Confused about USB car adapter

Mekrel

Mekrel

Mekrel

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I had a dual USB car adapter (cigarette to USB) that unfortunately gave up the ghost on me after getting really hot and emitting a burning smell. I'm not sure why it broke as both my Nexus 5 and my friend's Galaxy S5 were charging from it, which we've previously done before when I drove us to Amsterdam....

Anyway, I decided to buy a Belkin Dual car charger which the packaging states is rated for 4.2A (I guess 2.1A per port) as Belkin is a fairly respected brand versus some of the generic car chargers found out there.

Unfortunately, my Nexus 5 only charges at USB speeds with the Belkin charger despite trying both ports of the charger and using the same MicroUSB cable as when it used to charge at AC speeds with the previous old charger.

Can anyone shed any light on to why I can't get AC speeds with this charger despite the good amp rating? :confused:
 
I had that particular Belkin charger or one like it and had same issue. You can take it apart and short two of the pins with solder (the middle two pins I think) or alternativly bin it and get a better option available on Amazon (and others)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00D82O68Y?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Veetop®-Cer...id=1414823882&sr=1-7&keywords=12v+usb+charger

Those are a couple I have in different vehicles that work fine. I chucked the Belkin as it was rubbish.
 
Richy's got it - most phone manus require the data pins (2&3) to be shorted for high speed charge. For what it's worth, Belkin are not a brand I would personally call respectable although everyone is entitled to their opinion. There isn't much difference between their stuff and generics on the inside :(
 
Have you tried a new usb cable?

You can also purchase charge only cabless, I use these a lot and they are very handy for charging from unknown usb sockets as they don't allow data.

Also if you want to buy a new in car charger I have been using this for a few months and I am very happy with it.
Scosche
 
I have a Belkin so called high speed charger than only works at USB speed.

Replaced or with an Anker two port one that will charge a phone being used as a sat-nav with Bluetooth on.

Myshra said:
Richy's got it - most phone manus require the data pins (2&3) to be shorted for high speed charge.
Click to expand...
Decent chargers chargers will negotiate the rate with the device.

Whilst shorting the pins will let the device know it can draw more power, if its not up to it, is not going to end well.

I did the shorting trick on a charger, and it got a lot hotter than I was happy with.
 
Last edited:
Richy888 said:
I had that particular Belkin charger or one like it and had same issue. You can take it apart and short two of the pins with solder (the middle two pins I think) or alternativly bin it and get a better option available on Amazon (and others)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00D82O68Y?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Veetop®-Cer...id=1414823882&sr=1-7&keywords=12v+usb+charger

Those are a couple I have in different vehicles that work fine. I chucked the Belkin as it was rubbish.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I thought it would be due to the two pins not being shorted, I guess the previous charger had them shorted.

Myshra said:
Richy's got it - most phone manus require the data pins (2&3) to be shorted for high speed charge. For what it's worth, Belkin are not a brand I would personally call respectable although everyone is entitled to their opinion. There isn't much difference between their stuff and generics on the inside :(
Click to expand...

I use the term "respectable" loosely. They're a brand you find in a lot of high street retailers and to get a product listed in these stores, a manufacturer usually has to supply product safely sheets and/or certificates products have been tested to certain standards.

Something Else said:
Have you tried a new usb cable?

You can also purchase charge only cabless, I use these a lot and they are very handy for charging from unknown usb sockets as they don't allow data.

Also if you want to buy a new in car charger I have been using this for a few months and I am very happy with it.
Scosche
Click to expand...

I'll have a look around for the cables, cheers.
 
Mekrel said:
I had a dual USB car adapter (cigarette to USB) that unfortunately gave up the ghost on me after getting really hot and emitting a burning smell. I'm not sure why it broke as both my Nexus 5 and my friend's Galaxy S5 were charging from it, which we've previously done before when I drove us to Amsterdam....

Anyway, I decided to buy a Belkin Dual car charger which the packaging states is rated for 4.2A (I guess 2.1A per port) as Belkin is a fairly respected brand versus some of the generic car chargers found out there.

Unfortunately, my Nexus 5 only charges at USB speeds with the Belkin charger despite trying both ports of the charger and using the same MicroUSB cable as when it used to charge at AC speeds with the previous old charger.

Can anyone shed any light on to why I can't get AC speeds with this charger despite the good amp rating? :confused:
Click to expand...

Belkin have done the sensible thing and left the DATA lines alone, that way the consumer can choose between a slow 500mA (better) charge or if in a hurry a much faster 2000+mA charge!

To activate and use the fast charge you need a half decent charge cable which will have the DATA lines pulled low, you can buy these for a quid or 2 on ebay :-)
 
C.R.A.Z.Y said:
Belkin have done the sensible thing and left the DATA lines alone, that way the consumer can choose between a slow 500mA (better) charge or if in a hurry a much faster 2000+mA charge!

To activate and use the fast charge you need a half decent charge cable which will have the DATA lines pulled low, you can buy these for a quid or 2 on ebay :-)
Click to expand...

Do you ever try to charge your phone at 500mA? Since I tether due to a distressing lack of internet, my phone will lose charge overnight with the screen off.
At 500mA charge, in a car using sat nav and screen ± bluetooth music, I'll lose charge at a rate of around 10% every 15mins.
At 2A charge, in a car as above, I'll gain charge at a rate of around 10% every half hour.

500mA chargers can go away and die as far as I'm concerned, should it ever come to the point where my battery is actually dieing as a result of me having fast charged it too much, I'll spend the £30 and buy a new one - it's not happened yet.

In case you hadn't gathered, I'm looking forward to my next phone having the battery-destroying ability to charge itself 50% in 5 minutes or whatever they're claiming (how it doesn't blow up, let alone just overheat, I don't know - but if it works, I don't care) :)
 
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