Cell phone charger?

acemccloudxx · 03-20-2008, 04:23 PM

We just bought a pair of version 3 Motorola Razor cell phones and...the charger uses a USB plug with the same configuration as the PRS-550!

This begs the question - can I charge my Sony using my cell phone charger?

Hmmmm

Taylor514ce · 03-20-2008, 04:28 PM

You know you want to. It's almost like it's whispering to you.

(Research some threads here; it's been discovered that the PSP chargers works just fine on the Reader.)

NatCh · 03-20-2008, 05:59 PM

I don't think anyone's found a mini-USB charger that works for the Reader, but you can adapt it to charge through the power connection if you can find an adapter. As Taylor514ce says, the PSP charger/adapter should work fine.

JSWolf · 03-20-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acemccloudxx

We just bought a pair of version 3 Motorola Razor cell phones and...the charger uses a USB plug with the same configuration as the PRS-550!

This begs the question - can I charge my Sony using my cell phone charger?

Hmmmm

Nope. It won't work. I've tried a USB iPod power charger and the 505 did not recognize it.

tgharold · 03-21-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acemccloudxx

We just bought a pair of version 3 Motorola Razor cell phones and...the charger uses a USB plug with the same configuration as the PRS-550!

This begs the question - can I charge my Sony using my cell phone charger?

Nope.

The current PRS-505 is squirrley with regards to charging from mini-USB. Unless there is a live computer on the other end, the battery will simply drain instead of charging.

So leaving your PRS-505 hooked up to a cell phone mini-USB charger will drain it. Leaving your PRS-505 hooked up to a turned-off computer will drain it.

aru · 03-23-2008, 09:08 AM

You can charge the PRS from any USB power plug, you just need a cable that plugs into the power port of the PRS and not into the mini USB port.
I bought a fitting plug from Radio Shack and attached it to a spare USB cord. That way I can use ANY USB connector from a laptop, wall charger or what not. This also eliminates the start-up procedure after unplugging from the computer. Wal-Mart has a very small wall charger with two USB outlets, works like a charm...

DrMoze · 03-23-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aru

You can charge the PRS from any USB power plug, you just need a cable that plugs into the power port of the PRS and not into the mini USB port.
I bought a fitting plug from Radio Shack and attached it to a spare USB cord. That way I can use ANY USB connector from a laptop, wall charger or what not. This also eliminates the start-up procedure after unplugging from the computer. Wal-Mart has a very small wall charger with two USB outlets, works like a charm...

What you describe is a homebrew version of a simple USB PSP charging cable.

aru · 03-24-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

What you describe is a homebrew version of a simple USB PSP charging cable.

Re-inventing the wheel is my favorite ...

I actually had the plug from a former project on a solar charger for the Sony and the USB cable from a malfunctioning external harddrive. And I could not get a Sony PSP charger locally, actually neither Radio Shack nor Wal Mart had a power adapter that yields 5V.

Penforhire · 03-26-2008, 01:27 PM

My wife and I had random success (and more failures) with our RAZR chargers. But when it fails there is no indication and they DRAIN the Sony battery! Get a PSP charger. Two thumbs up from me.

moz · 03-26-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgharold

The current PRS-505 is squirrley with regards to charging from mini-USB. Unless there is a live computer on the other end, the battery will simply drain instead of charging.

Or my solar charger, or my "12V to USB" charger, or a variety of other things that I've tried. Sure, some computers do work, but some don't - I've found two so far that drain the battery.

HarryT · 03-27-2008, 10:32 AM

I know that on the 500, you had to have a "live" computer at the other end in order to charge, but I thought that the 505 had been changed you it would charge from any USB power source?

DrMoze · 03-27-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I know that on the 500, you had to have a "live" computer at the other end in order to charge, but I thought that the 505 had been changed you it would charge from any USB power source?

Nope. In my experience, the 505 will charge from a pc that recognizes the Reader as a USB storage device, even w/o the SOny software installed. But it does *not* charge from a usb wall-plug charger. At least not from the 2-3 I've tried.

HarryT · 03-27-2008, 12:51 PM

That's a shame. Being able to charge from any USB power source is very handy on the Gen3.

tompe · 03-27-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's a shame. Being able to charge from any USB power source is very handy on the Gen3.

Yes, I did it from an USB battery at Heathrow airport a couple of days ago. Just charging 15 minutes or so saved the whole trip home.

DrMoze · 03-27-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's a shame. Being able to charge from any USB power source is very handy on the Gen3.

Having a PSP-USB cord lets you charge from any USB port. Not quite as easy as usung any available mini-usb plug, but pretty robust.

Maybe it's a firmware issue? (The reader looks for an appropriate connection thru the usb port before allowing it to charge?) Maybe Sony can fix this in a firmware update?

03-20-2008, 04:23 PM	#1
acemccloudxx Java Master Posts: 49 Karma: 169 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-505	Cell phone charger? We just bought a pair of version 3 Motorola Razor cell phones and...the charger uses a USB plug with the same configuration as the PRS-550! This begs the question - can I charge my Sony using my cell phone charger? Hmmmm

03-23-2008, 09:08 AM	#6
aru Likes to read on e-ink Posts: 68 Karma: 50 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Jersey Device: Kindle DX	You can charge the PRS from any USB power plug, you just need a cable that plugs into the power port of the PRS and not into the mini USB port. I bought a fitting plug from Radio Shack and attached it to a spare USB cord. That way I can use ANY USB connector from a laptop, wall charger or what not. This also eliminates the start-up procedure after unplugging from the computer. Wal-Mart has a very small wall charger with two USB outlets, works like a charm... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by aru; 03-23-2008 at 09:18 AM. Reason: Added some pictures

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03-20-2008, 04:28 PM	#2
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	You know you want to. It's almost like it's whispering to you. (Research some threads here; it's been discovered that the PSP chargers works just fine on the Reader.)

03-20-2008, 05:59 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I don't think anyone's found a mini-USB charger that works for the Reader, but you can adapt it to charge through the power connection if you can find an adapter. As Taylor514ce says, the PSP charger/adapter should work fine.

03-26-2008, 01:27 PM	#9
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	My wife and I had random success (and more failures) with our RAZR chargers. But when it fails there is no indication and they DRAIN the Sony battery! Get a PSP charger. Two thumbs up from me.

03-27-2008, 10:32 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I know that on the 500, you had to have a "live" computer at the other end in order to charge, but I thought that the 505 had been changed you it would charge from any USB power source?

03-27-2008, 12:51 PM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That's a shame. Being able to charge from any USB power source is very handy on the Gen3.