RV FEATURE
In 1996 , the Universal Serial Bus ( USB ) port was released as an option on personal computers available at the time . I remember the days when USB ports started appearing in Australia . I was working in the IT industry and I was absolutely amazed that you could plug in and out devices such as hard drives and printers without having to turn off the computer .
What ’ s more , the computer immediately recognised the device when it was plugged in and self-installed the necessary drivers for it to work . At the time , it was an incredible step forward in usability .
Fast forward to today and USB ports are seemingly everywhere . With such proliferation , it makes sense to use them to recharge small devices . The problem is , the maximum power available from a modern USB port is no more than 5V . It ’ s not a lot .
So manufacturers of USB-charged devices need to make their products extremely energyefficient , which makes them ideal for RV applications . As with most things , some of these products are better than others . But here are six devices we have found that are ideal for the RV lifestyle — and they are awesome .
1 . DAYOUNG 2-IN-1 MOSQUITO-KILLER
We used to use a 240V electronic bug zapper to help control the mosquitos around our caravan . That was until one of our dogs developed a sensitivity to the noise of the bugs being zapped .
Recently , some fellow campers introduced us to these USB-rechargeable bug-zapper lamps . I had seen these before but dismissed them as a bit of a gimmick ; however , our friends insisted they did work .
So we purchased a couple to give them a try . To my complete amazement , not only did they work but they worked effectively and completely silently . No more disturbing the little pooch . What ’ s more , the bug light can be left on to run all night on a single charge .
It can be placed on a flat surface or hung from its fold-away hook . There ’ s also a bright white lamp that easily lights up an area under a large awning . Available on eBay and priced at $ 35 , it is excellent value for money .
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