Aura H2O question about charging via USB PC connection

RAH · 03-22-2017, 07:36 AM

I have a simple question about charging the Kobo H2O by connecting it to a computer (Win10) via USB. I did a search and could find no answers.

If I connect the Kobo to the USB and tell it to "Connect", it shows as a device letter on my system (actually 2, since I have an external card in it). This is as expected and works fine. Meanwhile, the Kobo shows that it is charging.

My question is: if I use the PC's device icon to remove the Kobo from the system ("eject" it), does it still continue charging? And if so, is this the CORRECT way to charge it using a computer?? In other words, can I "eject" it from the computer but still leave it plugged in and continue charging it this way. My thinking is that once I am finished side-loading files from the PC, there's no point to continue to see it as a device, but I may want to continue charging it.

Another case could be that you may just want to charge you Kobo WITHOUT even bothering to "connect" it - I mean, you don't want to look at it as a device, you just want to charge it and you don't have a wallwart with you. In that case, you would cancel the connect on the first Kobo screen that asks you if you want to connect. Will it CHARGE after doing this? I think it will, but I want to do things correctly here.

I am asking this because I had a big problem with my first H2O, described in this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=284420

I DID in fact use the technique of leaving the Kobo connected to the PC after ejecting it to continue charging it, and I want to make sure that this is a valid way to charge it. I think it surely is (I charge other devices like this), but I don't want to screw up my replacement device, so I want to check first.

davidfor · 03-22-2017, 07:51 AM

None of these methods will be a problem. And I use just about any of the possible combinations when charging my Kobo devices. The only device I have any problem with is the Touch. It is over five years old, and is no longer holding much charge. But, that is expected for a LiIon cell.

The devices start charging as soon as you plug them in. They stop charging when they reach 100% charge or you unplug them. This is controlled by the hardware in the device. So long as the charger or USB port is supplying the right voltage, nothing will go wrong.

Sweetpea · 03-22-2017, 08:07 AM

It's the way I usually charge my readers. I connect to put new books on it, then disconnect, while keeping the cable connected.

meeera · 03-22-2017, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAH

If I connect the Kobo to the USB and tell it to "Connect", it shows as a device letter on my system (actually 2, since I have an external card in it). This is as expected and works fine. Meanwhile, the Kobo shows that it is charging.

My question is: if I use the PC's device icon to remove the Kobo from the system ("eject" it), does it still continue charging? And if so, is this the CORRECT way to charge it using a computer?? In other words, can I "eject" it from the computer but still leave it plugged in and continue charging it this way.

Yes that's fine. However, if your laptop goes to sleep, apparently in some situations this can drain the device.

RAH · 03-22-2017, 09:58 AM

OK, thanks for the reassurances, folks. Interesting that you mentioned sleep, @meeera. I had wondered about that myself and decided I might want to prevent it from going to sleep while charging via USB, especially with my all-in-one computer system.

For example, if I am playing a playlist of mp3 songs and the system goes to sleep, it stops playing. I'm guessing that the software continues to run but the monitor's speakers stop working when it goes to sleep. Seems like it might affect a USB connection too?

JSWolf · 03-22-2017, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Yes that's fine. However, if your laptop goes to sleep, apparently in some situations this can drain the device.

Some laptops have a charging port where you can charge even if the laptop goes to sleep.

davidfor · 03-22-2017, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAH

OK, thanks for the reassurances, folks. Interesting that you mentioned sleep, @meeera. I had wondered about that myself and decided I might want to prevent it from going to sleep while charging via USB, especially with my all-in-one computer system.

For example, if I am playing a playlist of mp3 songs and the system goes to sleep, it stops playing. I'm guessing that the software continues to run but the monitor's speakers stop working when it goes to sleep. Seems like it might affect a USB connection too?

No, if the system goes to sleep, the software stops. Or maybe pauses would be a better term. And power to the USB ports depends on the computer. My laptop keeps power to all USB ports while it is sleeping. It has to if it is set to allow the USB devices to wake the computer. If the laptop hibernates or I power it off, the power to the USB ports are turned off. Except one that can be configure to supply power when the laptop is off to allow charging devices.

What meeera described shouldn't happen. But, I'm sure it does. I think it would the sign of a badly designed device or some other fault. Maybe a device that supports OTG could get confused and try to host the computer.

JSWolf · 03-22-2017, 07:05 PM

Sometimes if the computer goes to sleep and the USB port is not one that allows charge on sleep, you can back port the charge and drain the battery.

davidfor · 03-22-2017, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sometimes if the computer goes to sleep and the USB port is not one that allows charge on sleep, you can back port the charge and drain the battery.

Firstly, "back port the charge"

That's a meaningless phrase. Or a mix-up of several different ones. I suppose I know what you mean, after all, that is what meeera was referring to, and I was indirectly responding to.

But, seriously...

That is something that shouldn't happen. The device shouldn't allow that and the computer shouldn't allow that. As I said, it's a sign of a fault somewhere.

RAH · 03-23-2017, 08:09 AM

This is somewhat interesting to me because it is POSSIBLE (I forget) that my computer did in fact go to sleep while I was charging my H2O the second time, after which I found it dead (at 0%) and unable to be charged at all, ever.

As I mentioned, I have since received a replacement H2O from Kobo (because my first one will not charge). But I would like to know if this sleep issue can cause such a catastophic problem with a Kobo. At best, it might have been asleep for say 1 hour. Before going to sleep, it should have had a charge by then of perhaps 50%. Could going to sleep not only discharge the battery down to 0%, but also make it impossible to then charge the device at all?

