operating voltages

[smfoley1]

what is the input voltage on the bionic?
or better question, is there some circuitry in the cigarette car charger that reduces the votage from 12VDC to something else like 5VDC?
for instance, the charger cable on my Sirius dock has a circuit board that reduces the 12VDC from the cig lighter to 5VDC for the sirius power

 

[skilaufen]

what is the input voltage on the bionic?
or better question, is there some circuitry in the cigarette car charger that reduces the votage from 12VDC to something else like 5VDC?
for instance, the charger cable on my Sirius dock has a circuit board that reduces the 12VDC from the cig lighter to 5VDC for the sirius power

I believe USB Ports are 5 volts as a standard. Direct current of course

 

[smfoley1]

so then there is something in the Verizon cigarette lighter car charger that steps the 12vdc down to 5vdc for the USB port on the charger?

 

[rdsok]

so then there is something in the Verizon cigarette lighter car charger that steps the 12vdc down to 5vdc for the USB port on the charger?

All USB port adapters for 12v have that... including the Motorola one, Verizon etc...

 

[nyall]

The fine writing on the "usb" charger that comes with the bionic says that it outputs 5.1 volts and can deliver 0.85 amps. I also charge at work with my epic 4g charger, which if memory serves correctly outputs 5.0 volts and can deliver 0.7 amps.

However I've seen the bionic refuse to charge with several generic USB chargers that I have for the car and home. Right now as I'm writing this it won't charge with my laptop.

 

[Thom]

You've probably read this a dozen (or more) times in this forum ...

It is recommended that you do not use a generic charger to charge your Bionic. This includes a generic charger that you might have purchased in a Verizon store and used for years with another device (one person traced this as the cause of his ongoing problems).

Use the charger and USB cable that came with your bionic. If you did not get a charger and USB cable for some reason get OEM equipment directly from Verizon. Both will have Motorola logos on them.

There was no report of the "trickle charge" when connected to a PC causing damage to the battery and/or Bionic. Use of a USB cable other than the USB cable that came with the Bionic to connect to the PC in many cases showed the failure of data and/or charging in that connection.

I use the charger and cable that came with my Bionic to charge each night. I use *successfully) the USB cable that came with my Droid X docking station (18 mo ago) to connect my Bionic to my workstation.

... Thom

 

[tehsusenoh]

Use of a USB cable other than the USB cable that came with the Bionic to connect to the PC in many cases showed the failure of data and/or charging in that connection.

My friend was trying to do some dev work, and I can confirm that his generic cable wouldn't work, but only charge.

Always stick to what comes with the phone.