Charging a UK GS2

[bt20]

Hey I got my GS2 from the UK off ebay and had it shipped to the US. I love it but I don't have a transformer to deal with the current differences and really don't want one anyway but charging this thing off a computers usb is painfully slow. I ordered an OEM charger and USB cable cable from Samsung that should get here Monday. Can I use those without having to worry about it damaging my phone because of Samsung's smart chip charging or do I need to do something else? Also will it work with any usb car charger or do I need something special for that too?

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

I have used a Sony and an LG micro usb charger with my SGS2 and they charge fine , a lot of people say the supplied Samsung charger is poor quality and breaks in no time at all.

I have just had a look at my chargers and they accept 100-240v AC so they will work anywhere in the world, you just need a socket adaptor, just check yours when it arrives.

As long as you ordered a branded charger you should be fine, though i would not buy cheap Chinese adaptors on ebay as the quality is unknown, and branded chargers are only a few dollars more.

 

[SilverDroid]

Hey I got my GS2 from the UK off ebay and had it shipped to the US. I love it but I don't have a transformer to deal with the current differences and really don't want one anyway but charging this thing off a computers usb is painfully slow. I ordered an OEM charger and USB cable cable from Samsung that should get here Monday. Can I use those without having to worry about it damaging my phone because of Samsung's smart chip charging or do I need to do something else? Also will it work with any usb car charger or do I need something special for that too?

USB charging is slow on the S2 as it uses trickle charging

 

[mrvirginia]

an OEM Samsung travel charger has the exact same volts/amps as the Euro charger that comes with the phone. i ordered one a few weeks ago off of ebay for $4 which also came with an extra cord that was more than twice the length of the one that came with it.

the input is 100-240v ~50-60 (or is that 80?)Hz 0.15A
output is 5.0V - 0.7A

they both say this so you're good with the OEM Samsung US charger

if i were you, i'd get an OEM car charger too. i know a lot say it will be okay with something else, but i personally wouldn't chance it with something that prob cost you $750+

 

[lotus49]

USB charging is slow on the S2 as it uses trickle charging

"Trickle" is an exaggeration.

The phone can tell whether it's connected to USB or a mains charger. If the latter, it limits charge current to 650mA. If the former 400mA.

It will charge faster on the mains but not loads faster.

Also, the supplied adapter will work fine in the US provided you have a UK-US mains adapter. You don't need a transformer.

 

[SilverDroid]

The phone can tell whether it's connected to USB or a mains charger. If the latter, it limits charge current to 650mA. If the former 400mA.

You have that the wrong way round. And 400mA-650mA is quite a big difference... Therefore "trickle" charging wasn't really that much of an exaggeration

 

[Slug]

You have that the wrong way round.

Nope, it's correct. USB2.0 is limited to a maximum of 500mA so a single cable connection could never supply 650mA. The UK wall charger shipped with the SGS2 is rated as 0.7A max output.

 

[SilverDroid]

Whoops I read that the wrong way round

Though the USB charge, is a trickle charge in comparison to the mains like I originally stated.

My mobo can supply 1.5A for each USB 2.0 port - So am I limited to 500mA still bec of the phone or?

 

[Slug]

My mobo can supply 1.5A for each USB 2.0 port - So am I limited to 500mA still bec of the phone or?

My turn.... I'm not sure.

The USB 2.0 specs are indeed a 500mA maximum draw for a single port, but your post made me do some checking and apparantly a Battery Charging Specification has been added which allows for up to 1.5A from a "Charging Downstream Port". This Wikipedia entry is a lot easier to understand than the actual tech specs themselves, but I'm still confused!

 

[SilverDroid]

Both my last mobo's have had that feature (1.5A) and the charge+sleep too. Though I have nothing to compare it with to test charging times.

I assume though... that IF that was the case ^^ I would charge quicker via usb than the mains, and I'm pretty sure I dont. (Might test again though)

 

[Gearu]

longest charge for me took 3 hour 40 minutes, shortest charge 2 hours 35 minutes (both from dead flat). the near-hour difference is a coincidence. I only timed it 4 times and nowadays I don't really care.

 

[SilverDroid]

longest charge for me took 3 hour 40 minutes, shortest charge 2 hours 35 minutes (both from dead flat). the near-hour difference is a coincidence. I only timed it 4 times and nowadays I don't really care.

1hr difference but it was a "conincidence"? Yeh ok lol

 

[greggebhardt]

I have used the small square iPhone 4 charger and it works perfectly. I did order two of the Samsung USB/AC chargers but even my Blackberry chargers work very well.

 

[mrvirginia]

Nope, it's correct. USB2.0 is limited to a maximum of 500mA so a single cable connection could never supply 650mA. The UK wall charger shipped with the SGS2 is rated as 0.7mA max output.

think there was a typo there, as it's 0.7A. or 700mA

My turn.... I'm not sure.

The USB 2.0 specs are indeed a 500mA maximum draw for a single port, but your post made me do some checking and apparantly a Battery Charging Specification has been added which allows for up to 1.5A from a "Charging Downstream Port". This Wikipedia entry is a lot easier to understand than the actual tech specs themselves, but I'm still confused!

but yeah the wiki article was very confusing. when charging via USB 2.0, it seemed more realistic to say the output was at 500mA. it does say a "host or charging downstream port". i'm not exactly sure how that works, but from my understanding it seems as if each host can supply that much power
again, if that were the case, 900mA, or at least 700 in the case of our phones, would be attainable through USB 2.0

regardless, i now realize i can charge via my USB 3.0 for more power

 

[Slug]

think there was a typo there

Indeed there was. Thanks for pointing it out - now corrected to avoid even more confusion.

the wiki article was very confusing

Have you tried the official spec documentation? That REALLY started to melt my brain...

it does say a "host or charging downstream port". i'm not exactly sure how that works, but from my understanding it seems as if each host can supply that much power

Maybe it's unique to dedicated chargers? I know my Asus Crosshair III will only supply 500mA max via a single port.

regardless, i now realize i can charge via my USB 3.0 for more power

I'll certainly be interested in a comparison between USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and the mains charger.

 

[SilverDroid]

regardless, i now realize i can charge via my USB 3.0 for more power

My USB 3.0 ports can chuck out 2.7A though it makes no difference if the device is not USB 3.0 and the Samsung S2 is not