A Universal Power Bus?

mjpalm21 asks: "A friend of mine recently sent me this story on a new universal power technology that charges devices through your desk. This is a cool idea, but it seems complex. I have long wondered why there isn't a universal power bus (UPB) along the lines of universal serial bus (USB). UPB would work like this: You would buy a n port UPB hub for your desk, and then all of your electronic devices (cell phone, PDA, computer speakers, modem, phone, hubs etc.) would plug into the hub via a standard UPB cable. I would think that the device manufacturers would be all over this as it would reduce their product cost (no need to bundle a power brick), reduce their packaging cost (smaller box), increase customer satisfaction (I know I would be happier), and give them another device to sell (the UPB hub and all those cables)! Why hasn't this happened yet and what would prevent it from happening?"

Comments

Reasons NOT to do it

[ka9dgx]

For discussion, lets just assume that everyone agreed that 5 Volts, +/- 10% was good enough, and made it a standard, in the same manor as 110-125 VAC/60 Hz, and 220-240 VAC/50 Hz is for most of the world. It would then be feasable, with low cost, to do this.

However, things still get murky, even in a 5V standard world. You run into issues

• Over current protection of the source
• Transient protection both ways
• Accidental polarity inversion
• Ground loops
• Noise
• Devices supplying power inapropriately

The easy (cheap) way around this is to specify a standard charger that is specifically NOT interconnectable to anything else, thus resulting in the plethora of incompatible devices that frustrate you.

My choices for a standard

• 5 Volts, TTL standard power with a new connector
• 13.8 Volt lighter plug, perhaps a mini version
• Standard plug/polarity/voltage sizes for barrel connectors.
• A new 5 volt, 3 phase 10Khz standard power connector

3 Phase power is cool, too bad it doesn't make it into more homes.

--Mike--