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Generic Chargers

Sorry if this is a dull topic as opposed to butt-dialing, texting character limits, or a run-away charge on my first bill (which was almost 2 months worth, but not out of line... :smileywink: )

Verizon seems to love the $30.00 mark for accesories. I don't. I see a lot of generic phone chargers that use the micro-USB plug and all are at or between the 5-volt and 5.5-volt figure. However, the HTC-supplied home charger (yup, $30.00) is capable of supplying 1A of current while the generics are in the 500mA all the way up to the 1A figure. I was wondering if the phone's charging suffers due to the 1A not being available from the generic chargers. I've checked the generic chargers while charging my phone and they don't seem to run any hotter than the HTC-supplied charger (and I've let the smoke out of a few wall-wart chargers trying to power devices that wanted more current that the charger would supply!). The phone seems to charge normally with the generics. I like to keep several chargers in travel bags and locations that I work.

Anyone (EE, or similar) see issues with using the generic chargers? Heck, the USB port of a computer doesn't supply more than what, 500mA?

Thanx, Geri O

Comments

willanaya

gerio wrote:
Sorry if this is a dull topic as opposed to butt-dialing, texting character limits, or a run-away charge on my first bill (which was almost 2 months worth, but not out of line...)

Verizon seems to love the $30.00 mark for accesories. I don't. I see a lot of generic phone chargers that use the micro-USB plug and all are at or between the 5-volt and 5.5-volt figure. However, the HTC-supplied home charger (yup, $30.00) is capable of supplying 1A of current while the generics are in the 500mA all the way up to the 1A figure. I was wondering if the phone's charging suffers due to the 1A not being available from the generic chargers. I've checked the generic chargers while charging my phone and they don't seem to run any hotter than the HTC-supplied charger (and I've let the smoke out of a few wall-wart chargers trying to power devices that wanted more current that the charger would supply!). The phone seems to charge normally with the generics. I like to keep several chargers in travel bags and locations that I work.

Anyone (EE, or similar) see issues with using the generic chargers? Heck, the USB port of a computer doesn't supply more than what, 500mA?

Thanx, Geri O

most will say that you need to check ebay. there are deals there. for me though, i prefer rocket fish from best buy. not cheap, around $24 dollars but i dont have to pay shipping and handling.

bkfist

You are correct, maximum output for USB (according to specs) is 500 mA.

Using a charger with a lower rated output will not harm the phone, but it might increase the amount of time it takes to charge it. On the other hand, at 1 A output, the phone might take a little longer to charge.

I haven't really looked at my daughter's Eris charging port (you mention HTC) but on the HTC Hero, the port is a MINI USB, *not* a MICRO. Double check your terms here before you order a charger... The Motorola Droid *is* a micro usb, though.

imragtop

Yes, you do need the charger to be able to supply 1 amp. I have some Motorola pagers on the bench at work. One of them has a bad battery. It was being used with a different wall adapter than what came with the dock. The original was 8v @ 1 amp, the replacement was 9v @ 200Ma. If it was the extra volt or the lower amperage, I'm not sure yet but I am betting on the current. From reading other places, it would seem that the lower amperage will not fully charge the battery. That is what I found with the pager battery.

gerio

Hmm, I wouldn't think that a volt's difference in those chargers would make that kind of difference, but I don't work with small electronics such as phones and pagers, just 120V audio gear and processors. We're seeing these devices come with PSUs that will tolerate down to 95V AC and up to 140V AC.

Since I run down the Eris 'battery pretty quickly anyway, it's been hard to tell whether the generic chargers are fully charging the battery or not, I'd bet not. I have one generic that's 800mA which is the one I use for overnight charging. I carry the HTC charger with me, plus another generic one rated for 500mA as a spare. I reckon I should just pony up the $60.00 for a couple of more chargers from Verizon so I'll sleep better at night....

Now, I'd pay good money for an extended-capacity battery for the Eris....

Thanx, Geri O

fezzik

I got a few generic chargers one dual port travel charger and two dual port car chargers and they do a good job of charging. Not sure their rating but the car charger charges the phone pretty quickly even with my bluetooth connected and playing music and on calls and stuff. I got it on Amazon for what it is worth.

