Wall Charger Help

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Just a general question about wall chargers.
I have 4 different devices and I'm wondering if I can use 1 wall charger to safely charge them all as long as all the individual chargers specify 5v output?
Some people say yes and some say no.
Doesn't the amperage matter?

Charger Specs. All are 5v
Device 1 is 2amps - Galaxy Tab 7 Plus
Device 2 is 2amps - Galaxy S4
Device 3 is 0.7amps - Galaxy Player 4.2
Device 4 is 500mA - BlueAnt Q3 Bluetooth Earpiece

If you were to use the Either of the 2amp chargers on the lesser of the 0.7amp or 500mA, wouldnt it damage them?

Again...some say yes others say no because the device itself will regulate what it needs.

 

[LilBit]

Hmmm, good question. I'm guessing, but I would say the device would regulate what it needs, after all,you are plugged into a 120 volt outlet.Cant change or regulate that part.

 

[Harry2]

The phone/tablet limits the amount of amperage needed.
So the charger's ability of amperage could be bigger than the phone's/tablet's needing, but should not less.

Think of flowing water in a pipe ... voltage is the pressure, amperage is the flow and the phone/tablet is the resistance. The phone/tablet determines its resistance and so the flow has to follow when the pressure is steady. Only increasing the pressure will increase the flow.

So only using a higher voltage than 5V can destroy an USB device ... and not the charger's ability to supply a higher amperage at request.

Harry

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Correct,
but then why the different amperage for different chargers and devices,
rather than making a standard?
I'm thinking along the lines that the charger amperage might be based on the battery size/capacity and how it affects battery as well as the devise itself.

I'm not sure if the device can actually regulate the power coming in to the device properly based on the following example:
I have a Harmony One Remote Control.
It came with a cradle which is a charging station.
When I wasn't using the remote, I would just set it back in the cradle and leave it there.
That didn't last very long at all.
After just a couple months of doing that, the battery began to not hold a charge for more than an hour. (basically ruined the battery)
Then, the battery actually swelled up inside the remote making it impossible to remove.
That kinda tells me that these devices cannot actually regulate the power,
but still....I'm not really sure, and thats why I started this thread.
(Logitech was nice enough to replace the remote and said, "keep it off the cradle once its charged" )

Another person I had talked to said it would be fine to even charge the little bluetooth earpiece (500mA charger) with the 2amp chargers from my Tablet and S4 without it hurting them. BUT... it would charge SUPER FAST.
If it's going to charge "SUPER FAST", that to me still says the device has no regulation.

Keep in mind, I'm not here to argue the issue, just pointing out what I've seen/heard/whatever.
I'd really like a solid answer to this question.
Hoping some electronics guy will chime in...haha.

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

The phone/tablet limits the amount of amperage needed.
So the charger's ability of amperage could be bigger than the phone's/tablet's needing, but should not less.

Think of flowing water in a pipe ... voltage is the pressure, amperage is the flow and the phone/tablet is the resistance. The phone/tablet determines its resistance and so the flow has to follow when the pressure is steady. Only increasing the pressure will increase the flow.

So only using a higher voltage than 5V can destroy an USB device ... and not the charger's ability to supply a higher amperage at request.

Harry

Thanks Harry.
Looks like you had jumped in right before my last post took place when I was responding to LilBit.

So basically I can use my 5v 2amp charger to safely charge my Galaxy Media Player and Bluetooth Headset without issue then, or battery degradation, right?

Any idea as to why the battery on my remote went bad and swelled?

 

[Harry2]

...So basically I can use my 5v 2amp charger to safely charge my Galaxy Media Player and Bluetooth Headset without issue then, or battery degradation, right? ...

Yes
... but I'm afraid your BT headset won't be charged "SUPER FAST"
For that the device must be designed to switch to fast charging with higher amperage when it detects this option with a charger.
One method for that is shown here ...
Wikipedia: Jumpered data pins on USB chargers

... Any idea as to why the battery on my remote went bad and swelled? ...

No idea, sorry ... a Logitech device should've a proper protection to tolerate leaving the device in the charging cradle.

The Li-Ion batteries of phones and tablets even have a build-in basic protection against overcharging.

Harry

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Yes
... but I'm afraid your BT headset won't be charged "SUPER FAST"
For that the device must be designed to switch to fast charging with higher amperage when it detects this option with a charger.
One method for that is shown here ...
Wikipedia: Jumpered data pins on USB chargers

It actually has a "quick charge"mode built into it already.
It will charge to 50% or more in just under 30 minutes with its original low 500mA charger.
Do you think that might become a problem with the 2amp charger?
That battery can't be replaced.
Once its gone, you have to buy a new earpeice.
At $100 a pop....I definitely want to get the most life out of it that I can.

 

[Harry2]

... Do you think that might become a problem with the 2amp charger? ...

No reason to worry

Harry