USB Charger query

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Foo

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#109473 20-Sep-2012 12:55

Has anyone used the Mort Bay USB Charger as shown here: http://www.mitre10mega.co.nz/shop/electrical_hardware/electrical_outlets_fittings/mort_bay_usb_charger_240v~50hz_176378/

I saw this in Mitre10 recently and wondered if anyone has used one without issues?

It has an output of 2100mah which is twice what my standard charger has (and four times what the terrible el cheapo chargers I purchased from Grabone have which take an insane amount of time to charge).

If anyone has used a Mort Bay USB charger, please share your experience. Keen to know charge time / if it has shortened the battery life of the charged device.

Thanks in advance!

stevenz

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#688808 20-Sep-2012 13:45

Current isn't pushed to devices, it just makes more available if a device is capable of drawing more.

Generally speaking, most devices will charge notably quicker with a 2A device than a typical 500mA supply.

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trig42

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#688815 20-Sep-2012 13:53

and at 2.1A, it will happily charge an iPad.

richms

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#688835 20-Sep-2012 14:02

Will all depend on what the data pins ID it as, to determine the charge current, also if it is sagging at load will allow higher current into some devices.

I hacked up a USB cable to put my meter in series with the power to see the current things take, not often at the max the charger can do.

Richard rich.ms

Foo

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#688865 20-Sep-2012 14:43

stevenz: Current isn't pushed to devices, it just makes more available if a device is capable of drawing more.

Generally speaking, most devices will charge notably quicker with a 2A device than a typical 500mA supply.

The Mort Bay charger claims that it charges devices at 'twice the speed' of a standard charger. Generally my SIII takes about 3 hours to charge when almost discharged.

Foo

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#688868 20-Sep-2012 14:46

richms: Will all depend on what the data pins ID it as, to determine the charge current, also if it is sagging at load will allow higher current into some devices.

Is that potentially dangerous to the device if a higher current does enter the device? Or am I just paranoid ;-)

ajobbins

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#688874 20-Sep-2012 14:54

Foo:
richms: Will all depend on what the data pins ID it as, to determine the charge current, also if it is sagging at load will allow higher current into some devices.

Is that potentially dangerous to the device if a higher current does enter the device? Or am I just paranoid ;-)

I don't think you can 'force' current into a device, it will just draw what it wants (Voltage on the other hand...)

2.1 Amps is the same as my iPad charger, which will happily charge iPhones and my Galaxy SIII

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richms

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#688884 20-Sep-2012 15:06

Foo:
richms: Will all depend on what the data pins ID it as, to determine the charge current, also if it is sagging at load will allow higher current into some devices.

Is that potentially dangerous to the device if a higher current does enter the device? Or am I just paranoid ;-)

The only way to force more in is to have a higher voltage.

The voltage sagging on a charger is normal, its how the 500mA ones dont blow up when you put in something that would happily take over an amp if it could.

I have seen issues on some cheap chinese not legal to sell here ones where they had no current limiting so if you put a hub on it and 4 phones to try to charge them all as a friend did, it got hot and released that magic smelling smoke.

Richard rich.ms

gzt

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#689330 21-Sep-2012 11:55

Foo:
stevenz: Current isn't pushed to devices, it just makes more available if a device is capable of drawing more.

Generally speaking, most devices will charge notably quicker with a 2A device than a typical 500mA supply.

The Mort Bay charger claims that it charges devices at 'twice the speed' of a standard charger.

This is a really silly general claim for the manufacturer to make in the first place. It depends on how the charged device is designed to a large extent. The charger does not do what it claims so take it back.

Personally I do not trust any aftermarket chargers. The devices are expensive so why risk them with rubbish chargers not designed by the manufacturer.

Foo

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#689345 21-Sep-2012 12:15

gzt:
Foo:
stevenz: Current isn't pushed to devices, it just makes more available if a device is capable of drawing more.

Generally speaking, most devices will charge notably quicker with a 2A device than a typical 500mA supply.

The Mort Bay charger claims that it charges devices at 'twice the speed' of a standard charger.

This is a really silly general claim for the manufacturer to make in the first place. It depends on how the charged device is designed to a large extent. The charger does not do what it claims so take it back.

Personally I do not trust any aftermarket chargers. The devices are expensive so why risk them with rubbish chargers not designed by the manufacturer.

I haven't purchased one yet, I wanted to know other users experiences before buying.

I don't really care if it takes the same amount of time, anything has to be better than charging via either PC USB port or using one of the crappy under powered aftermarket chargers.

Anyone know how much a stock charger costs?

robjg63

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#689361 21-Sep-2012 12:45

Dont have one - but might buy one.
Where did you see that its 2.1A ?

Was looking at a USB point/charger to run my Raspberry Pi.
My Galaxy Ace charger only puts out .5A - its supposed to need 1A.
My wifes galaxy s3 charger works fine - its 1A.

If its 2.1A I think its safe to say it will charge your S3 as fast as it can possibly be charged - however long that may be.

I think I saw somewhere that the 'official' Samsung charger is quite pricey - the advantage with this of course is that you could probably charge 2 devices at once.

The claim about charging twice as fast is a theoretical claim - but wouldnt be true for everyone.

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Foo

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#689991 22-Sep-2012 19:30

robjg63: Dont have one - but might buy one.
Where did you see that its 2.1A ?

When I was in Mitre 10 and also when I searched online for it.

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#690068 23-Sep-2012 03:48

I bought a couple ofbthese some time ago - really good:

http://www.amazon.com/EZOPower-Charger-interchangeable-Cellphone-Powered/dp/B006VP6X4U

Here's some more:

http://www.amazon.com/EZOPower-Charger-interchangeable-Cellphone-Powered/dp/B006VP6X4U

http://www.google.com./search?as_q=USB+charger+white+port&as_epq=&as_oq=4+four&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=&as_occt=any&safe=off&tbs=&as_filetype=&as_rights=

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richms

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#690106 23-Sep-2012 11:22

I got an identical looking one off dx since it has a legit looking nz plug rather than the typical upside down china plug from there.

Not the best. Htc phone IDs it as usb charging so its slooooooow. Apple gear is slow. Only 2 amps over 4 ports.

And a needless blue led or 2 in the plastic around the sockets is impossible to cover with black tape.

Richard rich.ms

stevenz

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#690565 24-Sep-2012 12:15

I use USB chargers that came with Samsung tablets. They're all good quality 2A chargers and charge all my various things nice and quickly.

@KnightNZ