vB Easy Archive - Blackberry USB charging troubleshooting

Pages: 1

Blackberry USB charging troubleshooting
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Okay, I hope I didn't kill my new Blackberry.

This morning when I got up, I decided to charge up my week-old Blackberry 6280. I hadn't gotten it up to a full charge during that short time since I needed to leave for work. But on the way out, I thought I'd give this Belkin 12-volt car adapter I had sitting around a try. I originally got it as part of a Palm T|E "travel kit" for my mother in-law, who didn't need the car charger part.

Coffee in one hand, I snatched the USB mini cable that came with a Blackberry in the other, and dashed off to my car.

This is where things get puzzling.

For some reason, the Belkin car charger's little red LED lit up when I started up the car, but I didn't give a charging "lightning bolt" on the Blackberry. The battery at this time was nearly complete at 90-95%. Why it didn't charge was a mystery to me. Bad car adapter? Bad cable? Dead Blackberry?

Then I went to my office and used the same USB cable and plugged it into my work PC's USB connector. Now, my Blackberry isn't set up on my work PC, and of course Windows 2000 wouldn't "recognize" the handheld ("You do not have sufficient security priviliges on this computer...") That's fine. But still no lightning bolt indicator.

At home, where my laptop is the only PC that I have Blackberry drivers installed on, it charges just fine via cable (little lighting bolt and everything).

I've been told that Windows may disable charging via USB port if there's no applicable driver installed.

I don't have my OEM charger with me at the moment to see if my Blackberry is fried. Since I'm an obsessive Nit Picker, this is driving me to distraction here at work!

* Anyone know if the USB charging via PC situation I've described sounds about right?

* Is is possible the Belkin/Palm car charger (with my BB USB cable inserted), just isn't right for the Blackberry, or even fried it? For reference, my mother in-law's Zire also charged via mini-USB.

Edit: Photo of the Palm T|E kit. I only used the car plug part with my Blackberry USB cable.

Posted by: rcg

On your computer side of the question.... unless you have the BBerry drivers installed on the PC you won't be able to charge the handset.

Similar issue with the Belkin... Certain chargers, even though they are mini USB, won't charge the BBerry. We have had other customers try other chargers without success. An example is Motorola MPx200 Vehicle Power adapter - same Mini connector won't charge a BBerry. Take the BBerry Vehicle charger and it of course works on the BBerry but will also work on the Motorola.

Your BBerry is unharmed just use the correct charger.

http://store.bizshopr.com/rimrac41731.html

Posted by: WirelessAndy

rcg,

Hey... I know you guys... I got an email from you or someone about that hydrofoam case (due in Monday)!

Your input is invaluable. I just picked up a Sony Clie charger for an upcoming NZ-90 (new job in Sept), and I THOUGHT about trying the wall charger/USB to BB via BB cable, but I think I'll temper my impatience and wait till I get home.

Say... this "MicroInnovations" Clie home charger, which has that USB plug on it, is rated at 5 to 11 volts. Do I dare try my Blackberry's mini USB on it?

D*mn my impatience!

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Epilogue:

Got home, threw everything down and made a beeline dash to the OEM wall charger. Lightning bolt! Works fine. Ditto for my Dell laptop with the Blackberry drivers.

Phew. Never ever will I use non OEM stuff again.