I know it may depend on the individual computer exactly how things might happen, but for ANY computer, could it cause this type of really awful result (quickly drain to 0% and render the device dead forever)?

JSWolf · 03-23-2017, 03:47 PM

I did have a Sony Reader PRS-505 that I had plugged into a computer and I found the 505 battery drained because the computer went to sleep. There were no sleep proof USB ports back then. The 505 did charge fine after that incident.

RAH · 03-23-2017, 05:05 PM

Thanks, JS. Actually, I made a mistake in my description of what might have happened. When I checked my PC's power settings, it turns out that I have it set to NEVER go to sleep. What I do allow it to do is turn the display off (after 45 minutes). So I doubt very much that this would hurt a Kobo that happened to be charging in the USB port. It does turn off the volume of any MP3 file that is playing, however, which was a real surprise to me the first time it happened (just because the stupid display turns off!). That's what I get for buying a consumer-level all-in-one! Oh well.

I have done my initial charge on my replacement H2O and all seems fine (reached 100%). Of course, the first one worked on the initial charge too. I'll be recharging the new one in a few weeks with MUCH trepidation...

03-22-2017, 07:36 AM	#1
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	question about charging via USB PC connection I have a simple question about charging the Kobo H2O by connecting it to a computer (Win10) via USB. I did a search and could find no answers. If I connect the Kobo to the USB and tell it to "Connect", it shows as a device letter on my system (actually 2, since I have an external card in it). This is as expected and works fine. Meanwhile, the Kobo shows that it is charging. My question is: if I use the PC's device icon to remove the Kobo from the system ("eject" it), does it still continue charging? And if so, is this the CORRECT way to charge it using a computer?? In other words, can I "eject" it from the computer but still leave it plugged in and continue charging it this way. My thinking is that once I am finished side-loading files from the PC, there's no point to continue to see it as a device, but I may want to continue charging it. Another case could be that you may just want to charge you Kobo WITHOUT even bothering to "connect" it - I mean, you don't want to look at it as a device, you just want to charge it and you don't have a wallwart with you. In that case, you would cancel the connect on the first Kobo screen that asks you if you want to connect. Will it CHARGE after doing this? I think it will, but I want to do things correctly here. I am asking this because I had a big problem with my first H2O, described in this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=284420 I DID in fact use the technique of leaving the Kobo connected to the PC after ejecting it to continue charging it, and I want to make sure that this is a valid way to charge it. I think it surely is (I charge other devices like this), but I don't want to screw up my replacement device, so I want to check first.

03-23-2017, 08:09 AM	#10
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	This is somewhat interesting to me because it is POSSIBLE (I forget) that my computer did in fact go to sleep while I was charging my H2O the second time, after which I found it dead (at 0%) and unable to be charged at all, ever. As I mentioned, I have since received a replacement H2O from Kobo (because my first one will not charge). But I would like to know if this sleep issue can cause such a catastophic problem with a Kobo. At best, it might have been asleep for say 1 hour. Before going to sleep, it should have had a charge by then of perhaps 50%. Could going to sleep not only discharge the battery down to 0%, but also make it impossible to then charge the device at all? I know it may depend on the individual computer exactly how things might happen, but for ANY computer, could it cause this type of really awful result (quickly drain to 0% and render the device dead forever)? Last edited by RAH; 03-23-2017 at 08:11 AM.

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03-22-2017, 07:51 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	None of these methods will be a problem. And I use just about any of the possible combinations when charging my Kobo devices. The only device I have any problem with is the Touch. It is over five years old, and is no longer holding much charge. But, that is expected for a LiIon cell. The devices start charging as soon as you plug them in. They stop charging when they reach 100% charge or you unplug them. This is controlled by the hardware in the device. So long as the charger or USB port is supplying the right voltage, nothing will go wrong.

03-22-2017, 08:07 AM	#3
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	It's the way I usually charge my readers. I connect to put new books on it, then disconnect, while keeping the cable connected.

03-22-2017, 09:58 AM	#5
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	OK, thanks for the reassurances, folks. Interesting that you mentioned sleep, @meeera. I had wondered about that myself and decided I might want to prevent it from going to sleep while charging via USB, especially with my all-in-one computer system. For example, if I am playing a playlist of mp3 songs and the system goes to sleep, it stops playing. I'm guessing that the software continues to run but the monitor's speakers stop working when it goes to sleep. Seems like it might affect a USB connection too?

03-22-2017, 07:05 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,448 Karma: 145491800 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Sometimes if the computer goes to sleep and the USB port is not one that allows charge on sleep, you can back port the charge and drain the battery.

03-23-2017, 03:47 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,448 Karma: 145491800 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I did have a Sony Reader PRS-505 that I had plugged into a computer and I found the 505 battery drained because the computer went to sleep. There were no sleep proof USB ports back then. The 505 did charge fine after that incident.

03-23-2017, 05:05 PM	#12
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	Thanks, JS. Actually, I made a mistake in my description of what might have happened. When I checked my PC's power settings, it turns out that I have it set to NEVER go to sleep. What I do allow it to do is turn the display off (after 45 minutes). So I doubt very much that this would hurt a Kobo that happened to be charging in the USB port. It does turn off the volume of any MP3 file that is playing, however, which was a real surprise to me the first time it happened (just because the stupid display turns off!). That's what I get for buying a consumer-level all-in-one! Oh well. I have done my initial charge on my replacement H2O and all seems fine (reached 100%). Of course, the first one worked on the initial charge too. I'll be recharging the new one in a few weeks with MUCH trepidation...

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