

Although now in London I've noticed there's a business providing phone chargers to pubs that customers pay to use through an app.
 

broadgage

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I seem to recall electric plug sockets on trains (maybe tube?) where the earth pin was lying horizontal rather than vertical, and the live and neutral pins lay vertical. Thus Joe Public could not use these plugs, but official rail staff could. Can someone please verify this (to save my sanity :D:D)?

There were several designs in use for different purposes.
Some types were standard 230/240 volts with the odd pins simply to prevent use by unauthorised persons.
Others, including those on LUL platforms were 110 volts with an earthed center tap, thereby being only 55 volts to earth, a much safer system for portable tools and lights.
Yet others had standard live and neutral pins, but a round earth pin. Sometimes found in government offices for IT equipment.
One currently common style has standard live and neutral pins but a "T" shaped earth pin. These are for a standard voltage when it is desired to restrict access.

EDIT TO ADD I recently installed a couple of non standard 13 amp sockets in the residents lounge of a local hotel.
Ample standard sockets are available for customers to use, but a couple of non standard ones were wanted in addition for cleaning equipment.
 
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broadgage

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Here is a link to details of various non standard 13 amp sockets, including the LUL ones.
https://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/British2.html

Moderator note: This thread appears to have run its original course, however if anyone wishes to create a new thread to discuss charging sockets or anything else, you are more than welcome to do so :)
 
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