vB Easy Archive - Are all USB Car chargers the same?

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Are all USB Car chargers the same?
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Posted by: Encino_Bob

For example: Can I use the USB charger that came with my VR3 Bluethooth speakerphone to charge my 8320 Curve?
Or can I use the charger from my sons DS Lite?

Thank you.

Bob

Posted by: APT

The pins are the same, but the current may not be.

I have used a 550mA charger from a bluetooth headset for my Pearl as well as a RAZR car charger with no problems.

Posted by: Massonite

I know that a Blackberry charger will not charge a Motorola phone. I've tried using mine to charge a Moto 385 and Razr, and it says unable to charge.

Posted by: Moridar

I have the Kensington car charger and it charges my BlackBerry and Motorola headset without an issue.

http://us.kensington.com/html/11205.html
(pic includes a ipod adapter)

Posted by: Encino_Bob

Could there be catastrophic damage?
Or like some have said, it just doesnt work.

Signed: Tentative...

Posted by: rbentley

As long as the volts and the amps are the same you should be ok. But if the Amps are greater then you could indeed have catastrophic damage.

Posted by: jefe

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbentley

As long as the volts and the amps are the same you should be ok. But if the Amps are greater then you could indeed have catastrophic damage.

Not true.

When a charger is rated at a specific amperage that means it can provide up to that amperage. How many amps are drawn is determined by the voltage the charger is capable of, and the load that the device the charger is plugged in to presents.

If the voltage is greater, especially much greater, then you could indeed have catastrophic failure. With a device having a USB standard connector on it I doubt you'd ever see that happen.

Posted by: MDAUSER99

I can use a mini-USB charger that I used on my MDA with my Blackberry 8800 and 8320. Works fine. These same chargers will not power anything from Motorola or my Garmin Nuvi GPS unit, however, even though the plugs look different. Likewise, the Motorola charger won't charge my Blackberry but it will the Garmin.

I think the pinouts are different inside.

Posted by: aalqadaffi

I've used Motorola mini USB charges to charge my BlackBerry's for years. Never had any damage. Currently I'm using the mini USB cable for my Zune to charge my BlackBerry.

Posted by: gettygas

Quote:

Originally Posted by aalqadaffi

I've used Motorola mini USB charges to charge my BlackBerry's for years. Never had any damage. Currently I'm using the mini USB cable for my Zune to charge my BlackBerry.

lol me to My Moto charges my BB Curve...

Posted by: MicroT86

For what it's worth, the car charger for my Tomtom charges the Curve without a problem.

Posted by: EditionFWS

razr charger charges my 8830...

Posted by: Soapm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefe

Give that man a prize! Someone who knows theory...

Posted by: jefe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soapm

Give that man a prize! Someone who knows theory...

I know that theory...Ohm's law. But the truth is I don't know the answer to the question why some chargers with a USB connector will work on some devices but not others.

I have a Moto V3xx and a Blackberry 8700. None of my RIM chargers will charge my Moto, and vice versa. Yet they'll both charge if I plug them in to a USB port on a PC.

I'm sure there's a simple explanation and I'm mildly looking forward to learning it one of these days. In the mean time, I have no reservation plugging any USB charger in to any of my devices to find out if they're compatible or not. I feel fairly confident that the USB spec limits the amount of voltage on the connector, and as stated earlier, it's too much voltage that could zap your device.

Posted by: Encino_Bob

Thank you to all.
I am now testing different USB chargers.
They all seem to be 5v 400 - 800 mA

Posted by: perfectlyfailing

I've been using razr chargers to charge my BB since the day I got it. Honestly, I dont think I know where my genuine BB charger is.