There are 2 versions of the Duo USB Charging Kit, one is for home and the other is for car. The car’s version is selling for SGD$45 (after 10% member’s discount is SGD$40.5).

If you are looking for the home and car together in 1 package, it is called the Duo USB Travel Charging Kit and it is selling for SGD$70 (after 10% member’s discount is SGD$63).

The Duo USB Charging Kit (Home) package consist of 1x 15W Dual USB Adapter and 1x Magic Cable Duo – Charge & Sync 2-in-1 USB Cable. The Magic Cable Duo is already retailing for SGD$29 by itself.

The USB charger features 2x USB ports capable of outputting 3A in total which is enough to charge an iPad (2A recommended) and an iPhone (500mAh required) at the same time.

It should be able to charge 2 iPads at the same time, but the charging speed will be slightly slower since each iPad will only be drawing 1.5A instead of the recommended 2A.

This USB charger will also be useful for travelling as it can charge two mobile phones at the same time and hence requiring just 1 power outlet rather than 2.

Specifications

• AC Input: 100-240 Vac / 0.6A
• USB Output: 5V / 3A
• Output Power: 15W
• Dimension (LxWxH): 90 x 42.3 x 23mm (3.5 x 1.6 x 0.9 inches)
• Weight: 52g (1.8 ounces)
• Built-in Protections: OCP, OVP, OPP, SCP

Innergie USB Charger – Duo USB Charging Kit (Home) – Packaging Front

Innergie USB Charger – Duo USB Charging Kit (Home) – Packaging Contents

Magic Cable Duo

15W Dual USB Adapter

2 USB Charging Ports

The PlugBug charger acts as an US travel adapter for your MacBook Pro/Air MacSafe Power Adapter and on top of that it gives you an additional USB port that allows you to charge your iPhone or iPad. I find it super useful for hotels that has limited power sockets. If you prefer not to attached it to your MacSafe Power Adapter, no worries as it can be used as a standalone USB charger.

The USB output produces a 5V at 2.1A which is perfect for iPad charging.

An international version is in the works right now and should be available by early next year and I am so going to get that as well!

Box Front

Box Back

PlugBug Charger (Standalone)

PlugBug Charger (Attaching)

PlugBug Charger

PlugBug Charger On The Wall

The batteries are Made in Japan while the charger itself is Made in China. It can charge up to 4x AAA or 4x AA batteries at once.

The charging time are as follows for Sanyo Eneloop AA (2,000mAh) and AAA (800mAh) batteries are as follows:

• 1x AA – 75 mins
• 2x AA – 110 mins
• 3x AA & above – 220 mins
• 1x AAA – 65 mins
• 2x AAA – 100 mins
• 3x AAA & above – 200 mins

There are LED indicators for each battery charging status. Blue LED means it is charging and once it is done, the light will go off.

Front View

Charger

Charging

The package includes charging tips for iPad/iPhone/iPod, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, PSP, Nintendo DSL/DSi/3DS and Female USB.

The MiPow Power Tube design is similar to that of Sanyo Eneloop Stick Booster KBC-D1BS which my mom’s business friend got it for me from Japan.

According to iPad 2 Wi-Fi Teardown, iPad 2 battery has a capacity of 6,930mAh which means the MiPow Power Tube 6600 can almost fully charge the iPad 2 on a single charge.

On the other hand, based on iPhone 4 Teardown, iPhone 4 has a battery capacity of 1,420mAh and hence the MiPow Power Tube 6600 can charge an iPhone 4 a total of 4.5 times on a single charge.

• Output Voltage: 5V
• Output Current: 1A
• Capacity: 6,600mAh
• Cell type: lithium-ion battery
• Cycle life: 500 times
• Operating Temperature: -10°C to 45°C
• DC Charging Time: 7 – 9 hours
• Dimension: 23.5mm (D) x 242mm (L)
• Weight: 280g
• Colors: navy blue / charcoal gray / gold / silver / royal blue / peach / black / wine red

Box Front

Packaging Contents

Charging Tips

Power Tube

Charging Indicator

I was deciding between 2 variants, the Standard Charger NC-MQN09 (SGD$29.90) or the Basic Charger NC-MQN09 (SGD$22.90). The price difference is SGD$7.

