Is it possible to charge the phone with a generic micro USB cable?

[MonkeyManiac2010]

I bought this from Monoprice: "USB 2.0 A Male to Micro 5pin Male 28/28AWG Cable - 3ft" hoping to charge the phone away from home by plugging it into a computer. But all I get is an option to mount the SD card as a drive to copy files. It doesn't seem to be able to charge the phone.

Do I need a special cable, or maybe a second charger from T-Mobile?

I had always charged my old MP3 player with USB, so I figured the phone could do the same thing.

 

[BiGMERF]

are the wires the same spec?

 

[aci78]

I have old used generic cables that I use for my computer to phone. Works fine. Also use my old car charger micro usb, no probs. As long as it is a micro usb end into your phone and the cable itself is still functioning, it should be good.

 

[shadow300z]

It may give you trouble, a lot of the cheapo chargers render the phone's touchscreen inoperable. Some don't even charge properly and end up draining your battery.

 

[aci78]

It may give you trouble, a lot of the cheapo chargers render the phone's touchscreen inoperable. Some don't even charge properly and end up draining your battery.

Upon reflection of this post, he has a good point. When I said generic, I really just meant not specific to my phone. They are from other devices I no longer use or own, >phones, cameras, etc.

 

[robo21]

You could get an OEM Samsung micro USB cable on ebay for $6.75 shipped as an alternative:

OEM Samsung Micro-USB Data Cable for SGH-T479 Gravity 3 - eBay (item 190409454455 end time Aug-23-10 22:44:28 PDT)

I have one and it works great for charging or operating the phone while powered by the PC.

 

[coolguy949]

I use several monoprice cables placed at work, home, car, etc without issue.

 

[spiz]

If it's micro USB, it should work fine. I have like 4 sitting around that I use in different places at different times.

 

[MonkeyManiac2010]

Guys, I found the solution (well, a coworker of mine did):

Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB debugging

When I turn that on, it starts charging my phone!

 

[SamsungVibrant]

I'm so stupid, LOL. I need help. Does anyone know how I can get my vibrant to charge in the car.

Ever since I got my vibrant, when I charge it in the car, it is as if its not charging. The battery deffinately has a lightening bolt through it meaning its charging, but today it finally dawned on me. I was driving around in the car all day long, the lightening bolt showing its charging, then I unplugged it from the car charger, and the battery was almost dead, after being in the car charger all day as I drove around. It hasn't been charging in the car this whole time! haha

do I have to do something special, like turn usb debugging on, like the post above me says?

I mean my phone charges in the house, just not in the car.

 

[kbohip]

I bought this from Monoprice: "USB 2.0 A Male to Micro 5pin Male 28/28AWG Cable - 3ft" hoping to charge the phone away from home by plugging it into a computer. But all I get is an option to mount the SD card as a drive to copy files. It doesn't seem to be able to charge the phone.

Do I need a special cable, or maybe a second charger from T-Mobile?

I had always charged my old MP3 player with USB, so I figured the phone could do the same thing.

I use a 15' cable I got from Monoprice to charge mine every night. Works great. I have a usb wall charger with 2 usb ports on it. Both my Vibrant and my wife's get charged (with a 10' cable from Mono) at the same time off of it. I have it behind the headboard on the bed and run the cables to the nightstands so we just plug them in at night when we go to bed.

 

[bbman911]

Some microUSB cables do not support charging, just syncing. I have a small USB adapter that plugs into the accessory port in my car that I use to charge everything and have no issue. The cable I'm using is one of those $10 retractable microusb cables and it charges just fine, USB debugging is not turned on (well sometimes it is, but that doesn't impact my ability to charge my phone)
I've also had good success using a mini-micro USB conversion cable that I use at work to charge from the computer. I plug a standard mini-USB cable into the computer, the micro-conversion on top of that and it powers the phone just fine...this setup also works in my car.

 

[PlowRox]

I'm so stupid, LOL. I need help. Does anyone know how I can get my vibrant to charge in the car.

Ever since I got my vibrant, when I charge it in the car, it is as if its not charging. The battery deffinately has a lightening bolt through it meaning its charging, but today it finally dawned on me. I was driving around in the car all day long, the lightening bolt showing its charging, then I unplugged it from the car charger, and the battery was almost dead, after being in the car charger all day as I drove around. It hasn't been charging in the car this whole time! haha

do I have to do something special, like turn usb debugging on, like the post above me says?

I mean my phone charges in the house, just not in the car.

when using the cable described below it does not ask/show that usb popup..

I bought a car charger at walmart for $4.97 it has a usb port on the charger and a dual head cable with micro and mini usb plugs. i used it pluged into my pc and it charges just fine...in fact i think it charges faster than the data cable..

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