Generic charging accessories - any concerns?

[shakermaker41]

I just got a Verizon HTC Trophy, my first smartphone and am loving it. It came with a USB/microUSB cable and a wall charging adapter for it.

I have a box full of old cables in my office, some of which are identical looking USB cables (from other devices like cameras and old phones). I've looked online and through the forum and didn't really find anyone else asking this, so maybe it's a ridiculous question but...

1) Can I use one of my old USB cables to charge from the wall and/or computer without worrying about it damaging the device?

2) If it doesn't damage the device, how about overcharging the battery and wearing out the battery?

3) Additionally, I have a car charger from Verizon that I bought for my previous feature phone. It also has a microUSB connector on it, so do either of my first two questions apply to the car charger?

I'm curious because I'm tempted to go to Verizon and purchase "official" HTC Trophy compatible charging accessories, but my instinct is that anything with a microUSB connector on it will charge exactly the same and therefore I don't need to go be bent over by some high-priced Verizon accessories touted as "optimized" for the Trophy or whatever.

 

[rpm5101]

I've also wondered this. However, I am using an LG charger from my old phone, and have been for months. No issues here.

My roommate would never use anything but the specific phone's official charger to use on his Droid X. I actually think his phone would recognize when it was plugged into a different charger and notify him to switch to the official one.



I would check to make sure that the voltage is the same on both chargers. What else could be different between chargers other than the voltage? Amperage really won't have any bearing on this.

 

[dtboos]

I've had no issues with my Focus. I use the official AC charger it came with, but also use the one I had for my HTC Android device, and a completely generic car charger. Just check the voltage and you should be good.

Motorola's tend to have an annoying tendency to have software built in that makes it hard to use anything but motorolas own, but never had an issue with other phones.

 

[shakermaker41]

Thanks guys, those confirm my suspicions about my first question. Any ideas on the overcharging? Is the logic to prevent overcharging in the adapter or the device hardware/software?

I've never really understood it other than some of my older devices would eventually get to the point where they no longer held a charge due to constant charging. If the prevention logic is in the device, I would assume all modern devices are not at risk of overcharging. If it's in the adapter, I am fearful that cheaply made or "unofficial" adapters might overcharge the battery.

 

[thed]

Wikipedia to the rescue!

Battery charger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Most mobile phone chargers are not really chargers, only power adapters that provide a power source for the charging circuitry which is almost always contained within the mobile phone. They are notoriously diverse, having a wide variety of DC connector-styles and voltages, most of which are not compatible with other manufacturers' phones or even different models of phones from a single manufacturer."

So what I take from this is that as long as the voltage is the same, you should be fine. The adapter and cable just provides the power, the charging circuitry inside the phone regulates it and makes sure the battery doesn't get overcharged.

Disclaimer: I'm not an electrical expert

 

[jimski]

On the cables, any USB cable will work for charging. But not all USB cables will sync with your PC (fewer wires in the charge only cables). Typically a "charge only" USB cable is thinner and about 2/3 the cost of a USB data cable. The cable that came with your phone should be a data cable. If so leave it by your PC and use any other cable with the charger.

Don't know much about the overcharging issues, but I have always left my phones on charge overnight (6-10 hours) and all my batteries give me at least a year before showing signs of starting to lose some juice. The charger should not be underpowered. All of my recent HTC chargers have been rated at 1A Output. Pretty much everything with a USB connector today is rated 5V, but you should probably check anyway. My two USB battery backup chargers are rated 600mA and 500mA (1000mA = 1A) but they put out more like a trickle charge, same as your PC, so not a issue. Your car charger may also be rated under 1A output, but that's not an issue.

Just avoid any AC chargers rated under 1A output (like chargers for BT headphones which need less juice) and you will be fine.

Sent from my HTC Surround using Board Express

 

[shakermaker41]

...All of my recent HTC chargers have been rated at 1A Output. Pretty much everything with a USB connector today is rated 5V...

Just avoid any AC chargers rated under 1A output (like chargers for BT headphones which need less juice) and you will be fine.

My old LG charger says 5.1V -- .7A. So that is under 1A output, which you said to avoid. Why is that? What is the danger? Or is it simply a matter of a longer charge time?

 

[tiny]

As it has been more or less said:

USB is a standard. Any USB charger will work in place of another. In our case, this is micro USB. But yeah, most are just an adapter to USB. A computer can be used as a charger.

But it is really nice that this has pretty much become standardized. Saves everyone a lot of hassle with lots chargers and what not.

 

[jimski]

Yes, but USB ports and things like USB backups trickle charge your device, so it takes longer to fully charge, hence lower amps (500-750mA). AC chargers (power adapters) are designed to fast charge your device. I believe (but not sure) the issue of using an undersize charger on you device can overload the charger, which I suppose can impact your phone's battery in some way. But I am not an expert. Only picking up things I have read. I guess it asks the question, "if power adapter (charger) amperage does not matter, why are they all different". My BT chargers are 500-550mA. Wires are all the same size..

If the LG .7A is the charger that came with your current device then that has been designed for your phone.


Sent from my HTC Surround using Board Express

 

[gerrymad]

I bought several 3 foot long USB cables from monoprice.com For only $0.83 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 3ft USB 2.0 A Male to Micro 5pin Male 28/28AWG Cable | USB 2.0 Cables - Micro-B Type

The cables are $1 each. I leave one in my computer bag another at the office. I have an extra one at home for when I lose one. I use these cables to charge off the USB on my computer.

I also got a 1 amp light adaptor for $1.30 which charges my phone great in the car using one of the extra USB cables I bought.

For only $1.13 each when QTY 50+ purchased - Car Charger (Cigarette Lighter) to USB Female Converter - Black | Car Charger Accessories

The key is to make sure your chargers are all 1 amp otherwise there is a real risk of burining out the charger. There's no risk to the phone. If the charger can't supply enough the phone won't charge and the charger may die. I blew up a wall charger which was rated too low.

 

[shakermaker41]

Thanks a bunch for your replies everyone, especially jimski and gerrymad. Some good info here to think about.

EDIT: P.S. I've been using monoprice for awhile now and don't know why I didn't check them out earlier - great idea gerrymad!