Charging with Plug vs. USB?

[Keebler Elf]

Is charging with a plug and adaptor better than charging with a USB connector and computer?

I normally use USB but someone at work mentioned that a plug and adaptor provides a better charge.

Anyone know if there's a difference?

 

[2wheeljunkie]

Its better to charge with an adapter as USB cannot handle multiple devices connected due to current consumption. I would say on average USB can handle up to 1 Amp total for all devices connected to the same hub. USB charging is much slower on devices due to current limitations on USB.

2WJ

 

[WinterHawk]

I've my USB devices on dedicated hubs with their own power supply. I do agree that it's probably slower but don't know if it's any better or worse.

Just remember to drain you device's battery from time to time so that you get the maximum number of charges out of it. I think I read somewhere that a rechargeble battery had about a 1,000 charges in it before it either went dead or started to degrade. Those things don't last for ever.

 

[benstt]

Is charging with a plug and adaptor better than charging with a USB connector and computer?

I normally use USB but someone at work mentioned that a plug and adaptor provides a better charge.

Anyone know if there's a difference?

You'd think it would be the same, but I suspect it may depend on the device, the USB driver, and software stack configuring the USB driver.

For example, I know on the newer blackberries (eg 8800), the installed blackberry software does something to the USB driver to allow it to charge. Otherwise the BB will complain that there is "not enough voltage." An older Blackberry would charge off the same port without trouble, so I assume the software is driving the port up to a higher amperage. (The message says voltage, but I think the standard says the USB ports are all 5V, but can vary in amps.)

 

[Noir]

Charging a device with your USB is usually a slow charge. If you have the option of charging with the plug, and you are low on time, your best bet is to charge with the plug. For some electronics, it has been said that charging with a USB can actually help prolong the life of your battery, but I think that it's a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. The life of your battery starts and ends with your first few power cycles, as well with how you use the electronic device. (i.e- the backlight, vibrations, volume etc.)

In terms of Blackberries, every blackberry that runs with the Desktop Manager 4.0 (and up..pretty much anything that doesn't say "Configure PIM" haha) has the appropriate drivers to allow your BB to charge fully -- there is a GREAT increase in the amperage when DTM is installed. RIM has decided that newer models - post the 7290 - need to have the appropriate desktop software installed, so that you wouldn't get those "insufficient current" messages. I guess they've figured that if you plug your blackberry to your computer, you're going to want to sync it with something!

 

[benstt]

I guess they've figured that if you plug your blackberry to your computer, you're going to want to sync it with something!

Unless you're visiting a friend's place or coworkers desk, and want to just borrow a little charging juice off of their computer. C'est la vie.

 

[Noir]

Haha!

Just hope that they don't have Blackberry Redirector installed on that computer or else you'll keep getting flycatcher messages! That's what happens whenever you steal juice from computers you're not supposed to charge from! ^_^ *speaking from MULTIPLE experiences....*

*Yes, that IS quite pathetic...

 

[benstt]

Just hope that they don't have Blackberry Redirector installed on that computer or else you'll keep getting flycatcher messages! That's what happens whenever you steal juice from computers you're not supposed to charge from! ^_^ *speaking from MULTIPLE experiences....*

*Yes, that IS quite pathetic...

Hmm, never run into it yet. Lucky I guess in the thievery department. Does having the handset password protected make a difference?