r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Araanim • 6h ago

I'm slightly vexed Verizon Router plug blocks 3+ outlets

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These new routers have a terrible plug that not only is so wide that it blocks at least two plugs below it, but actually extends the other direction and blocks the outlet above as well!

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u/Ht_TX 6h ago

Seriously asking because I know a lot about tech but not a ton about the power part

Is it possible to put the majority of the big plug parts on the other end of the cable where it connects to the modem or even just a few inches down in the cable that way none of the bulk is at a plug point?

1

u/Beif_ 5h ago

Sure, but the reason they don’t do this (I’d guess) is that then it’s no longer compatible with other regional wall outlets. I assume that it converts 120V AC (US) to whatever the device uses. If you wanted to sell this product in Europe (240V AC) you need a different transformer, so by putting the transformer in the cable you just have to swap out the cable.

3

u/aspie_electrician 3h ago

No, these are switching supplies, and as such, work anywhere from 100-240v 50-60Hz. All they do for other regions is change the metal pokey bits that plug in the wall.

1

u/suboptimus_maximus 2h ago

If anything a power brick style with detachable AC power cord would be easier to use internationally as they’d just have to ship different pigtails with the figure-8 plug on one end and local AC plug on the other. Obviously power bricks are nothing new and still common for laptops but for something like this it’s maybe more cost effective to just have the one-piece wall wart, and the compactness may save packaging size and reduce shipping and handling costs. Hard to guess with today’s manufacturing economy of scale and logistics, but always assume someone’s optimizing for cost. IMO all these things should just be USB-C now but then they would likely have a non-zero number of tech support incidents when people try to use the cheapest, lowest quality 5W adapter they can find in the back of a junk drawer.