Customer

Reading the specs on the wall plug portion of the charger (hard to do) says the output voltage is 5.1v. at 850mA. The user guide says that you can charge the phone with a usb connection to a computer. As I recall the output of usb is 3.3v, but I may be wrong. Motorola says using the usb plug to charge from a computer will take longer. I guess it's the 3.3v vs. 5.1v.

I have gotten some "unauthorized charger" messages on phones before and I assume the Droid would give you one also if the charger would not work. The charging times may change depending on the voltage and current. Try it and we wish you good luck.

logicman

OEM chargers at reasonable prices can be easily found using Google product search. Here's my search results. Several merchants are selling what appear to be genuine HTC chargers for $15 or less. IMHO it's not worth the potential risk of frying my phone with some non-OEM charger just to save a few bucks.

reallyniceguy

I bought a car charger and house charger at the mall and they work just fine. I guess the oem ones charge it faster? I dont care because i charge my phone overnight or in the car... I have not seen any differences in battery levels.. and these are cheap 10 dllr chargers..

GreySeal

As far as generic chargers go, I heve used ones that cost anywhere from $.99 to $30. Not one of them performed any different than the OEM ones I had from Verizon, Moto, LG, Samsung, whatever.

I've never had battery problems, with one exception on a Moto razor, and that was bad from day one.

Never had any wall or car chargers cause problems on any phone I've had over the years.

Various Verizon representatives have told me everything from "the generics will ruin your phone", " the OEM car chargers will ruin your phone", "Never use a car charger", "Any charger will be fine, since the phone controls the voltage cutoff".

Obviously, from what I've read and been told, nothing and everything is safe. Fun, huh!

Personally, I buy from Ebay or Amazon to get prices 1/10 of what the carriers sell. Never had an issue. Not in 15 years and 10 or 12 different phones.

YMMV.

So There. :smileytongue:

Dangerous_Dave

GreySeal wrote:
As far as generic chargers go, I heve used ones that cost anywhere from $.99 to $30. Not one of them performed any different than the OEM ones I had from Verizon, Moto, LG, Samsung, whatever.

I've never had battery problems, with one exception on a Moto razor, and that was bad from day one.

Never had any wall or car chargers cause problems on any phone I've had over the years.

Various Verizon representatives have told me everything from "the generics will ruin your phone", " the OEM car chargers will ruin your phone", "Never use a car charger", "Any charger will be fine, since the phone controls the voltage cutoff".

Obviously, from what I've read and been told, nothing and everything is safe. Fun, huh!

Personally, I buy from Ebay or Amazon to get prices 1/10 of what the carriers sell. Never had an issue. Not in 15 years and 10 or 12 different phones.

YMMV.

So There.

+1. I've been buying "extra" chargers and batteries off Ebay for a decade and not a problem yet. For less than $30 (including shipping), I bought a car charger, an extra USB cable, a spare battery, a travel wall charger that will charge the extra battery and the phone via the USB cable simultaneously, a silicone skin case, and a screen protector. All are working fine thus far and my phone always makes it through a full day on a full charge.

@ Gerio; The Eris has a charge indicator that changes from orange to green when the phone is fully charged. I would think that would solve your question about whether the generic is fully charging the phone or not. Charge on!! :smileywink:

D Dave

fezzik

Part of the beauty of USB is you can just about charge it anywhere. It is one of the reasons it has become so popular now. I bought generic simply because I wanted to have dual charging capabilities for lighter travel.

The standardized nature of USB means that no matter the charger you are always getting +5VDC power. The variable is the Amperage which is generally 500mili Amps but can in the case of chargers be higher or lower based on the control. The higher the Amperage the faster the battery will charge however, the faster the battery charges the shorter the lifespan of the battery. If you use too high of a voltage you will fry the circuitry resisters and transformers will pop and it will no longer work. To many amps and it will get too hot and again irreversable damage. If the amps are too low then the battery will never charge it will just discharge slower. Especially in something like the DROID where the phone has to be on to charge. The car charger I have has an output of 5V to 5.6V and 200mA and it charges the phone rapidly. Drive around for an hour or 2 and the battery is fully charged. The home travel charger I have is 1000mA.

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