Power Cable - Nook vs. Nook Color

KryptoNyte · 12-17-2010, 01:21 AM

So, earlier tonight, I saw the Nook power cable at Best Buy. The Best Buy folks advised me that they don't have any power cables specifically for the Nook Color, but that I can just purchase the Nook power cable and use it. I got it home, and just before plugging it in, I decided to Google it, and B&N seems pretty clear on the issue;

Nook power cable <not equal to> Nook Color power cable.

I'm not sure what's different about them, power brick perhaps? Anyways, be advised, the $15 Nook cable at Best Buy wasn't meant for Nook Color apparently.

jasoraso · 12-17-2010, 09:34 AM

Do you know the specs on the original nook charger? The new color charger is 5v and up to 1.8 amp.

My guess is the original charger is 5v and upto 1amp, but maybe only 500 or 750 manpower? Micro USB chargers of 5v and 500 mamp will charge thecolor nook, slowly (and maybe only with wifi off).

SCION · 12-17-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

...The Best Buy folks advised me that they don't have any power cables specifically for the Nook Color, but that I can just purchase the Nook power cable and use it....

Why does this not surprise me?

gtriever · 12-17-2010, 10:55 AM

As a side question here, has anybody tried charging the Color with a USB+Data cable such as is used with portable HDDs and DVD burners?

afv011 · 12-17-2010, 11:37 AM

The nookColor will only fast charge with its original cable. You can use a nook cable to charge it (it will not show as charging on the UI though), but it will charge, just slower.

madsquabbles · 12-17-2010, 11:41 AM

you can, but slowly... and with the screen off.

jswinden · 12-17-2010, 11:58 AM

Does the NOOK original have the extra-long micro-USB male adapter that the NOOKcolor has? Oh, a thought just occurred to me. I wonder if the NC design engineer was compensating for something?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

It does aggrevate me that B&N abandoned a short-lived tradition among electronics device manufacturers of using standardized cables and ports. I hope this doesn't start a bad trend back into the dark age of every manufacturer using a proprietary cable and port. COUGH:Apple:COUGH and PUKE.

SCION · 12-17-2010, 12:06 PM

You're silly!

LoganK · 12-17-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtriever

As a side question here, has anybody tried charging the Color with a USB+Data cable such as is used with portable HDDs and DVD burners?

Just to be clear, the "yes" answer above was to this question (or at least applies).

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Does the NOOK original have the extra-long micro-USB male adapter that the NOOKcolor has?

No, it does not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

It does aggrevate me that B&N abandoned a short-lived tradition among electronics device manufacturers of using standardized cables and ports.

It is standard, and you can use standard cables and ports with the Nook Color.

KryptoNyte · 12-17-2010, 04:57 PM

Jack, you're not far off. I ended up plugging the cable in anyways to try it out, but it wasn't indicating charging on the NC screen. As someone else mentioned, I would assume you'd be getting the trickle charge that you might get with a standard micro-USB cable, or a similar effect to plugging the NC cable into a computer's USB port.

When I held the micro-USB's up side by side, the NC was about 1/8" longer or so. Additionally, I would advise to be very careful choosing a cable from another vendor over the coming weeks, as they don't even know it yet based on a couple reviews for said NC charging cables on Amazon that also aren't working (even though they are advertised as NC cables specifically).

Any yeah, Scion, as it is with any Best Buy, you better know what you need to know before walking in there.

Disclaimer: If you are a Best Buy employee, or the mother of a Best Buy employee and reading this, there is no doubt in my mind that you are the exception to the rule.

emt · 12-17-2010, 05:09 PM

You can check if it's charging by using Android System Info (from the Market - it's free and can be installed if rooted). It has a neat battery use screen (as well as many other info screens). It will show the battery percentage and charge state.

I've found than if WiFi is off (as when the NC sleeps) even a 500 ma power supply will fully charge the NC overnight. I use my Blackberry phone charger (with the cable that it came with) and that way I only have to carry one charger when traveling.

I even use it for charging while playing music/videos or reading and even though it doesn't increase charge it does slow down the rate of usage.

jswinden · 12-17-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

Disclaimer: If you are a Best Buy employee, or the mother of a Best Buy employee and reading this, there is no doubt in my mind that you are the exception to the rule.

Ditto on my Best Buy comments!

I'm glad to hear a regular micro-USB cable/charger trickle charges even though it doesn't indicate a charge on the NC screen. It is no big deal to me about their special cable since the NC comes with one. If we had to buy it extra, or if international owners have to buy it extra, then it would be an issue.

LoganK · 12-17-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emt

I've found than if WiFi is off (as when the NC sleeps) even a 500 ma power supply will fully charge the NC overnight.

Yeah, it definitely seems to be conservative in the amount of power it will draw while on anything except the special cable (I haven't taken the effort actually measure it). If overnight charging is not acceptable, then you will need the included charger. I would rather have a single charger (like yourself), so my Nook Color charger was tossed into a forgotten box immediately after purchase.

Perhaps they'll improve the charging rate in next month's update. (One can hope...)

PS to Jack: I was uncourteously brief above simply for clarity. I'm glad you took the comment in stride.

jbharman45 · 12-29-2010, 07:58 PM

For what it is worth, I think that the key is the cable. It seems to have extra pins. While you can trickle charge with a standard microUSB cable, you can also use any 2.1 A charger with the NookColor cable and it works great. 2.1 A = iPad charger. There are a LOT of third-party chargers out there that are cheap and work great. I currently travel with my iPad, but if the rooted NookColor works, I may ditch Apple. I am an Android guy through and through. And I love reading my Kindle books on the NookColor when they have pretty pictures. Now if Zinio will just release an Android app!

