Hotel style night stand

[Irving]

We live in an old house. The rooms have very few outlets. The outlets the rooms do have are poorly placed and not grounded. Seeing the current rat's nest on the floor every day makes me want to drive off a bridge.

I'll make this latest RedGreen project short and sweet. Here is what you'll need for the project.
Inexpensive night stand you got from Skully
Double gang box
Two USB + outlet receptacles
Double outlet cover
Grounded extension cord


Cut hole in top of night stand. This isn't real wood, so it chipped off pretty good. Not a huge deal.


Fit gang box into hole and secure.


Wire the two outlet receptacles together. I pigtailed them together as per this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBEMzxV05ZA


Carefully fit everything together into the gang box and secure.


Test the outlet and USB ports.



Place cover on to complete.


Make sure you get the polarity correct. There are several different kinds of receptacles with USB ports, none of them are cheap. Make sure you get one that runs at least 2.1A to each USB. Anything less than the 2.1A ones won't charge new devices worth a crap. A regular duplex outlet is under $3. A duplex with 4 USB ports is $29.99, even on Amazon. This project cost me about $50 as each receptacle was $19.99. This was the cheapest way to go for at least four USB ports.

The whole project takes maybe an hour for a newbie after watching all the appropriate Youtube videos for the wiring. Otherwise you can be done in 20ish minutes.

[rbeau30]

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Interesting project thanks!

[Irving]

In my next house, I'll probably install a bunch of these: http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-T5632-...rds=USB+outlet

[rbeau30]

I have been putting these anywhere I need a few extra outlets... at the top there are 2 USB outlets (2.1A). Very Handy.

[Irving]

Saw those at the Home Depot and considered something similar. I'll probably do something like this to every desk and dresser I own from now on as well.

[buffalobo]

Wife just complained last week that we need a shelf/cabinet for a charging station. Thanks for the ideas.

[rbeau30]

I really like how this project you won't have to feel around behind the side table for an outlet in the dark to plug your phone or whatever in.

[rondog]

In my next house, I'll probably install a bunch of these: http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-T5632-...rds=USB+outlet

Nut! Ima likin' that! Got a few perfect spots for a few of those.

[muddywings]

Nut! Ima likin' that! Got a few perfect spots for a few of those.

I picked up something similar at home depot. It has one plug then two usb slots where the second plug is, so not as slick as the one shown on this thread.
Might be the model and sure there are better ones out there but it does charge rather slow and when plugged in my touch screen is glitchy. Seems like it isn't getting the right power so do you research.

[Irving]

Is it like the ones I installed? I've only used them one night, so haven't run into any problems yet.