DIY USB double adaptor
A simple ultralight DIY USB double adaptor for USB power supply for backpacking camping.
USB power is a very convenient electrical supply for lightweight camping and being able to power multiple devices from a single power outlet can be very convenient. For example, a LED light can be used while cooking at nighttime when using a blower stove that requires a small 5V current to operate. A DIY USB double adaptor for this situation would be just great if it could have no significant weight or volume.
I have previously described a simple DIY USB power plug that is formed from copper wires. I call it a ‘fang fitting’ and it is designed to fit into standard circuit board sockets.
Discovering the DIY USB double adaptor
As I made more of these fang fittings, I made the copper pins progressively longer, as this made the plug easier to make and use. The pins became so long that they could pass right through the socket so that an extra socket (or more) could be added to the pins. “That was the birth of the DIY USB double adaptor.”
Conclusion
My primitive fang fittings have given good service during my backpacking adventures. They are simpler and more robust than Jack plugs and sockets. They are, less bulky and more versatile than any other commercial plug. Now it can be used to run multiple devices off a single pair of copper pins by using these DIY double adaptors. This modification only adds about a gram to the weight of the already lightweight kit.
Tim