Log in Subscribe

Random Thoughts

Plug it in

Hudson Cooper
Posted 1/20/23

Sitting at my desk, I glance around the room at the various battery-operated devices that somehow have become necessities. At first, I make a mental note of the ones that require the insertion of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Random Thoughts

Plug it in

Posted

Sitting at my desk, I glance around the room at the various battery-operated devices that somehow have become necessities. At first, I make a mental note of the ones that require the insertion of batteries. For them, I keep a bag nearby to make sure I have supplies of AA, AAA, C and D batteries to power up flashlights, my wireless mouse for my laptop, the three television remotes for the house and assorted clocks. Luckily those devices maintain power for a long time before I must retrieve my battery bag.

I also have devices and machines that to get charged requires me to plug them into a port in my computer. A quick inventory of those includes my electric razor and a small portable blender.  The blender allowed me to make healthy breakfast smoothies for the first two weeks, until I grew tired of yogurt, chia seeds, kale and flax.  Eventually I slid back to my breakfast routine that was perfected during my childhood.  I enjoy a bowl of Cap’n Crunch or an egg McMuffin. Although not exactly what the doctor ordered, it is what my stomach craves.

I keep a box in my office to keep my assorted charging cables for the devices that seem to require a power charge every day. My laptops, Kindle reader, and cell phones have to be constantly monitored to assess how much charge they have stored up. Panic usually sets in when they drop below 25%.

Daily, I dump out the box and look at the pile of entwined cables that resemble a metallic plate of spaghetti for robots. Then the fun starts. Grabbing one of my power-sucking devices I try to find the charging cord match. I feel like a contestant in a game show called “Find-A-Plug” as I try to match the proper cord to the device in hand. 

As my device slowly loses power, I glance at the percent of charge remaining and keep trying different plugs. As the percentage of charge approaches zero, I feel like James Bond trying to diffuse a bomb as I try to find the correct plug before my time runs out.

Therein lies the problem. It seems like every manufacturer of these devices that we cannot seem to live without, uses a different USB-C connector to fit into the port known as the USB-C Receptable. 

You do not have to be an economic major to figure out the logic behind it. The companies that make cell phones know how to sell phones. If you are willing to spend a thousand dollars to upgrade to a new cell phone that, with a click of a button, eliminates that drunk guy in the speedo swimsuit who photo-bombed the picture you took of your wife at the beach; surely you will drop another twenty bucks for a charger that works. Of course, most devices come with one charging cable. However, you will need others for your car, office and other places you frequent and might need a charge.

Perhaps someday the makers of these devices will gather at an ICCC. At the International Charger Cord Convention, they will agree to manufacturer a universal cord and port system that will be utilized in all devices. 

Until that happens, I recently went to a dollar store, which, by the way, now charges $1.25, and bought labels that I have attached to each power cord identifying which device accepts it. 

But I have the ultimate solution to the problem. Many of us secure our cell phones in a protective case. Why can’t the case have a built-in plug? The plug would be engaged by swiveling it from the case making it suitable to plug directly into a wall socket. That would at least eliminate the need for power cords for cell phones. 

My laptop is almost out of power, so excuse me as I look for the correct charging cabl

 

Hudson Cooper is a resident of Sullivan County, a writer, comedian and actor.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here