Charging

PeterT · 10-28-2011, 10:46 AM

I see Kobo now include a charger, and also state in the documentation for the Vox that it will ONLY charge with their supplied charger.

I can see this being a real nuisance for people on the go who might like to charge (for instance) in the car, or charge in the office during the day (they would need to bring along the charger).

With luck, we will see some third party solutions to this.

Lordvic · 10-28-2011, 10:49 AM

probably decided that standard USB would not supply enough juice to charge the device in a timely manner.

This isn't anything new, as many other tablets have the same problem and required a charge adapter.

KoboJason · 10-28-2011, 01:48 PM

The Kobo Vox is designed to charge the most efficiently with the included wall charger.

Although we don't recommend using a 3rd party charger, the Vox will charge using a 3rd party charger provided:
‣ the charger used is a wall-charger and not a standard USB cable
‣ the charger supplies 2 amps

Note the charging light will not show the reader is charging when using a 3rd party charger but know it's still receiving a charge.

PeterT · 10-28-2011, 02:46 PM

Thanks Jason! That IS great news. Time to check the amperage on my various adapters

pokee · 10-28-2011, 04:30 PM

Yeah, too bad the folks my local Coles bookstore didn't know that. I went in there at lunch (since it's in a mall close to where I work) to play around with it, and they were complaining that it went dead. I asked them how long they charged it for and they said it was plugged into their computer all morning and nothing was happening. I enlightened them with the info that they needed to plug it into the wall with the provided charger and they're like, "Oh...thanks...".

Well - at least I got to see it and hold it (and provide a little tech support - lol)!

shannont · 10-28-2011, 05:57 PM

A small single plug inverter for the car lighter is available any automotive store (i.e Canadian Tire, Walmart etc) that you could plug the ac adapter into that for travel. This is how we have to power the portable dvd player we have for our daughter. This is how I plan to charge the Vox when travelling.

SensualPoet · 10-28-2011, 07:26 PM

The charger for the Blackberry Playbook is 5V 1.8A; the Kobo Vox is 5V 2.0A. So ... it will still charge but I don't see the little amber light?

Haesslich · 10-29-2011, 01:58 AM

Sounds like the iPad 5V 2.1A charger will work, especially if you supply your own MicroUSB cable.

Speaking of charging, has anyone noticed that if it gets topped up to 100% but you don't unplug it in a few minutes, the screen refuses to turn on again? Sounds like a software bug.

pokee · 10-29-2011, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haesslich

Sounds like the iPad 5V 2.1A charger will work, especially if you supply your own MicroUSB cable.

Speaking of charging, has anyone noticed that if it gets topped up to 100% but you don't unplug it in a few minutes, the screen refuses to turn on again? Sounds like a software bug.

Yikes...so maybe I shouldn't charge it overnight like I had planned???

trek790 · 10-29-2011, 02:17 AM

That may explain someone else who has a similar problem. His Vox won't even power on anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haesslich

Speaking of charging, has anyone noticed that if it gets topped up to 100% but you don't unplug it in a few minutes, the screen refuses to turn on again? Sounds like a software bug.

SensualPoet · 10-29-2011, 09:04 AM

I doubt that's true. Mine charged overnight and came on without issues.

dmacmart · 10-29-2011, 09:17 AM

If your screen appears frozen, hold down the power button for at least 10 seconds. Then hod it down as turning it on from OFF mode.

Haesslich · 10-30-2011, 01:40 AM

I did have to reset it twice last night, yes. That's how I started it up again. I think the Kobo app was at fault, as I'd left it open when the screen shut off... and I had the app freeze on me earlier today when turning pages, causing a kernel panic that ended with a restart.

So far it's been charging 5 hours at 100%, and no lockups yet.

pokee · 10-30-2011, 12:48 PM

I have had a couple of lock ups, but it was easy to reset. I have had to do that on my laptop on numerous occasions, so that seems pretty normal.

I am wondering if anyone has some tips on how to best manage the battery life on this thing. I am guessing turning wifi off is a good thing, but should I turn it off or would keeping it in sleep mode be okay?

Haesslich · 10-30-2011, 12:54 PM

Sleep should be okay, as resuming from full off would take more power than sleep would.

And the freeze appears to be WiFi related - turning off WiFi meant it could sit in the charger, but I left WiFi on last night, and....

