Griffin PowerDuo for iPad/iPhone/iPod

scottjl · 05-03-2010, 11:47 AM

Just a mini-review on the Griffin Technology PowerDuo that I received today. $40 for a combo pack wall and car charger that works with the iPad (supplying 5v @ 2.1Amps for a fast charge), iPhone, iPod or any other USB device if you supply your own cable.

Both the car and plug chargers are made of thick black plastic. The prongs on the wall charger fold flat for easier storage and travel. The car charger is one solid piece and does not have any sort of fuse that other car chargers have. I don't know if it has a self-sealing fuse inside or just doesn't have anything, no specs on the web site say. Both units have green lights that let you know power is being supplied to your device. Both are small and relatively lightweight without extra casing. The outlet charger is more rectangle vs. Apple's squarer design and has some slightly sharp plastic edges.

Inside the minimal packaging (no blister pack!) is the car charger, the outlet charge, a 3' (1m) cable and a "Griffintechnology.com" sticker similar to Apple stickers included with their products. There is no documentation, warranty papers, etc. in the box. Product specifications are printed on the outside of the cardboard packaging.

The included cable is black and seems to be quality made with thick cabling and good stress relief points at the connectors. There is no marking on the top of the iDevice plug, unusual, so if it's upside-down you won't know until you try to plug it in. It is locking with two buttons on the side to squeeze to release the cable from your iDevice.

Specs:

PowerBlock (wall charger)

Input: 100 - 240 V AC
Output: 5 VDC @ 2.1 amps

PowerJolt (car charger)

Input: 12 VDC
Output: 5 VDC @ 2.1 amps

The PowerBlock sells for $30 and the PowerJolt $25 individually, or $40 for both. Individually they each come with a USB-to-30pin iDevice cable, the combo pack only comes with a single cable. Guess individual cables go for $15 each.

For $10 more than Apple's 10W USB Power Adapater you get a car charger as well, although Apple's does include a longer cable and is white. These chargers have been blessed by Apple to work with their products, no error messages about "Not designed for this device" when plugging them in.

I would have liked a longer cord, and rounded edges on the PowerBlock, but these are well made chargers from a reputable company. If you're looking for an extra charger for your iDevice you might want to consider picking this up.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5.

nikkie · 05-03-2010, 04:04 PM

On this topic, I use my PowerMat with my iPad with the Apple adapter, and my iPad charges just fine.

jharrison · 05-03-2010, 06:34 PM

I use callpod. They are now selling for $19.95 which includes six adapters while supplies last.

scottjl · 05-11-2010, 09:57 PM

gizmodo did some testing on charging your ipad..

Maggie Leung · 05-13-2010, 11:09 AM

Thanks for this info, Scott. Off to buy a Griffin....

Maggie Leung · 05-21-2010, 11:28 PM

My charger arrived and works as promised. I did one full charge after running down the battery. Thanks again for mentioning this, Scott. I'm going to order another. I wish it came with two cords, but I guess I'll buy 'em at Griffin if they sell 'em.

scottjl · 05-21-2010, 11:45 PM

yeah. kinda silly it doesn't come with two cords. but shop around. any old generic iphone cord will work, it's the charger that has to have the higher rating to power the ipad. i've picked up cheap cords for $3-5.

Maggie Leung · 05-21-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottjl

yeah. kinda silly it doesn't come with two cords. but shop around. any old generic iphone cord will work, it's the charger that has to have the higher rating to power the ipad. i've picked up cheap cords for $3-5.

Sounds good. I probably have a spare one somewhere. My husband has amassed a scary tangle of cords from years of electronics. I call it his electronic tumbleweed.

badgoodDeb · 06-02-2010, 08:30 PM

I'm not sure if it is available yet, but this Combo Charger by inCase looks cool. It only requires one gadget, not two. (Although there are times when you don't want to remove the car device to bring it into the house, so two gadgets can be handy, too).

http://www.goincase.com/products/det...rger-ec20024/3

05-03-2010, 11:47 AM	#1
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	Griffin PowerDuo for iPad/iPhone/iPod Just a mini-review on the Griffin Technology PowerDuo that I received today. $40 for a combo pack wall and car charger that works with the iPad (supplying 5v @ 2.1Amps for a fast charge), iPhone, iPod or any other USB device if you supply your own cable. Both the car and plug chargers are made of thick black plastic. The prongs on the wall charger fold flat for easier storage and travel. The car charger is one solid piece and does not have any sort of fuse that other car chargers have. I don't know if it has a self-sealing fuse inside or just doesn't have anything, no specs on the web site say. Both units have green lights that let you know power is being supplied to your device. Both are small and relatively lightweight without extra casing. The outlet charger is more rectangle vs. Apple's squarer design and has some slightly sharp plastic edges. Inside the minimal packaging (no blister pack!) is the car charger, the outlet charge, a 3' (1m) cable and a "Griffintechnology.com" sticker similar to Apple stickers included with their products. There is no documentation, warranty papers, etc. in the box. Product specifications are printed on the outside of the cardboard packaging. The included cable is black and seems to be quality made with thick cabling and good stress relief points at the connectors. There is no marking on the top of the iDevice plug, unusual, so if it's upside-down you won't know until you try to plug it in. It is locking with two buttons on the side to squeeze to release the cable from your iDevice. Specs: PowerBlock (wall charger) Input: 100 - 240 V AC Output: 5 VDC @ 2.1 amps PowerJolt (car charger) Input: 12 VDC Output: 5 VDC @ 2.1 amps The PowerBlock sells for $30 and the PowerJolt $25 individually, or $40 for both. Individually they each come with a USB-to-30pin iDevice cable, the combo pack only comes with a single cable. Guess individual cables go for $15 each. For $10 more than Apple's 10W USB Power Adapater you get a car charger as well, although Apple's does include a longer cable and is white. These chargers have been blessed by Apple to work with their products, no error messages about "Not designed for this device" when plugging them in. I would have liked a longer cord, and rounded edges on the PowerBlock, but these are well made chargers from a reputable company. If you're looking for an extra charger for your iDevice you might want to consider picking this up. Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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05-03-2010, 04:04 PM	#2
nikkie Guru Posts: 614 Karma: 73700 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: WA, USA Device: Android, Kindle Paperwhite, lots of ancient readers	On this topic, I use my PowerMat with my iPad with the Apple adapter, and my iPad charges just fine.

05-03-2010, 06:34 PM	#3
jharrison Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Device: Kindle Touch; iPad	I use callpod. They are now selling for $19.95 which includes six adapters while supplies last.

05-11-2010, 09:57 PM	#4
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	gizmodo did some testing on charging your ipad..

05-13-2010, 11:09 AM	#5
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	Thanks for this info, Scott. Off to buy a Griffin....

05-21-2010, 11:28 PM	#6
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	My charger arrived and works as promised. I did one full charge after running down the battery. Thanks again for mentioning this, Scott. I'm going to order another. I wish it came with two cords, but I guess I'll buy 'em at Griffin if they sell 'em.

05-21-2010, 11:45 PM	#7
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	yeah. kinda silly it doesn't come with two cords. but shop around. any old generic iphone cord will work, it's the charger that has to have the higher rating to power the ipad. i've picked up cheap cords for $3-5.

06-02-2010, 08:30 PM	#9
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	I'm not sure if it is available yet, but this Combo Charger by inCase looks cool. It only requires one gadget, not two. (Although there are times when you don't want to remove the car device to bring it into the house, so two gadgets can be handy, too). http://www.goincase.com/products/det...rger-ec20024/3

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