"Use only Samsung-approved chargers..." ?

[PeteCress]

From my Galaxy Note's Quick Start Guide:

"Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. Unauthorised chargers or cables can cause batteries to explode or damage your device."

Is this FUD/CYA from Samsung Marketing and/or Legal?

I imagined that the charger would be in the phone and that the wall wart/USB cable were just supplying some sort of USB-standard voltage on one or more of the USB cable's strands.

??

 

[ebusinesstutor]

They do this for two reasons.

1. To cover themselves in case of warranty problems - if you use another charging system, they can blame it on that.

2. To get you to only by their brand of replacement accessories.

I once had a nonstandard power supply for a Sony laptop. The power supply worked great. But the laptop was aging, so I decided to restore the laptop to the original Windows in the hopes it would tune it up.

The laptop told me it couldn't do the restore because it wasn't plugged in. Of course it was plugged in and getting power. I contacted Sony for support and all they would say is " We can't guarantee the quality of your Sony experience if you are not using a Sony brand power supply." They refused to give me a work around.

So now, I refuse to buy Sony products.

 

[PeteCress]

... Sony for support and all they would say is " We can't guarantee the quality of your Sony experience if you are not using a Sony brand power supply." They refused to give me a work around.

So now, I refuse to buy Sony products.

Just think what you might have been missing out on...... that may have made you miss out on one of their CD-borne surrepticious root kits.... -)

 

[chanchan05]

On the laptop stuff, not sure about Sony, but Dell and HP now uses "smart" chargers which can identify the current flow and control it so as to not over head the PSU. So yes, if you aren't using their products, and plug in to varying voltages it MAY damage the battery or PSU.

 

[Metroid Prime]

Moved this thread to Android Accessories section.

 

[SteveFury]

I have a universal USB charging port car adapter which I've used with iPhones for about a year. I've recently switched to a Samsung Galaxy S3. Me and the Mrs. went on a small trip and tried out the Google Navigator.

After an hour or so we started smelling something burning, and turned out we were overloading the universal USB adapter, running the S3's screen continuously.

I don't use that adapter for my S3 anymore.

 

[Digital Controller]

I am sorry about posting this but "Explode your device" that line is freaking awesome and made me chuckle.

I just envisioned me humming a nice tune while i plug in my GNex and it just implodes in my hands, leaving my hands completely unscathed but my device just gone, ashes, everywhere, as i kneel down sobbing trying to desperately piece my phone back together.

----------------------------

Anyhow I know Samsung devices are actually pretty "anal" about this. They really will only work with certain chargers. I know a lot of devices use the standard mini usb or whatever. It is basically almost universal on todays smartphones.

However, sometimes with certain chargers i plug it in, like at a friends house or something, and it just won't accept a charge, yet when my friend plugs his phone into my charger it...

...just works ~ Apple

I dont understand the darn thing!

 

[PeteCress]

However, sometimes with certain chargers i plug it in, like at a friends house or something, and it just won't accept a charge, yet when my friend plugs his phone into my charger it...

I just discovered that my Note will not take a charge if the proprietary USB cable is plugged in to a USB extension cable. It has tb plugged directly into a PC's USB port or directly in to a wall wart.

Go figure...

 

[chanchan05]

I just discovered that my Note will not take a charge if the proprietary USB cable is plugged in to a USB extension cable. It has tb plugged directly into a PC's USB port or directly in to a wall wart.

Go figure...

At least they gave you something longer than this:

 

[PeteCress]

At least they gave you something longer than this:

I just ordered something like that.

Intent is tb able to use the Note's "USB Host" feature to be able to read a USB drive if needed.
viz: http://cnettv.cnet.com/use-usb-devices-android/9742-1_53-50128175.html

I think the price was eighty-three cents (!!!)... and that's with postage pre-paid....

 

[chanchan05]

No, that's different. The cable I posted is for you to connect the phone to a PC. LOL. Its the exact same data cable as the one you get out of the box in a phone, just way shorter. LOL. The one you bought is different, its got a female usb socket to plug USB in.

 

[Prinny]

I am sorry about posting this but "Explode your device" that line is freaking awesome and made me chuckle.

I just envisioned me humming a nice tune while i plug in my GNex and it just implodes in my hands, leaving my hands completely unscathed but my device just gone, ashes, everywhere, as i kneel down sobbing trying to desperately piece my phone back together.

----------------------------

You laugh, but Samsung is somewhat notorious about having faulty devices. When I worked there, there was a big lawsuit going on with TV's about capacitor issues.

There is also DLP tv's with white dots.

Plasma TV's that just crack after using them.

There also HAVE been devices that have "exploded" and/or caught fire.

Oh, and. As was said in here...it's just to cover their bases. If you use, say, a 3rd party generic charger and your battery dies...well samsung can say "lulz sry dood. read ur manualz."

Although, more often than not, if its just a charger you need and you're under warranty still and yours just failed...They'll just NCP (No Charge Parts) you a new one.

 

[SmItLeR]

My friend has been chsrging his tab 7 with a iphone car charger but using the galaxy usb plug amd it works fine