AC/USB Outlets

CCCEI 3” Desktop Recessed 2 AC Outlets and 2 USB Ports – (2x) 2 for $24

Blue Maxx has two USB ports built in:  one at the ciggy and another in a recess at the base of the steering column, just to the right.  The ciggy location keeps the iPad Midi charged as it sits in its niche on the Driver Desk.  The recessed port charges the iPhone as it nestles in its slot on the Driver Desk, annnnd it connects the iPhone directly to the stereo – or whatever you want to call it now.  Still “stereo” to me, Lee.

For years, I’ve kept a multi-port charger in my van plugging it into an adapter plugged into the ciggy, or into an inverter (plugged into the ciggy). 

Well, 21^st century electronics being what they are, I wanted more USB ports in Blue Maxx than you can count on your fingers and toes – and, yes, that includes thumbs.  I wanted one at least within arm’s reach at all times. 

The Maxoak Bluetti EB240 solar generator has four on the front panel and the EcoFlow Delta has four more (that makes 10).  That’s great, but those are both in the front half of the van and down on the floor, under the desk.

Given that I’ll be spending a LOT of time at that desk, and I’ll be using USB speakers, USB fans, porting my iPad and my iPhone, I’d be tangled up in – no, not blue – cables.  I needed some ports top-side.

I also needed some AC outlets for laptop, electric fan (for when it’s too hot for the less-strong DC versions), gooseneck lamp.  Bluetti has only two AC outlets, but one hosts a 6-outlet power strip, and the other powers a long orange power cord that winds around the driver side, up above the back doors and down to the lower back corner, providing juice to the remote region of the passenger side.  So those are both occupied.  There are couple of open spots on the power strip, but they are tucked as far out of reach as I could go, and I don’t relish the idea of crawling down into the crypt for desktop stuff.

The Delta has six – count ‘em, six – AC outlets on its backside.   Most will be unused most of the time; this beast is devoted to more power-sucking 110V appliances and gadgets, like the microwave and monitor.

It was also necessary to have ports and outlets next to the bed.  I charge my phone and tablet every night while I sleep, and I crave fannage then too.  I’ve always relied on a quartet of battery-operated fans for that duty, but why buy four “D” batteries for each one of those when I can use free DC power from the sun instead, Ted?

Back in the early stages of The Project, I bought a couple of small panels that had 2 USBs, a DC socket, and a rocker switch.  At the time, I did not understand that I’d be needing a DC Converter and fuse block, or wiring everything to them.  I kept one of these (on the passenger side) when I did the wall paneling, figuring that somewhere down the line, having that socket will come in handy, like for a DC vacuum, for instance.  (And the 2 USBs make 12 so far).

But for all the others, I needed better.  I shopped on Amazon for a while, seeing mostly things that did not apply, and then, boom, there it was:  the CCCEI Grommet Recessed Outlet thingy.  It doesn’t even seem to have a real name: just a string of words that gradually describe what the heck it is.  It is listed as:  3" Power Grommet with Green USB, Desktop Recessed USB Grommet, In Desk Grommet Outlet with 2 AC Outlets and 2 USB Ports.  It has the word "Grommet" three times!  Loquacious bastids.

The most important part, which isn’t shown (or even mentioned in that ridiculous "name"), is that this comes already connected to a standard 6-foot (OK, 5.9-foot) electric cord.  So, in essence this is just a wicked coolo extension cord with USB’s as a bonus. 

But instead of just lying on the ground, like most ordinary ext-cords, this one attaches to your desktop.   The ring you see on the right is the grommet.  You sink the body of the outlet through a 3” hole in your desktop and you screw the grommet upwards until it snugs up against the underside of the counter.  Perfect!

And I got to use the hole saw again!  Four more 3” holes coming right up!

I got four of these beauties.  Two sit vertically in the upper shelf of the desk, plugged into that power strip in the crypt (and, hence, into Bluetti). 

Another one got sunk into the back corner of the dressertop, near the wall.  That one is plugged directly into Delta.  If I want to use that outlet at all, I have to reach under the desk and turn Delta on – front button to wake it up, and hard-to-reach back button to activate the AC power through the inverter.  The microwave is plugged into that, so cooking anything is a two-step process.

The fourth CCCEI Grommet Thing is installed in the back corner of the sink counter, near the wall, and a few feet from my pillow.  These USBs get nightly use when I’m roading, and I use them to charge my battery-operated fans while I’m driving during the day.

So, four times two USBs is 8, which gives me a total of 20 of the skinny little buggers.  Just right.

If they ever come with a name for this product it will probably do a lot better.  I’d make up a clever nickname, but I’m at the end of this chapter now, so not much point in it…