I end up choosing the NC-MQN09 because for SGD$7 extra, you get US-plug compatibility, microprocessor to control the charging and 2x blue LED to give you obvious indication of the charging status which you can double it up as a night light as well.

This charger can charge 4x AA or 4x AAA batteries and the charging status is split into 2 sets (set A and set B) of 2 batteries each and each represented by 1x blue LED.

Packaging Front

Packaging Contents

US-plug Compatibility

2x Blue LED

Set A Is Fully Charged While Set B Is Still Charging

Specifications

• Input: 100-240V~ 50-60 Hz 4W
• Output: 2,4V, 300mA × 2 (AA), 2,4V, 150mA × 2 (AAA)
• Charge Control: -delta V
• Charging Time: 570 minutes (4 AA), 420 minutes (4 AAA)
• Charge-Indicator: 2 LEDs
• Size: 78mm × 132mm × 37 mm
• Weight: 130g

So far I have only saw The Sanctuary selling at EpiCentre at Ion Orchard, I have not seen other shops carrying it yet. I think there is at least 5 of them there when I got it last week. They only carry the Black variant.

The Sanctuary is an upgrade to Bluelounge Refresh. It is bigger and allows you to charge almost all types of mobile devices. I love it’s bigger surface area when compared to the Refresh as it allows me to place other things on it as well such as keys and wallet. I like how the inner tray comes with 2 surfaces, Faux Leather and Velvet. You can just flip over to either one to your liking.

However, I do have 2 complains on The Sanctuary, firstly there is only 1 USB port instead of 2 in the Refresh and hence you can only have 1 extra custom USB cable. Secondly, they should have 2 MicroUSB charging connectors instead of just 1 as these days most mobile phones are charged using MicroUSB port. On the other hand, the Refresh is meant more for Apple users as it includes 2 iPod connectors.

Box Front

The Sanctuary Internal Workings

Mobile Phones On The Sanctuary

If you are an ANZ Credit Card holder, you are also entitled a 10% off any 3rd party accessories from EpiCenter as well, so the Capdase Car Charger Holder cost only SGD$53.90 after a 10% discount and using the SGD$50 voucher, I paid SGD$3.90 for the holder.

The Capdase Car Charger Holder is slightly different from other holder because it uses your Cigarette lighter receptacle to hold your phone and on top of that it extends the socket by giving you an additional 2 USB ports to charge your gadgets (iPad compatible).

Do note that the voucher ONLY has a 1 month validity which is dumb, so I have no choice but to get something before it expires on 25th June 2011.

Box Front

Box Content

Phone Mount

In The Car

Fast forward 5 months later, the black color is back at EpiCentre@Ion Orchard and I just had to get it (there is also a white color available). It is retailing for SGD$139 (Member’s Price: SGD$125.10). I had pass down the Konnect SynCharger to my brother instead =p

Box Front

Box Back

Inside Bluelounge Refresh

Bluelounge Refresh

I bought it on the 18th September 2009 and it was shipped on the next day on 19th September 2009. Took 17 days to reach me, arrived in my mailbox yesterday on the 6th October 2009. This is technically the first item I purchased from eBay. The very first item I bought is the Apple Care for my MacBook Pro =D

Description

• Light-weight, super-slim design to carry with your iPhone or iPod Conveniently charged via any USB ports
• High-capacity, rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• LED indicator for battery power level
• No memory effect, Li-ion battery built-in

Specifications

• Battery Type: Lithium-ion battery
• Capacity: 1900MAH
• Rated input: 5V 800mA
• Rated Output: 5V 500mA max
• Charge time: Around 2 hours
• Dimension: 67x62x15 (mm)
• Color: Black

Compatibility

• iPhone 3GS 16GB/32GB
• iPhone 3G 8GB/16GB
• iPhone 4GB 8GB 16GB
• iPod Touch
• iPod Nano
• iPod Classic
• iPod Video

Packaging – Front View

Packaging – backView

Front View

Back View

Input

Output