The Best Chargers I've Found To Date for My SGN

[speede541]

Oh yes mine only shows USB charging as well, but it charges much faster than my old single port one which was likely only 500volts out. I believe the PowerJolt Micro is rated for 1amp so while it shows as USB it's still charging at a higher voltage.

...but mine discharges if I have Google nav open while charging. I have a battery app installed that estimates charge rate, but includes the current draw of the screen & processes, so it's hard to tell how accurate it really is. In any case, I'm desiring a charger that keeps up with usage.

would this Amazon.com: New USB to Micro-USB Cable - 6 Ft. -- Ship From USA: Electronics work for the GNex? I think I broke my OEM one that came with the phone... ;(

The oem cable was made form a very hard plastic, and the construction was really thin... I like the ones that are thick and with a more pliable plastic on the connectors... seem more stable...

Or, in theory, you could get any old USB cable, split it open, short the two data connections (phone-side), and use it as a pigtail connector to any other standard USB cable. BUT BUT BUT if the wire is too thin, it may not handle the higher current AND MELT. So make sure that whatever you're doing, you are using a higher quality, heavier-gauge cable.

 

[DLCPhoto]

I've posted this in another thread on Car Chargers, but I also found the Griffin one to be seen as "USB" by my GNexus, and returned it.

I ended up buying this one:

HTC Mobile MyTouch 3G Charger

$3.12, free shipping.

Using my cheap, Monoprice cable, it is seen as "AC" charging on my GNexus. Ran it with bright screen, running a Podcast, Google Maps, and Bluetooth, last night, and it was able to charge the phone in a positive direction while I drove.

Works for me fine!

 

[PetiePal]

would this Amazon.com: New USB to Micro-USB Cable - 6 Ft. -- Ship From USA: Electronics work for the GNex? I think I broke my OEM one that came with the phone... ;(

The oem cable was made form a very hard plastic, and the construction was really thin... I like the ones that are thick and with a more pliable plastic on the connectors... seem more stable...

That would work fine but having owned a ton of them if you bend the end where the connector meets the cable a lot it will fray/crack and break eventually exposing wire. I would say try to get the Samsung one in this link. Comes WITH a charger too. It's Samsung branded, not the new thicker head one that comes with the Nexus but it's awesome I own like 4.

Amazon.com: Samsung OEM 1.0A Original Home Wall AC Travel Charger Adapter + USB 2.0 Data Sync Connect Transfer Charge Cable: MP3 Players & Accessories

 

[PetiePal]

I've posted this in another thread on Car Chargers, but I also found the Griffin one to be seen as "USB" by my GNexus, and returned it.

I ended up buying this one:

HTC Mobile MyTouch 3G Charger

$3.12, free shipping.

Using my cheap, Monoprice cable, it is seen as "AC" charging on my GNexus. Ran it with bright screen, running a Podcast, Google Maps, and Bluetooth, last night, and it was able to charge the phone in a positive direction while I drove.

Works for me fine!

So it's important to note that the cable doesn't dictate what the device charges at but the actual charger As long as it's rated for the 1amp out you should be good!

 

[speede541]

Nice, but not tidy enough for me. That damn Griffin tucks away so nicely in my (closed) ash tray that I'm going try try the shunt trick with the USB cord. I'll definitely be reporting back.

 

[PetiePal]

Nice, but not tidy enough for me. That damn Griffin tucks away so nicely in my (closed) ash tray that I'm going try try the shunt trick with the USB cord. I'll definitely be reporting back.

The Griffin PowerJolt Duo Micro is tiny, it sits FLUSH with the AC port. Verizon Wireless sells one but not sure if it supports 1amp out.

 

[DLCPhoto]

So it's important to note that the cable doesn't dictate what the device charges at but the actual charger As long as it's rated for the 1amp out you should be good!

Actually, it's not just the "rating" unfortunately. The Griffin is "rated" at 1 Amp, but doesn't actually deliver this. Apparently, the two data leads in the charger need to be shorted together in order for the phone to see the source as "AC" and therefore draw as much current as it needs. Otherwise it's limited to 500 ma.

