A new product called the Practical Meter shows how much power that your phone or tablet is getting when charging, and can optimise the amount for your device so that it charges as quickly as possible. The Practical Meter plugs into your computer/laptop, wall charger or battery back-up USB slot.
A micro-controller will read the output data, average the measurement over a few seconds, and illuminate the number of LEDs corresponding to the actual power. Each bar represents 1-watt of power, and for devices that require more power, like tablets, a secondary mode is available so that each lit bar will represent 2-watts.
When you use the supplied 3-in-1 Octopus Cable – which has circuits built into the tips – your device will always accept the maximum amount of power possible. In fact, the cables are wired in such a way as to actually trick some of the laptops out there into outputting more power than they would typically – yet is 100% safe. The 3-in-1 charger comes equipped with 30-pin, Micro-USB, and Mini-USB connectors so it will be compatible with a range of phones.
The Practical Meter costs US$ 25 plus delivery to Australia, and is available for a limited time on Grand St.
What do you think of the Practical Meter? Let us know in the comments!
