Skylanders Portal USB Power Mod
Jeanne has Skylanders Trap Team for the iPad. It’s a fun game. Precisely why it is always running out of batteries. Even Eneloops don’t last long enough. Fresh AA batteries have a voltage of about 1.7V. Three in series gives about 5.1V. That’s almost about what a USB port is giving. So I figured, why not mod the portal to get its power from a USB port?
Lifetrons Worldwide Travel Adapter
Got this from the in-flight duty free shop ($36) because it was more expensive at the airport duty free shop (NT$1400 or around $48). And then I find out that similar travel adapters are just around $20-$30 from Amazon.
Still, it’s not so bad. It’s your normal travel adapter with 4 different types of retractable prongs and as many sockets. It’s a bit chunky (see photo comparing it to standard iPhone charger) and not easily pocketable but with a gadget bag should be no problem. It has a smooth satin finish that looks pretty and resists fingerprints. But it is not scratch-resistant and can easily get marred or rubbed off.
The best thing about it is that it has two USB charging ports. And they’re not just ordinary ports, they are iPad-compatible (1000mA). The USB ports are actually the primary reason why I got this adapter. You’re supposed to be able to fast-charge two iPads but since I have only one, I wasn’t able to verify this. But being able to charge a phone, a tablet, and a laptop at the same time? That’s good enough for me!
Rating: 4/5