SCION · 12-29-2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbharman45

...Now if Zinio will just release an Android app!

It was supposed to be available in April of this year.

12-17-2010, 01:21 AM	#1
KryptoNyte Shepherd Posts: 313 Karma: 663 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Nook Color, LG Optimus V	Power Cable - Nook vs. Nook Color So, earlier tonight, I saw the Nook power cable at Best Buy. The Best Buy folks advised me that they don't have any power cables specifically for the Nook Color, but that I can just purchase the Nook power cable and use it. I got it home, and just before plugging it in, I decided to Google it, and B&N seems pretty clear on the issue; Nook power cable <not equal to> Nook Color power cable. I'm not sure what's different about them, power brick perhaps? Anyways, be advised, the $15 Nook cable at Best Buy wasn't meant for Nook Color apparently.

12-17-2010, 11:58 AM	#7
jswinden Nameless Being	Does the NOOK original have the extra-long micro-USB male adapter that the NOOKcolor has? Oh, a thought just occurred to me. I wonder if the NC design engineer was compensating for something? Sorry, couldn't resist. It does aggrevate me that B&N abandoned a short-lived tradition among electronics device manufacturers of using standardized cables and ports. I hope this doesn't start a bad trend back into the dark age of every manufacturer using a proprietary cable and port. COUGH:Apple:COUGH and PUKE. Last edited by jswinden; 12-17-2010 at 12:00 PM.

12-17-2010, 05:09 PM	#11
emt Nameless Being	Ordinary Micro USB Cable Works... You can check if it's charging by using Android System Info (from the Market - it's free and can be installed if rooted). It has a neat battery use screen (as well as many other info screens). It will show the battery percentage and charge state. I've found than if WiFi is off (as when the NC sleeps) even a 500 ma power supply will fully charge the NC overnight. I use my Blackberry phone charger (with the cable that it came with) and that way I only have to carry one charger when traveling. I even use it for charging while playing music/videos or reading and even though it doesn't increase charge it does slow down the rate of usage.

12-29-2010, 07:58 PM	#14
jbharman45 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony Reader 505, 700, 900, Kindle 2/3, Nook, NookColor	The Key is the Cable For what it is worth, I think that the key is the cable. It seems to have extra pins. While you can trickle charge with a standard microUSB cable, you can also use any 2.1 A charger with the NookColor cable and it works great. 2.1 A = iPad charger. There are a LOT of third-party chargers out there that are cheap and work great. I currently travel with my iPad, but if the rooted NookColor works, I may ditch Apple. I am an Android guy through and through. And I love reading my Kindle books on the NookColor when they have pretty pictures. Now if Zinio will just release an Android app!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
BN rep called Nook color a 'toy', recommended original Nook	RockdaMan	General Discussions	156	07-02-2011 11:52 PM
Time to separate Nook & Nook Color forums!	bugeyed	Nook Color & Nook Tablet	27	05-20-2011 03:05 PM
Can a galaxy tab usb cable charge a nook?	sark666	Barnes & Noble NOOK	8	01-06-2011 10:50 AM
Nook vs. Nook Color vs. Sony 650	mnfe	Which one should I buy?	77	12-19-2010 02:39 PM
Classic How often do you Power Down your Nook	boswd	Barnes & Noble NOOK	17	08-16-2010 10:51 AM

12-17-2010, 09:34 AM	#2
jasoraso Addict Posts: 228 Karma: 1212418 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Nook Touch, Nook Color (rooted) and Samsung Galaxy Nexus	Do you know the specs on the original nook charger? The new color charger is 5v and up to 1.8 amp. My guess is the original charger is 5v and upto 1amp, but maybe only 500 or 750 manpower? Micro USB chargers of 5v and 500 mamp will charge thecolor nook, slowly (and maybe only with wifi off).

12-17-2010, 10:55 AM	#4
gtriever Addict Posts: 281 Karma: 2125576 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Forma	As a side question here, has anybody tried charging the Color with a USB+Data cable such as is used with portable HDDs and DVD burners?

12-17-2010, 11:37 AM	#5
afv011 Captain Penguin Posts: 2,947 Karma: 2077653593 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo Libra 2, Nook Glowlight	The nookColor will only fast charge with its original cable. You can use a nook cable to charge it (it will not show as charging on the UI though), but it will charge, just slower.

12-17-2010, 11:41 AM	#6
madsquabbles Groupie Posts: 160 Karma: 8698 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: samsung 8.9, galaxy note 10.1, galaxy note 2, nook hd+, ipad	you can, but slowly... and with the screen off.

12-17-2010, 12:06 PM	#8
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	You're silly!

12-17-2010, 04:57 PM	#10
KryptoNyte Shepherd Posts: 313 Karma: 663 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Nook Color, LG Optimus V	Jack, you're not far off. I ended up plugging the cable in anyways to try it out, but it wasn't indicating charging on the NC screen. As someone else mentioned, I would assume you'd be getting the trickle charge that you might get with a standard micro-USB cable, or a similar effect to plugging the NC cable into a computer's USB port. When I held the micro-USB's up side by side, the NC was about 1/8" longer or so. Additionally, I would advise to be very careful choosing a cable from another vendor over the coming weeks, as they don't even know it yet based on a couple reviews for said NC charging cables on Amazon that also aren't working (even though they are advertised as NC cables specifically). Any yeah, Scion, as it is with any Best Buy, you better know what you need to know before walking in there. Disclaimer: If you are a Best Buy employee, or the mother of a Best Buy employee and reading this, there is no doubt in my mind that you are the exception to the rule.

Advert

Advert