USB Chargers.

Message

HowardQ · #1 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:32 pm

These may be silly questions, but.........
There are so many chargers around the house these days every drawer seems to be full of them, phones, cameras, sat navs, etc..
Just recently, many items seem to come with USB chargers which have a mains plug as well.
All the older chargers had different ends that plugged into the unit and charged at different rates, so items could damaged if the wrong charger was used, hence the unique ends.
Just recently I have bought a Nikon Camera and a Samsung Tab with mains chargers that have these USB plug ins and a Sat nav that only came with a USB and a cig. lighter car adaptor.
You don't always have a PC or Laptop to plug into to charge stuff, so me and the wife both have USB plug in chargers in the cig lighters in the cars for charging devices that do not have the bulky adaptor chargers.
When I got the second one for Terri I bought one with two slots for two different charging rates, (can't remember them without checking but one is just a trickle and probably means the phone or IPOD just holds its own when plugged into one socket and the other charges at a higher rate).
I would imagine that a USB lead would only pass though enough charge to charge or run a USB device without causing any damage.

So a couple of questions -

Can these dual rate cig lighter adators be used with any device without fear of damaging them?

More importantly, can the Tom Tom Sat Nav we have just bought, that has no method of mains charging as standard, (or any other USB device), simply be plugged into a mains plug adaptor like the one with the Nikon Camera and the Samsung Tab and work safely, or do I have to spend extra money on another mains charger?
It is of special interest to me, as we are off on holiday to Andalucia again on the 27th and we end up taking so many different chargers, which is not good with the current weight limits on luggage.
It would be really great if some of these could be shared.

BikerGran · #2 Post by **BikerGran** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:35 pm

A good question - I've often wondered the same as I tidy up the tangle of different chargers!

Gio · #3 Post by **Gio** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:14 pm

I haven't got any usb chargers, threw them away as I prefer to use a wall socket

Falcopops · #4 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:19 am

The only info I can offer is that the USB from a PC will only supply 5V.

I've not checked, but I'd expect that the Cig lighter adaptors to USB would therefore only allow 5V (not 12) so as to not overpower devices attached to them.

If items only come with a USB lead to charge I'd expect them to internally be able to deal with 5V to charge their batteries.

The secondary higher output voltage USB you mention is an unknown to me, but I'd be very careful not to plug anything into it that isn't designed for the higher voltage.

If you check your chargers, they will show the voltage and current that they output to the related device, which might help you decide which ones you do and don't need to carry.

HowardQ · #5 Post by **HowardQ** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:28 am

Thanks Dale!

The dual socket in the wife's car is not a voltage change, it's just a higher charging rate. Lower rate is 0.5 amps and I think the higher rate is 1.5 or so. Can't check as the car is at work with her.
I reckon, like you, that if they have a USB lead, they should be OK with any mains adaptors, as well as the above, but just a bit cautious.

How's the weather down your way?
Starting to get a bit worse here lately, sheet black ice on our road today and snow in some places, so a few airports, like Stanstead, closed for a while.
Suppose you'll be sat in the sun with a few cans after wok.

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:52 am

Falcopops wrote:The only info I can offer is that the USB from a PC will only supply 5V.

I've not checked, but I'd expect that the Cig lighter adaptors to USB would therefore only allow 5V (not 12) so as to not overpower devices attached to them.

Yes, of course they all supply 5v (the plug-top chargers too) - that's a requirement of the USB standard.

Some will allow faster charging as they are capable of delivering higher current.
As long as you don't try to run something that requires a higher current from a USB source that cannot deliver it, you should have no problem whatsoever

Falcopops · #7 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:57 am

HowardQ wrote:How's the weather down your way?

It's getting damn hot here and the humidity is very high, but with no sign of rain yet, a couple of bush fires on the hills, just to warm it up even more.

Mostly have to stay in the aircon in the pub and drink lots of fluid, bugger

flatlander · #8 Post by **flatlander** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:38 pm

generally if the connections fit it is ok same with laptop adapter chargers some like on dell will say this nis not the right charger all it means is it will charge at a slower or quicker rate usualy 60 and 90 v I think

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:48 pm

Ah yes .... usb connector types ........... got to make sure you use the right one ............

..... and I'm not convinced about the robustness of the micro usb3 - got one of these on my external HDD

HowardQ · #10 Post by **HowardQ** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:39 pm

Thanks all

As for you Dale, just try to get through it mate, we're all with you! (well, wish we were), just hope the bush fires don't get too bad this year.
We had some pretty bad ones in the Med this summer.