Micro USB Charger Interchangeability

ManosHandsOfFate · 01-09-2011, 04:51 PM

Hi All,

I poked around in the forums and didn't quite find anything that addresses my specific question. Please feel free to direct me somewhere (or ignore me) if this has already been discussed.

I have four devices that use Micro USB for charging and data -- two cell phones, a K3, and a B&N Nook. All of the chargers are the kind where you take a normal micro usb cable and plug the Type A end into the charger and the Micro-B end into the device.

All of the chargers say either 5.1 volt or 5 volt. They show different amp ratings but none of the ratings is higher than 1 amp.

Are all these chargers interchangeable? Could I potentially ruin a device by charging it using a charger that's rated with a higher amperage than the official charger?

pholy · 01-09-2011, 05:04 PM

The rating on the charger is how many amps you can pull out of it, the voltage is how hard it pushes. So you won't hurt your devices. If you connect the lowest rated charger to the device that normally uses the highest rated charger, you might over-heat the charger, and the device will take longer to charge - the device won't be hurt, but the low-rated charger might burn out. I generall use my 1-amp, 5-volt USB charger for all my USB rechargeable devices. -- Except I have one or two devices that seem to require some sort of specialized smart charger to make them charge. You'll know the first time you try to charge one of those with an ordinary charger

HarryT · 01-09-2011, 05:06 PM

No, they'll be interchangeable. The rating of the charger simply shows what it's able to supply; the device will "decide" how much current it wants to draw. There's never any harm in using a charger with a higher amperage rating than a device.

01-09-2011, 04:51 PM	#1
ManosHandsOfFate Addict Posts: 298 Karma: 1537324 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicago Device: Nook, K3, Fire, Nexus 7	Micro USB Charger Interchangeability Hi All, I poked around in the forums and didn't quite find anything that addresses my specific question. Please feel free to direct me somewhere (or ignore me) if this has already been discussed. I have four devices that use Micro USB for charging and data -- two cell phones, a K3, and a B&N Nook. All of the chargers are the kind where you take a normal micro usb cable and plug the Type A end into the charger and the Micro-B end into the device. All of the chargers say either 5.1 volt or 5 volt. They show different amp ratings but none of the ratings is higher than 1 amp. Are all these chargers interchangeable? Could I potentially ruin a device by charging it using a charger that's rated with a higher amperage than the official charger?

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01-09-2011, 05:04 PM	#2
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	The rating on the charger is how many amps you can pull out of it, the voltage is how hard it pushes. So you won't hurt your devices. If you connect the lowest rated charger to the device that normally uses the highest rated charger, you might over-heat the charger, and the device will take longer to charge - the device won't be hurt, but the low-rated charger might burn out. I generall use my 1-amp, 5-volt USB charger for all my USB rechargeable devices. -- Except I have one or two devices that seem to require some sort of specialized smart charger to make them charge. You'll know the first time you try to charge one of those with an ordinary charger

01-09-2011, 05:06 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, they'll be interchangeable. The rating of the charger simply shows what it's able to supply; the device will "decide" how much current it wants to draw. There's never any harm in using a charger with a higher amperage rating than a device.

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