RobDickson
Android Enthusiast
I had exactly the same thought while I was swimming this evening, but wasn't sure whether mini to micro adaptors are available (or how cheap they are).
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Charging: USB and AC differences
- Thread starter robnoble
- Start date
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- Tags
- htc desire
iynCognito
Well-Known Member
Have received the
iynCognito
Well-Known Member
Yes, that cheapo charger works. Battery increased by 5% over 25 minutes while using Trapster and Google Nav.
What a great thread! I bought this USB charger off ebay,
12V-24V DC Port USB Output Car Charger Adapter For iPod on eBay (end time 12-Jun-10 00:50:40 BST)
it is rated at 1A, and allows the Desire to charge as if on AC. It works a treat. Only drawback is that it is white! On a positive note,
it has a USB socket on it, so can be used by other devices as well.
IHTH
it is rated at 1A, and allows the Desire to charge as if on AC. It works a treat. Only drawback is that it is white! On a positive note,
it has a USB socket on it, so can be used by other devices as well.
IHTH
RobDickson
Android Enthusiast
The iPod has a non-standard charging connection from USB. I haven't figured out what it is yet (let's face it, it can't be that complicated), but you might find that any iPod car charger will do the job.
Hectic Glenn
Lurker
Great thread with useful info. I've just purchases that
thechubbyone
Lurker
Been lurking on here for a while but thought I'd register to post about a cheap car charger I found from deal extreme.
DealExtreme: $2.63 1000mA Car Cigarette Powered USB Adapter/Charger (DC 12V/24V)
At first I tried it with an old micro usb cable from a blackberry that I had lying around at work and it showed up as USB charging. I then tinkered around with shorting the middle 2 pins. This was done without any soldering or anything, just a basic pinging up of one of the middle ones and pushing it under the other, but this still showed as USB charging.
When I got home I then tried it with my original cable and it showed as ac charging. I just tested it out by driving to work with co-pilot running and it increased the battery level. It's possible that the shorting of middle pins wasn't even necessary, but whatever, it works! It's also useful to have a general usb port in the car for ipod etc.
All in all, we have a success for
DealExtreme: $2.63 1000mA Car Cigarette Powered USB Adapter/Charger (DC 12V/24V)
At first I tried it with an old micro usb cable from a blackberry that I had lying around at work and it showed up as USB charging. I then tinkered around with shorting the middle 2 pins. This was done without any soldering or anything, just a basic pinging up of one of the middle ones and pushing it under the other, but this still showed as USB charging.
When I got home I then tried it with my original cable and it showed as ac charging. I just tested it out by driving to work with co-pilot running and it increased the battery level. It's possible that the shorting of middle pins wasn't even necessary, but whatever, it works! It's also useful to have a general usb port in the car for ipod etc.
All in all, we have a success for
The other option is to fit an inverter to your car. I have a 300w one hard wired to my battery, under the drivers seat, from which I can charge my phone, wife's iPod and let my daughter watch DVD's on my laptop on long journeys. They're not that expensive and very useful.
speedycolzalez
Android Enthusiast
What a coincidence. I did the very same thing this afternoon too (though I disassembled mine properly - the bottom end screws off, the rest is obviousI bought the Maplin charger when I first got my Desire which (as already stated) unmodded reports USB charging. I did the wee blob of solder mod and now I have the AC reading. Many thanks guys for this excellent tip.
Here's mine after the mod.
)
ou7shined
Well-Known Member
I can report that my Maplin with blob mod is very definitely charging when under load. I took a 30 minute drive with System Panel, Alarm Klock, GPS on, GPS Test and Google maps/Nav all running and me flicking back an forth between apps - my battery was at 58% on departure and 79% on arrival. 
Tumblew33d
Lurker
I'm charging using my sony AC to USB adaptor. I grabbed the first micro USB cable I could find under my desk and the phone reads 'charging AC'. I was down to 9% when I got home from work and I'm up to over 80% in less than 2 hours. Strange thing is, the sony adaptor is only supposed to supply 500mA max. Maybe the phone is stressing it and the adaptor is supplying more than it's rated to.
StoneDeCroze
Member
Not being funny Marshalex but had it not crossed your mind their might actually be a problem with your car?
If your cigarette lighter socket isn't putting out the power it should then no matter what you plug in you will lose power...
This is an interesting discussion. There have been a few recently about battery life, including this one: [Guide] Everything you wanted to know about Li-Ion batteries but were afraid to ask! - xda-developersI can report that my Maplin with blob mod is very definitely charging when under load. I took a 30 minute drive with System Panel, Alarm Klock, GPS on, GPS Test and Google maps/Nav all running and me flicking back an forth between apps - my battery was at 58% on departure and 79% on arrival.
One idea:
There seems to be a consensus that heat is not good for Li-Ion batteries - therefore it sounds sensible not to charge the phone any faster than you have to - perhaps USB (~400mA) charging is preferable to AC (~800ma). The point with the car charger was that with GPS etc the battery wasn't charging much at the USB rate due to the power consumption.
For the Maplin car charger perhaps it would be worth wiring up the D+/D- connectors to a small SPST switch on the front (e.g. Ultra Miniature Toggle Switches : Toggle Switches : Maplin) , then you could choose whether to have high or low current charging (depending on whether you had GPS etc on, or if you needed to recharge more quickly).
Any thoughts?
ou7shined
Well-Known Member
That's really a great idea to be able to have the choice but I've not noticed any increase in temperature while charging like this. In fact it's actually a whole lot cooler than when it is in my hands for any length of time.
Add to this the fact that on hot days my desire is in direct flow from my air con (I am using one of those clip into the vent type holders) it gets darn right chilly.
Any chance that really big pic above can be re-sized?
Add to this the fact that on hot days my desire is in direct flow from my air con (I am using one of those clip into the vent type holders) it gets darn right chilly.
Any chance that really big pic above can be re-sized?
albert_htc
Well-Known Member
hadn't actually thought of that to be honest. i've got 2 outputs in the focus (one by the gearstick and one under the armrest) so i'll try the other one later on this week and the misses avensis and see from there
ok checked in the misses avensis while using charger, trapster and music player battery again discharging. i'm starting to think that its the phone now :s
