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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731   
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Please can someone explain?
Just installed a 2.1A double USB power socket (posh one from BlueSea) and a cheaper 1A single one 
Both sockets work and charge my iPhone. Only the 2.1A BlueSea charges my iPad. However, for some reason, only the 1A socket will charge my little Nokia phone. When I plug it into the BlueSea nothing happens - it doesn't make sense 
Ideas? Cheers Matt Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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7th Mar 2013 4:51pm |
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| SiWhite Member Since: 19 Jan 2010 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 455  
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USB stuff can be quite fickle - I know that your iPad will not charge on a supply that outputs more than 2 amps.
I suspect your Nokia will not charge on anything over a certain figure - to protect itself from frying. My blog - www.anacreinhampshire.blogspot.co.uk 110 TD5 BuildHERE - sold! 110 Tdci Build HERE - sold! Passat Alltrack - 4x4, auto, 45mpg, gloriously comfortable - but not a Defender! |
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7th Mar 2013 4:57pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20371
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^^^^ Sounds about right to me.
 $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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7th Mar 2013 5:04pm |
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| TheWarden Member Since: 25 Feb 2013 Location: Southampton Posts: 179 
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A lot of devices won't work with more than 500mA - this is probably the case with the Nokia.
The iPad has a bigger battery and needs more juice to charge. It will charge off the 1A - it just won't indicates it's charging... give it a lot more time and it will fully charge. |
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7th Mar 2013 5:05pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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That's what I thought - even though a power outlet can provide 2A maximum, a 500mA device shouldn't care (it won't draw more than 500mA and the outlet can't "push" more than is demanded). Unless for some weird reason the Nokia senses that more current is available (than it needs) and doesn't like it - but that doesn't make any sense
My big trouble is that the 1A socket is just a stop-gap, as a second BlueSea (f'ing expensive) will arrive soon from Blighty
Thought I was doing well, but not being able to charge the Nokia is a totally unforeseen, ridiculous problem  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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7th Mar 2013 6:24pm |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512 
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Actually, Nokia thinks this does make sense 
Some Nokia models are equipped with current and temperature sensor, and are charged with a fixed current at a higher voltage than USB, 6.1 V @ 890 mA. Could be that the characteristics of your cheap (unregulated) 1A charger are just OK for Noka while the BlueSea does not fit because of fixed regulated current and/or voltage... Cheers, Vincent 1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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7th Mar 2013 8:03pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Aha!
Many thanks
Now what to do about it Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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7th Mar 2013 8:07pm |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512
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If you have an inverter on board you could use the original Nokia 230V charger... Cheers, Vincent 1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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7th Mar 2013 8:26pm |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856 
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Are you saying that the Nokia USB charger is expecting to see over voltage?
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7th Mar 2013 8:31pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Thanks, but not quite the "streamlining" I was hoping for  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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7th Mar 2013 8:36pm |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512
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Modify an dumb charger to charge Nokia:
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=38230 Cheers, Vincent 1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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7th Mar 2013 9:30pm |
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| XS Pete Member Since: 13 Jan 2011 Location: Suffolk Posts: 632  
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And VeeTee wins the prize! This is a simple case of voltage regulation. A lot of Nokias require a 5.1V supply. The BlueSea unit will almost certainly more accurately regulate the voltage to 5.0V exactly, and under all conditions, whereas your cheaper 1A unit is probably not as well toleranced and will allow the voltage to exceed this, probably reaching up to 5.2V or maybe slightly more, which is why it works with the Nokia. You can prove this by  a standard PC USB cable and plugging one end into your USB socket, and the other end to your multimeter, then compare with the other socket. If you want to try this but are unsure, PM me and I'll take you through it.
Don't be mislead by the comments about devices being able to determine the current capability a particular outlet has. You can't change the law of physics. You could plug into a socket which could supply 100A. The device will only draw the current it needs, as long as the voltage is correct. Pete |
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7th Mar 2013 11:15pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Another little project - many thanks 
Matt p.s. thanks too Pete (and all others) Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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8th Mar 2013 7:12am |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512
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Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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8th Mar 2013 1:29pm |
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