Traveling with the Transformer and an Android phone, or Apple device

[sid52]

We recently went to France on holiday accompanied by the usual collection of digital technology, namely my Transformer and dock, and HTC Desire, and my wife's iphone and ipad. I took the respective cables for each as did my wife, and we both brought a mains usb socket to plug into.

I charged the Transformer overnight on our first day, but in the morning it appeared dead. It did eventally start up but then shut down. I tried charging again checking connections etc but still no luck. Tried it from the Apple charger which I knew was working but again nothing. Both dock and tablet were dead. The Desire and Apple devices charged OK.

There appeared to be a fault eiher with the charging lead or the tablet and dock. I slept on it and in the morning tried charging the tablet undocked. After a few hours there was a small amount of charge but the information in settings indicated that that it wasn't charging. It then shut down. I continued to charge all day at which point I had 30% charge. Charging overnight resulted in an 80% charge. I tried to charge the dock independently but that was completely unsuccessful.

On return home I realised i'd taken the HTC charger, so I plugged the Transformer into its own charger, and hurray, everything worked fine.

I then did a little test and tried all the chargers, Iphone, Ipad and HTC. None would charge the Transformer
The output currents on each charger are as follows

HTC 1a
Transformer 2 - 1.2a
Iphone 1a
Ipad 2.ia

Why it wouldn't charge on the ipad charger I don't understand as the output is similar. The ipad happily charges on the iphone charger

So the lesson is don't leave home without the Transformer charger!

 

[AutobahnSHO]

The TF charger is "USB 3" which pushes 15V instead of the USB 2 which is only 5V. This is why they don't charge very well from most current PC USB ports also.

Too bad, hope your trip was still nice!

 

[sid52]

Thanks, we had a great trip, even the weather was half decent, a bonus during this year's summer in Northern Europe.

Would it be ok to charge usb2 devices such as my phone or Garmin gps with the Transformer charger without causing any damage? I must admit I'd always been under the impression that any usb charger could charge any device with a usb charging cable.

Also it seems strange that the tablet did charge, albeit slowly, but the dock refused any charge.

Sid

 

[IOWA]

The TF charger is "USB 3" which pushes 15V instead of the USB 2 which is only 5V. This is why they don't charge very well from most current PC USB ports also.

Too bad, hope your trip was still nice!

Technically no it is USB 2.0 . You can charge it with a USB 2.0 cable provided you can supply 15 volts.its all about the voltage.the Asus charger however will only supply 15 volts to a USB 3 cable by design, not limitation.

 

[IOWA]

Thanks, we had a great trip, even the weather was half decent, a bonus during this year's summer in Northern Europe.

Would it be ok to charge usb2 devices such as my phone or Garmin gps with the Transformer charger without causing any damage? I must admit I'd always been under the impression that any usb charger could charge any device with a usb charging cable.

Also it seems strange that the tablet did charge, albeit slowly, but the dock refused any charge.

Sid

Yesit is perfectly safe. If the transformer is not detected out will only output 5w.

 

[sid52]

Technically no it is USB 2.0 . You can charge it with a USB 2.0 cable provided you can supply 15 volts.its all about the voltage.the Asus charger however will only supply 15 volts to a USB 3 cable by design, not limitation.

Thanks.
I assume that charging from a car (12v) would be impossible?

 

[IOWA]

Thanks.
I assume that charging from a car (12v) would be impossible?

I haven't tested with a 12volt car charger, but in theory it could work, albeit slowly. Another way to try and charge from a cigarette lighter 12v is a power inverter possibly.

-Regards,

IOWA.

 

[Beards]

Trouble is most 12v car chargers only give a 5v Output so they are not going to work.
There was one on ebay from China that 'supposedly' gave the right output but as is Ebay you take your chances.

 

[mihaelb]

just because the car's output is 12V doesn't mean it can't work. it's the total wattage from the lighter, which I assume is MUCH more than the TF would take. just like 110V can be stepped up for your oven (240V), it can be stepped down. Amperage can be stepped up and down as well, so long as the total wattage (ampsXvolts) does not exceed the source.
That said, I don't know of any such converters...should be just a matter of time, though

 

[Podivin]

240 isn't a stepped up 110, there are two 'hot' wires to a 240 outlet, thus the higher output.

 

[mihaelb]

240 isn't a stepped up 110, there are two 'hot' wires to a 240 outlet, thus the higher output.

Ok, I stand corrected regarding that one.

But if you can connect a power inverter into your lighter socket in the car (turning it into 110V), and plug a couple of laptops into it, the USB 3.0 should be fine.

Here's an example of one: Motomaster Eliminator 75W Power Inverter | Canadian Tire

 

[fldude99]

I'll be travelling to a 240V country in the next couple weeks..wondering that as hot as the charger gets on 110 will it overheat on 240? I'm a little electronically illiterate when it comes to that kinda figuring

 

[AutobahnSHO]

I'll be travelling to a 240V country in the next couple weeks..wondering that as hot as the charger gets on 110 will it overheat on 240? I'm a little electronically illiterate when it comes to that kinda figuring

No, shouldn't make much difference, as long as your charger says it will work on 240v.

 

[Beards]

Correct.... btw I take it you have the appropriate pin adapter, as in for the UK you will need a 3 Pin plug.
The top pin is for Earth and the two other pins are for Neutral and Live.

 

[fldude99]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes I have the correct adapter-the 2 prong round thing for most south american countries