10-28-2011, 10:46 AM	#1
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,270 Karma: 78869092 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Charging I see Kobo now include a charger, and also state in the documentation for the Vox that it will ONLY charge with their supplied charger. I can see this being a real nuisance for people on the go who might like to charge (for instance) in the car, or charge in the office during the day (they would need to bring along the charger). With luck, we will see some third party solutions to this.

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10-28-2011, 10:49 AM	#2
Lordvic Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 19104 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto / Ontario Device: Blackberry Playbook	probably decided that standard USB would not supply enough juice to charge the device in a timely manner. This isn't anything new, as many other tablets have the same problem and required a charge adapter.

10-28-2011, 01:48 PM	#3
KoboJason Kobo Vox Product Manager Posts: 13 Karma: 47418 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Vox, Kobo Touch	The Kobo Vox is designed to charge the most efficiently with the included wall charger. Although we don't recommend using a 3rd party charger, the Vox will charge using a 3rd party charger provided: ‣ the charger used is a wall-charger and not a standard USB cable ‣ the charger supplies 2 amps Note the charging light will not show the reader is charging when using a 3rd party charger but know it's still receiving a charge.

10-28-2011, 02:46 PM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,270 Karma: 78869092 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Thanks Jason! That IS great news. Time to check the amperage on my various adapters

10-28-2011, 04:30 PM	#5
pokee Fanatic Posts: 569 Karma: 199759 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2	Yeah, too bad the folks my local Coles bookstore didn't know that. I went in there at lunch (since it's in a mall close to where I work) to play around with it, and they were complaining that it went dead. I asked them how long they charged it for and they said it was plugged into their computer all morning and nothing was happening. I enlightened them with the info that they needed to plug it into the wall with the provided charger and they're like, "Oh...thanks...". Well - at least I got to see it and hold it (and provide a little tech support - lol)!

10-28-2011, 05:57 PM	#6
shannont Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 288 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Touch, retired Sony PR300	A small single plug inverter for the car lighter is available any automotive store (i.e Canadian Tire, Walmart etc) that you could plug the ac adapter into that for travel. This is how we have to power the portable dvd player we have for our daughter. This is how I plan to charge the Vox when travelling.

10-28-2011, 07:26 PM	#7
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	The charger for the Blackberry Playbook is 5V 1.8A; the Kobo Vox is 5V 2.0A. So ... it will still charge but I don't see the little amber light?

10-29-2011, 01:58 AM	#8
Haesslich Fanatic Posts: 567 Karma: 1138182 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kobo Touch,Glo,Mini,Aura/HD/One,H20, Sony PRS-300/600, Kindle 3-PW	Sounds like the iPad 5V 2.1A charger will work, especially if you supply your own MicroUSB cable. Speaking of charging, has anyone noticed that if it gets topped up to 100% but you don't unplug it in a few minutes, the screen refuses to turn on again? Sounds like a software bug.

10-29-2011, 09:04 AM	#11
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I doubt that's true. Mine charged overnight and came on without issues.

10-29-2011, 09:17 AM	#12
dmacmart Fanatic Posts: 534 Karma: 696908 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch	If your screen appears frozen, hold down the power button for at least 10 seconds. Then hod it down as turning it on from OFF mode.

10-30-2011, 01:40 AM	#13
Haesslich Fanatic Posts: 567 Karma: 1138182 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kobo Touch,Glo,Mini,Aura/HD/One,H20, Sony PRS-300/600, Kindle 3-PW	I did have to reset it twice last night, yes. That's how I started it up again. I think the Kobo app was at fault, as I'd left it open when the screen shut off... and I had the app freeze on me earlier today when turning pages, causing a kernel panic that ended with a restart. So far it's been charging 5 hours at 100%, and no lockups yet.

10-30-2011, 12:48 PM	#14
pokee Fanatic Posts: 569 Karma: 199759 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2	I have had a couple of lock ups, but it was easy to reset. I have had to do that on my laptop on numerous occasions, so that seems pretty normal. I am wondering if anyone has some tips on how to best manage the battery life on this thing. I am guessing turning wifi off is a good thing, but should I turn it off or would keeping it in sleep mode be okay?

10-30-2011, 12:54 PM	#15
Haesslich Fanatic Posts: 567 Karma: 1138182 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kobo Touch,Glo,Mini,Aura/HD/One,H20, Sony PRS-300/600, Kindle 3-PW	Sleep should be okay, as resuming from full off would take more power than sleep would. And the freeze appears to be WiFi related - turning off WiFi meant it could sit in the charger, but I left WiFi on last night, and....