Are these devices legal?

[ccst]

For power, they latch on to the conductor screw terminals of a typical residential 5-15R receptacle. Something about it does not sit right with me.

https://www.snappower.com/

They even have one that is powered by passing current through a switched circuit. Maybe this is OK? It reminds me of night time neon indicators in presumably approved switches that I have seen before (unless those neon switches actually required neutral).

https://www.snappower.com/pages/switchlights

 

[mopowr steve]

If there listed. Then apparently yes.

 

[cookerobert21]

I just looked at the website that's awesome

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[retirede]

They claim to be ETL listed, but I didn’t see any file numbers.

 

[roger]

Maybe I'm missing it but I do not see any listing information on the website.

Roger

 

[roger]

Sorry retired, I was typing when you posted.

Roger

 

[infinity]

All I see is this on the FAQ page:

Is the Charger ETL listed?


Yes! The Charger has been designed to the highest standards of safety, and is ETL listed in the US and Canada.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

That's a good way to cover up a lot of damaged receptacles.

 

[hbiss]

I want to know how that night light switch plate works.

-Hal

 

[kwired]

For power, they latch on to the conductor screw terminals of a typical residential 5-15R receptacle. Something about it does not sit right with me.

https://www.snappower.com/

They even have one that is powered by passing current through a switched circuit. Maybe this is OK? It reminds me of night time neon indicators in presumably approved switches that I have seen before (unless those neon switches actually required neutral).

https://www.snappower.com/pages/switchlights

I can understand not sitting right with you if not listed, but assuming it is listed and your concern is the spring pressure connection - consider we are talking about maybe only 5 mA @ 120 volts of load that needs to pass through that connection, and that would be for a dual USB 2.0 unit, the night lights probably draw even less.

 

[brantmacga]

Maybe I’m making this up but I seem to remember an addition to the code that prohibited devices like this that rely on “pressure contact points” or something like that.


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[kwired]

Maybe I’m making this up but I seem to remember an addition to the code that prohibited devices like this that rely on “pressure contact points” or something like that.


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Slip rings in moving/rotating equipment are pressure contact points and they actually move instead of just maintaining contact.

Simple switch is pressure contact points also.


You might be thinking of splicing conductors, even soldered splices are supposed to be made mechanically first then soldered.

 

[brantmacga]

Slip rings in moving/rotating equipment are pressure contact points and they actually move instead of just maintaining contact.

Simple switch is pressure contact points also.


You might be thinking of splicing conductors, even soldered splices are supposed to be made mechanically first then soldered.

It was specifically for these receptacle wall plates. I’ll look further when I get a chance.


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[packersparky]

It was specifically for these receptacle wall plates. I’ll look further when I get a chance.


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They are allowed and covered by 406.6(D)

(D) Receptacle Faceplate (Cover Plates) with Integral Night
Light and/or USB Charger. A flush device cover plate that
additionally provides a night light and/or Class 2 output
connector(s) shall be listed and constructed such that the
night light and/or Class 2 circuitry is integral with the flush
device cover plate.

 

[brantmacga]

They are allowed and covered by 406.6(D)

(D) Receptacle Faceplate (Cover Plates) with Integral Night
Light and/or USB Charger. A flush device cover plate that
additionally provides a night light and/or Class 2 output
connector(s) shall be listed and constructed such that the
night light and/or Class 2 circuitry is integral with the flush
device cover plate.

Well there it is. Idk where I’d read what I posted above then. Thanks.


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[kwired]

They are allowed and covered by 406.6(D)

(D) Receptacle Faceplate (Cover Plates) with Integral Night
Light and/or USB Charger. A flush device cover plate that
additionally provides a night light and/or Class 2 output
connector(s) shall be listed and constructed such that the
night light and/or Class 2 circuitry is integral with the flush
device cover plate.

Didn't realize that was there. Don't see a need for it either, listing alone should allow it to be used IMO.

 

[romex jockey]

How do they work, you ask? Some would say its magic.
The real answer... the prongs simply draw power from
the screws on standard electrical outlets and light
switches. That means no wires or batteries needed!

good lord!

~RJ~

 

[al hildenbrand]

Don't see a need for it either, listing alone should allow it to be used IMO.

Without the permissive language explicitly naming these coverplates, an AHJ's allowing the coverplates becomes more subject to opinion.

The benefit of the added language in 406.6(D), in my opinion, is it helps to foster more uniform enforcement.

 

[Fulthrotl]

For power, they latch on to the conductor screw terminals of a typical residential 5-15R receptacle. Something about it does not sit right with me.

https://www.snappower.com/

They even have one that is powered by passing current through a switched circuit. Maybe this is OK? It reminds me of night time neon indicators in presumably approved switches that I have seen before (unless those neon switches actually required neutral).

https://www.snappower.com/pages/switchlights

hm. the 2 port charger plate is $19 each, if you buy in multiples of 10. dig deep.

i have a problem with usb charging devices, and it does not relate to any listings.

a couple years back, there were chinese knockoff usb power cubes and apple
lightning cords being sold at stupid low prices. now, it's not hard to undercut some
of apples absurdly overpriced stuff, and people bought lots of them.

turns out it was more than a cube and a cord. plugging in an IOS device to one of
these things rootkitted the device. hackers then could access your data.

a lot of these were in "free iphone charging stations" in malls and airports.

the only thing i will plug my ios device into besides the cord and cube it came with,
is the anker products, 'cause i trust them. but that is a personal choice.

something to consider.

 

[PaulMmn]

Those neon-light illuminated switches were around for decades! As for sponging power off of a lighting circuit (as did those neon-lit switches), that's what the X-10 switches do/did.

Neither had access to a hot lead in the box, so they sponged where they could. X-10 sometimes had issues sponging power from some types of loads!