G: TL;DR: If you mean “phone-style” power banks (≈5,000–20,000 mAh), make each bay about 90 mm (3.54 in) of internal width and you’ll comfortably catch ~95% of what’s on the market, with outliers being jumbo/laptop bricks that are wider.

Why 90 mm: recent/common models’ “short side” (the width you’d slide into a rack) clusters ~59–82 mm, with a few edging into the high-70s; 90 mm gives clearance plus tolerance for labels, cases, or slight skew. Examples:

Slim 10,000 mAh: 59 mm wide (Nitecore NB10000). citeturn0search11
Compact 20,000 mAh: 74.5 mm wide. citeturn0search9
Chunky 33,800 mAh: 78.3 mm wide. citeturn0search14
Outdoorsy/laptop-adjacent options can jump to ~82–112 mm on the short side (e.g., BioLite range), which I’d treat as the “beyond 95%” group unless you plan to support laptop charging bricks too. citeturn0search13

Practical build notes:

Slot width: 90 mm (3.54 in) clear; add a thin compressible liner (1–2 mm EVA) so narrow banks don’t rattle.
Slot thickness (front-to-back): many are 10–28 mm; allow 32 mm (1.26 in) to be safe, or use spring fingers. citeturn0search11turn0search9
Slot length: most are 120–160 mm long; give 165–170 mm (≈6.7 in) so USB-C tails and strain relief aren’t cramped. citeturn0search11turn0search6
If you do want to include laptop-class bricks (>20k mAh, 100W), bump bay width to 110–115 mm or add a second, wider row for “XL” units. citeturn0news34

Assumptions stated: this targets mainstream, phone-oriented banks. If your rack must also accept laptop-chargers and square outdoors units, spec the wider bay or mix two bay sizes in the array.

G: [Non-text content: thoughts; content_type=thoughts]

G: [Non-text content: reasoning_recap; content_type=reasoning_recap]

G: Got it—using the smallest dimension (thickness) only.

If you want a rack that fits roughly 80% of mainstream, phone-oriented power banks (≈5,000–20,000 mAh), make each slot’s clear thickness about:

22 mm (0.87 in) clear — sweet spot for ~80% coverage.
If you want a hair more safety while staying under an inch, go 24 mm (0.94 in).
Going tighter (18–20 mm) will exclude lots of 20,000 mAh bricks even though many 10,000 mAh “slim” bars will still fit.

Quick build tips: use a 0.5–1 mm compressible liner (EVA/foam) so thinner banks don’t rattle, add a small lead-in chamfer, and leave a few extra millimeters ahead of the connector for strain relief.

2025-08-09 13:56:33 EDT

M: That sounds about right. What I’m thinking of would be kind of like a comb shape from one and; something I could slot into the… Usually the common port is a micro USB, so something that would let me fix the base to a table or shelf, And getting in the habit of popping the power banks on as necessary without having to hunt down the right cord each time. Does anything like that exist commercially? I’m not saying I wouldn’t make my own anyway, but I’d like to see if anyone has done something similar. Probably a good call with the foam by the way. Also, let’s say I were to try to make this myself – assume I can construct whatever base I need either by myself or talking to a friend who does 3-D printing. Where would I get the appropriate wiring and USB ports for the project? I am up four buying the parts themselves or disassembling something, whatever is cheapest and easiest and most reliable. Really it’s the reliability, easiest is least important.

G: You’re asking two things—whether there's a commercial product like your comb-style micro-USB rack, and if you DIY it, where to source the internal wiring and connectors. Here's what I found:

Are there existing commercial solutions?

Nothing exactly matching your “comb with fixed micro-USB connectors” design seems available. However, there are some vaguely similar options:

Multi-port USB charging stations (e.g., 60-port USB hubs for schools or stores) exist, but they typically provide traditional flat-panel output with detachable cables—not slots where you slide power banks in and engage their micro-USB ports directly citeturn0search0turn0search8.
Power bank rental kiosks do slot devices into holders and charge them, but these are heavy-duty, kiosk-sized units (and often proprietary) citeturn0search12.

So, while the form factor you're imagining isn't commercially common, the underlying concept—rack-mounted charging—is certainly implemented, just not in the compact, comb-style arrangement you describe.

If you DIY it: sourcing micro-USB connectors and wiring

For a reliable, semi-permanent comb rack, you'll want to mount micro-USB female ports in each slot and wire them to a shared power source. Here are a few practical supply options:

products{"selections":[["turn0product4","Micro-USB male port 5-pin (for soldering into your board)"],["turn0product0,turn0product6","Micro-USB port PCB test boards—pre-mounted connectors"]],"tags":["Bulk micro-USB port ready for DIY board","Whole port-in-PCB modules for easier mounting"]}

Highlights:

product_entity["turn0product4","Micro-USB male port 5-pin"]
A raw connector you can embed into your 3D-printed comb or a custom PCB—ideal if you’re comfortable with soldering and want the slimmest, most flexible mounting.
product_entity["turn0product0,turn0product6","Micro-USB port PCB test boards"]
These are little circuit boards with the micro-USB female port already attached—super convenient for sliding into slots and wiring, with minimal soldering or structural work.

DIY design notes and suggestions

Mount style
- If you 3D-print the base, consider embedding the raw connectors (like the first product). This gives you a low-profile and neat comb design.
- Alternatively, use the small PCB modules—they can drop into slots and neatly plug into your wiring harness without needing board-level design.
Power/charging supply
- Tie all micro-USB ports to a regulated 5 V DC supply. A quality USB charging module (or multiple tap points from a bigger charger) ensures stable, safe power.
- Ensure current rating suits how many banks charge simultaneously (e.g., 2 A per bank if they draw fast; adjust wiring/gauge accordingly).
Strain relief & alignment
- Use foam or flexible lining in each slot to reduce wobble and mitigate connector stress.
- Include a slight chamfer or lead-in for slots so that the micro-USB plugs align neatly—this will reduce wear on both connectors.

Summary

No off-the-shelf “comb-style” rack with integrated micro-USB slots appears to exist commercially—but the concept of slot-based USB charging is common in larger scale designs.
DIY is very doable! Grab micro-USB connectors or port modules and wire them to a regulated 5 V supply—3D print or otherwise build a comb-style base that holds them securely, with foam for support and a lead-in for easy insertion.
Of the parts I found, micro-USB port PCB modules are your easiest starting point, but the raw connectors offer a cleaner integration if you can solder them in yourself.

Let me know if you want help picking a USB power board or planning the wiring layout!