Some people have actually just soldered these in a 'regular' USB charger, and that fixed the problem. Apparently the HTC device has them connected the proper way, so it is seen as an "AC" source without further modification.

 

[speede541]

So it's important to note that the cable doesn't dictate what the device charges at but the actual charger As long as it's rated for the 1amp out you should be good!

Not entirely correct. The IC charging chip in the phone conforms to USB standards, and won't event attempt to draw more than 500mA (probably less) unless the data cables are either shorted or have a resistor across them to indicate they are something other than a USB port on a PC.

I believe the USB spec calls for a certain resistor value for cables to indicate they are rated for a certain current, and the USB port itself itself can be shorted or resistored to conform to either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 specs.

The phone will control from there, and attempt not to melt the cord or catch a PC on fire (I believe because some USB 1.0 ports were unregulated and would try to match the 1.0A current draw of a high-current phone if given the chance).

 

[PetiePal]

Actually, it's not just the "rating" unfortunately. The Griffin is "rated" at 1 Amp, but doesn't actually deliver this. Apparently, the two data leads in the charger need to be shorted together in order for the phone to see the source as "AC" and therefore draw as much current as it needs. Otherwise it's limited to 500 ma.

Some people have actually just soldered these in a 'regular' USB charger, and that fixed the problem. Apparently the HTC device has them connected the proper way, so it is seen as an "AC" source without further modification.

How easy is it to do this? I really want to have a set of 3 AC cables that charge at FULL capacity. It kills me my Griffin one doesn't because it's the most company charger I have with fold in prongs.

 

[DLCPhoto]

How easy is it to do this? I really want to have a set of 3 AC cables that charge at FULL capacity. It kills me my Griffin one doesn't because it's the most company charger I have with fold in prongs.

I guess it depends on your tools and your experience.

You can take a look at this photo from an Amazon/review by Aaron Deutsch, where he shows a small picture of what he did:

Not rocket science, but probably easy to screw up without the relevant tools and experience.

 

[DLCPhoto]

Found other pics/info here:

xda-developers - View Single Post - Car Charger Designed for Nexus?

 

[speede541]

Hmmm... Cool, but how reliable are those numbers the phone is sensing, I wonder? 400-something mA seems low for a fast charge.

 

[PetiePal]

Hmmm... Cool, but how reliable are those numbers the phone is sensing, I wonder? 400-something mA seems low for a fast charge.

400ma is less than half the speed you'd charge the OG Droid at lol

 

[denzelwash]

How easy is it to do this? I really want to have a set of 3 AC cables that charge at FULL capacity. It kills me my Griffin one doesn't because it's the most company charger I have with fold in prongs.

You don't have to modify the charger. If you get this cable, that I mentioned earlier, it shorts the data pins for you:

Amazon.com: Naztech Micro USB Charging Cable - BlackBerry, Cal-Comp, HTC, LG, Samsung, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson: Cell Phones & Accessories

I got one to use with one of the Griffin car chargers and my phone reports AC charging when using that cable. Keep in mind, that cable will only charge. You can't use it for data.

 

[TonyG]

Gapi said: "There are some dual USB socket chargers out there online with 1.0A & 2.0A ports. Another option is a Proclipusa.com charging car cradle that pumps 2.0A."

I believe it's a bad idea to charge a 1.8 Ah GNx battery with a 2.0 A current. Smart-phone batteries are really high-energy density cells that have high internal resistance--and very low rate capability. They are designed to be discharged (and charged) over hours, not minutes. When you try to discharge them at a 1.6-1.8 A/1C current, the cell voltage drops by more than 0.3 V, a large value. This also means that charging them with the same high current may shorten their life by possibly plating lithium on the anode by pushing lithium faster into the anode than the graphite is capable of absorbing it, especially if an older cell is being charged, or if the charging is being done at lower temperature--and making them less safe in case of any trouble. As they write on big tricks, don't push!

 

[denzelwash]

Gapi said: "There are some dual USB socket chargers out there online with 1.0A & 2.0A ports. Another option is a Proclipusa.com charging car cradle that pumps 2.0A."

