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I found this outlet plug deal at the dollar store for like ten bucks. I only bought it to open it up and have a look-see inside. Found this 110v AC to 5v DC circuit, as you'd expect. USB data lines don't run to anything (good!). The +5v lines aren't isolated from each other, so it's really just the one line shared by both ports. The wires hanging off went to the mains.

Would this be an okay circuit for a DIY Arduino project? Just needs to power the little AT board and a relay for switching on and off 110 to a heater coil periodically. Been wondering how I was going to do power supply for that project, and I like this little form factor. Probably end up removing the USB ports and just solder wire to the board.

I found this outlet plug deal at the dollar store for like ten bucks. I only bought it to open it up and have a look-see inside. Found this 110v AC to 5v DC circuit, as you'd expect. USB data lines don't run to anything (good!). The +5v lines aren't isolated from each other, so it's really just the one line shared by both ports. The wires hanging off went to the mains. Would this be an okay circuit for a DIY Arduino project? Just needs to power the little AT board and a relay for switching on and off 110 to a heater coil periodically. Been wondering how I was going to do power supply for that project, and I like this little form factor. Probably end up removing the USB ports and just solder wire to the board.

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[–] • 1 pt

The good news is that my Arduino board has some DC smoothing circuitry built in, so noise might not be that big of an issue (I think). But that might only be on the barrel jack side of it which can take a range of volts. It can take power from that or USB, and I don't know if that circuitry applies to both supplies.

I have a multimeter though, and I do need more practice with it. Guess I'll try wiring it up and do some measurements. I don't have a scope yet, but it's on the 'eventually when I have more space' list.

[–] • 1 pt

The meter can tell you most of what you need to know.