USB Charging Question
Sep 20, 2006 | 4:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 162
USB Charging Question
I have a ton little gadgets that charge off of USB. Each one came with a "brick" that has a wall plug on one end and the USB plug on the other. IOW, I plug one end of the USB cable into my gadget, and the other into this brick. I then plug the brick into the wall.
What I would love to know is how interchangeable are those "bricks"? Any ideas?
What I would love to know is how interchangeable are those "bricks"? Any ideas?
Sep 20, 2006 | 4:05 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: BA, AA, DL, KLM, UA
Posts: 37,489
They should all provide the same kind of voltage, but some will provide more current than others. I've never had a problem swapping them around EXCEPT for chargers for Motorola phones and my Blackberry. For some reason those 2 seem to be different.
Sep 20, 2006 | 4:10 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,730
The bricks should all have text on them (maybe a sticker, maybe molded into the plastic) giving an output voltage and current rating.
The output voltage should all be 5V (the USB spec). If you want to travel with just one brick, pick the one with the highest current rating and it should work fine for all your devices
(YMMV of course, especially if some devices don't really follow the USB spec. As always, test at home before hitting the road.
)
The output voltage should all be 5V (the USB spec). If you want to travel with just one brick, pick the one with the highest current rating and it should work fine for all your devices
(YMMV of course, especially if some devices don't really follow the USB spec. As always, test at home before hitting the road.
)
Sep 20, 2006 | 4:27 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 162
I took a look at a few of them. 1 says 5.5 Volts, and the others say 5.0 volts. The all seem to say 1 Amp, and those are all for output, I assume the input doesn't matter. Should I use the 5.0 volt ones, or the 5.5 one? Does it matter? I would assume it does. If I am underpowered, does that just mean it takes longer to charge? If I am over-powered, can I fry something?
Sorry for all the questions...
And thanks for the help so far!
AJ
Sorry for all the questions...
And thanks for the help so far!
AJ
Sep 20, 2006 | 8:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the eastern shore
Programs: UA 2P
Posts: 153
Originally Posted by ajalan
I took a look at a few of them. 1 says 5.5 Volts, and the others say 5.0 volts. The all seem to say 1 Amp, and those are all for output, I assume the input doesn't matter. Should I use the 5.0 volt ones, or the 5.5 one? Does it matter? I would assume it does. If I am underpowered, does that just mean it takes longer to charge? If I am over-powered, can I fry something?
AJ
AJ
Sep 29, 2006 | 1:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: United GS
Posts: 154
Originally Posted by ajalan
I have a ton little gadgets that charge off of USB. Each one came with a "brick" that has a wall plug on one end and the USB plug on the other. IOW, I plug one end of the USB cable into my gadget, and the other into this brick. I then plug the brick into the wall.
What I would love to know is how interchangeable are those "bricks"? Any ideas?
What I would love to know is how interchangeable are those "bricks"? Any ideas?