I believe it's a bad idea to charge a 1.8 Ah GNx battery with a 2.0 A current. Smart-phone batteries are really high-energy density cells that have high internal resistance--and very low rate capability. They are designed to be discharged (and charged) over hours, not minutes. When you try to discharge them at a 1.6-1.8 A/1C current, the cell voltage drops by more than 0.3 V, a large value. This also means that charging them with the same high current may shorten their life by possibly plating lithium on the anode by pushing lithium faster into the anode than the graphite is capable of absorbing it, especially if an older cell is being charged, or if the charging is being done at lower temperature--and making them less safe in case of any trouble. As they write on big tricks, don't push!

I don't think the phone's charging circuit would pull anywhere near 2 amps, even if 2 amps were available. It will regulate to a safe level. That said, I prefer to have a charger and appropriate cable to make all the current available to the phone that it may try to pull. I've got a 2 amp charger, perhaps I'll hack up a USB cable so I can measure the actual current draw.

 

[PetiePal]

I've ordered some of the shorteds. I rarely USB connect to my PC and I have standard micro USB cables all over work as an IT guy should I need them.

Mainly I use 2 home chargers, a travel one, one at work and the car to charge so it's all power all the time really.

 

[BiggestManEver]

You don't have to modify the charger. If you get this cable, that I mentioned earlier, it shorts the data pins for you:

Amazon.com: Naztech Micro USB Charging Cable - BlackBerry, Cal-Comp, HTC, LG, Samsung, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson: Cell Phones & Accessories

I got one to use with one of the Griffin car chargers and my phone reports AC charging when using that cable. Keep in mind, that cable will only charge. You can't use it for data.

Thank you for repeating this. I have a soldering iron, I just don't want to have to bother with it!

 

[ANewDay]

You don't have to modify the charger. If you get this cable, that I mentioned earlier, it shorts the data pins for you:

Amazon.com: Naztech Micro USB Charging Cable - BlackBerry, Cal-Comp, HTC, LG, Samsung, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson: Cell Phones & Accessories

I got one to use with one of the Griffin car chargers and my phone reports AC charging when using that cable. Keep in mind, that cable will only charge. You can't use it for data.

Thanks, need one for my car. I'm pairing that one with the Griffin Powerjolt Dual.

 

[denzelwash]

Thank you for repeating this. I have a soldering iron, I just don't want to have to bother with it!

No problem. I wonder if amazon sold out of the cable because of this thread?

I would have soldered all of my chargers, but molded plastic widgets don't tend to be easily taken apart and put back together. The cable is the easy solution.

Shorted charging only cables like that one are incredibly hard to find, the Naztech was the only reasonably priced one I could find. I haven't measured, but it's at least 48 inches long for those wondering. The dimensions listed at various sellers vary wildly.

 

[PetiePal]

Hello,

Thanks for your email. I'm sorry you are having this trouble with your device. Unfortunately, the Samsung you have is not compatible with the charger you are using. The PowerBlock Micro is compatible with some of the older smart phones, but that that particular one.

For some smart phones, including my Samsung Galaxy 2S, in order to charge as fast as the Samsung chargers, or chargers created for them, they have to have something called quick start installed in the charger. None of our chargers have this option, and that is why we do not have compatible chargers for the newer phones, and most Blackberry's have to have this as well.

You will not be able to charge this Samsung quickly with our chargers.

Sorry for your inconvenience.

Kristy

Griffin Technology
Technical Support

Geeee. Great lol. So it sounds like I'd have to crack open the PowerBlock and short the circuit to make it charge at full capacity?

 

[monsterenergy22]

Ended up buying this one, will report back on it once I get it.

http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Vehicle-Adapter-micro-USB-Charger/dp/B000S5Q9CA/ref=sr_1_2?s=wireless

 

[ANewDay]

Any battery packs that charge well?

 

[speede541]

Ended up buying this one, will report back on it once I get it.

Amazon.com: Motorola Vehicle Power Adapter micro-USB Rapid Rate Charger: Cell Phones & Accessories

This one your ordered works great -- shows up as Charging (AC), no problem.

 

[ANewDay]

This one your ordered works great -- shows up as Charging (AC), no problem.

Awesome, might just get this one instead of the powerjolt usb. How long does it take to charge from empty to full?