USB Charging (PRS500 model) - Page 2

kb7rjf · 05-02-2007, 06:03 PM

I tried to charge mine from the USB charger that I use with my Blackberry. No Joy.
I was able to charge from my Mac G4 Powerbook.

Plowman · 05-23-2007, 01:13 PM

I was out in Denver recently and found a "multi-charger" there. It plugs into a USB on the computer and has an octopus of other connectors at the other end. There are PSP/eReader, mini-usb, iPod (also will sync), gameboy, and a few others. Very handy. Was something like $10. A very handy investment.

P

UncleDuke · 05-23-2007, 04:14 PM

borrowed my niece's psp charger, worked fine

JSWolf · 05-23-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleDuke

borrowed my niece's psp charger, worked fine

What is the power output shown on the PSP charger? I want to make 100% sure that it is the same as the Reader's charger.

NatCh · 05-23-2007, 06:55 PM

It's not exactly the same, but ... well, let me put it this way: when we were at the Blogger's Day thing last September, they were using PSP chargers on some of the Sony Readers they had set up for that, so it would seem that the Sony Reader team believes they PSP chargers are 'close enough.'

JSWolf · 05-23-2007, 11:07 PM

Would not close enough possibly cause some damage since it's not the same?

mogui · 05-23-2007, 11:45 PM

I have tried other USB connections for charging as well and they drain the Reader's battery rather than charging it. I have several small chargers that are designed to plug into a mini-USB connection to provide charging power. They do not work with the Reader.

If I had tools and parts here I would make a little breakout board to analyze what is happening. I suspect the Reader has a way of enabling the power connection from the USB port to its charging circuit. Why did Sony design the Reader this way? Maybe they are trying to protect the Reader's charging circuitry from non-compliant USB power supplies, though they are all supposed to be standard. Any thoughts?

Thanks to NatCh for the clarification (see next).

NatCh · 05-24-2007, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Would not close enough possibly cause some damage since it's not the same?

I dunno what might happen with other chargers, but I think that the PSP one is fine, on the basis of the Sony team using them.

I probably should point out (since this is nominally a USB charging thread, and there might be some confusion on the point) that the PSP charger won't charge via the USB port, but rather the DC in jack. It think the multi-charger that Plowman found is the only non-Sony USB charger that I've heard of working with the Reader.

mogui · 05-24-2007, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plowman

I was out in Denver recently and found a "multi-charger" there. It plugs into a USB on the computer and has an octopus of other connectors at the other end. There are PSP/eReader, mini-usb, iPod (also will sync), gameboy, and a few others. Very handy. Was something like $10. A very handy investment.

Plowman, your charger sources power from USB, but does it plug into the Reader's mini-USB port to charge via USB as well?

Xenophon · 05-24-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I dunno what might happen with other chargers, but I think that the PSP one is fine, on the basis of the Sony team using them.

I probably should point out (since this is nominally a USB charging thread, and there might be some confusion on the point) that the PSP charger won't charge via the USB port, but rather the DC in jack. It think the multi-charger that Plowman found is the only non-Sony USB charger that I've heard of working with the Reader.

I'll also point out that my Reader has charged successfully from the USB port of every Mac I've tried it with. Without installing any Sony software ('cause there isn't any!

).

RWood · 05-24-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

I'll also point out that my Reader has charged successfully from the USB port of every Mac I've tried it with. Without installing any Sony software ('cause there isn't any!

).

Yet on a PC the Sony driver must be installed for the USB charging to work.

The PSP charger I have seen is rated at 5.4 V which is within the range (limits) of the Sony Reader charger. I also use the iGo Juice charger which works from the wall outlet, the car adapter, and an airplane power connection.

NatCh · 05-24-2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

I also use the iGo Juice charger which works from the wall outlet, the car adapter, and an airplane power connection.

I'm gonna to have to get me one of those. (sigh)

RWood · 05-24-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I'm gonna to have to get me one of those. (sigh)

The iGo iTip adapter I use for the Sony Reader is A54.

NatCh · 05-24-2007, 01:39 PM

Is that the same one for the PSP, then? I was assuming I'd just look for that one.

diabloNL · 05-24-2007, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

Yet on a PC the Sony driver must be installed for the USB charging to work.

The PSP charger I have seen is rated at 5.4 V which is within the range (limits) of the Sony Reader charger. I also use the iGo Juice charger which works from the wall outlet, the car adapter, and an airplane power connection.

So the Reader accepts a MAC to charge its battery because it's not possible to install Connect on it. But if it is a PC it wants to see the Connect software in order to charge the battery. So who at Sony came with this brilliant idea?

05-23-2007, 01:13 PM	#17
Plowman Member Posts: 17 Karma: 24 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: PRS-500	Charger from Frys I was out in Denver recently and found a "multi-charger" there. It plugs into a USB on the computer and has an octopus of other connectors at the other end. There are PSP/eReader, mini-usb, iPod (also will sync), gameboy, and a few others. Very handy. Was something like $10. A very handy investment. P

05-23-2007, 04:14 PM	#18
UncleDuke books & doughnuts Posts: 882 Karma: 37857 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Device: sony reader, kindle2	borrowed my niece's psp charger, worked fine __________________ I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV.

05-23-2007, 06:55 PM	#20
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	It's not exactly the same, but ... well, let me put it this way: when we were at the Blogger's Day thing last September, they were using PSP chargers on some of the Sony Readers they had set up for that, so it would seem that the Sony Reader team believes they PSP chargers are 'close enough.' __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

05-23-2007, 11:45 PM	#22
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Charging via other USB connections I have tried other USB connections for charging as well and they drain the Reader's battery rather than charging it. I have several small chargers that are designed to plug into a mini-USB connection to provide charging power. They do not work with the Reader. If I had tools and parts here I would make a little breakout board to analyze what is happening. I suspect the Reader has a way of enabling the power connection from the USB port to its charging circuit. Why did Sony design the Reader this way? Maybe they are trying to protect the Reader's charging circuitry from non-compliant USB power supplies, though they are all supposed to be standard. Any thoughts? Thanks to NatCh for the clarification (see next). Last edited by mogui; 05-24-2007 at 03:52 AM.

05-24-2007, 01:39 PM	#29
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	Is that the same one for the PSP, then? I was assuming I'd just look for that one. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

05-02-2007, 06:03 PM	#16
kb7rjf Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2007	I tried to charge mine from the USB charger that I use with my Blackberry. No Joy. I was able to charge from my Mac G4 Powerbook.

05-23-2007, 11:07 PM	#21
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 34,227 Karma: 13801376 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-650, iPad	Would not close enough possibly cause some damage since it's not the same?

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