USBeast Offers 2.1 Amp Charging from Your Ryobi One+ Battery
There’s a compelling Kickstarter campaign going on right now for a product called the USBeast. The basic idea is that it takes a USB device that slips over the top of Ryobi One+ 18V Battery to draw power. This is a little bit different from some of the other lifehacks out there that encourage you to take apart or rewire a battery in order to convert it for your needs. There’s no modification to the battery, so you aren’t sacrificing your ability to use it in other Ryobi One+ tools.
Okay, now that the USBeast at least has our nod for being a battery accessory rather than a modification, let’s look closer. It includes a pair of 2.1 amp hour USB chargers, which is what a lot of the “quick chargers” on the market are touting. Designers also chose Ryobi One+ 18V batteries as the platform to design it around. That’s important since Ryobi is one of the most successful and popular brands of cordless tools thanks to solid quality and value pricing for tradesmen and DIYers. It does leave out other battery platforms though and by extension, a lot of other potential users.
The USBeast will be relegated to a novelty for Ryobi users unless their product can be offered at a price that can compete or beat other quick chargers. Kickstarter supporters can donate $20 to be in on the first shipments and it looks like they’re priming to retail for $25. Not too shabby, Likely one of the biggest advantages that it has over other portable options is the fact that it’s using an 18V lithium-ion battery for power – meaning you’ll get a lot more charging capacity. It’s also going to mean that you can avoid finding an outlet.
My initial reaction? The USBeast looks like a pretty cool addition for Ryobi user tool boxes.
