Troubleshooting Can I use any USB wall (mains) power to charge my Kindle? - Page 4

Pushka · 10-29-2009, 11:40 PM

I have found an adaptor that works, it is Digitor brand and I posted this on the Amazon forum. So someone bought the same brand adaptor, but even that didnt work. So not only do you have to know the brand that will charge, not even all that brand's models will work with the kindle either!

kennyc · 10-30-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushka

I have found an adaptor that works, it is Digitor brand and I posted this on the Amazon forum. So someone bought the same brand adaptor, but even that didnt work. So not only do you have to know the brand that will charge, not even all that brand's models will work with the kindle either!

Maybe you were using different cables?

Pushka · 10-30-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Maybe you were using different cables?

On every occasion I was using the cable supplied by Amazon. As was the other person.

kennyc · 10-30-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushka

On every occasion I was using the cable supplied by Amazon. As was the other person.

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me then.

It you are using the same wall wart and the same cable it should give the same results.

readmorenow · 10-30-2009, 09:30 PM

Have you checked the model number for both Digitor chargers?

I have noticed that sometimes they may have the same brand but be different models.

geneven · 10-31-2009, 03:40 PM

As indicated, it's easy to see if the Kindle 2 is charging. If the white light at the bottom of the kindle is on, it's charging. If the light has turned green, it's charged completely. Also, of course, the depiction of the battery on the upper right of the reading surface changes when it's charging.

Pushka · 10-31-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me then.

It you are using the same wall wart and the same cable it should give the same results.

We werent sent a wall charger to Australia, just the cable. And not all Australian wall chargers will charge the kindle. I had three at home, and none of them worked so I had to buy another one - I got lucky - it worked! But others have bought the same brand as I did, but a different model, and that model didnt work. The model ending in 12 is the only Digitor model that seems to work. Go figure!

For those who think that the orange (International Kindles are orange not white) light indicates the kindle is charging - it doesn't. My orange light stayed on for 12 hours and never turned green! And when I did a reset immediately afterwards (as the kindle has been jammed) the battery showed critical. After 12 hours of charging!!!!! So geneven, the orange light means nothing.

kennyc · 10-31-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushka

We werent sent a wall charger to Australia, just the cable. And not all Australian wall chargers will charge the kindle. I had three at home, and none of them worked so I had to buy another one - I got lucky - it worked! But others have bought the same brand as I did, but a different model, and that model didnt work. The model ending in 12 is the only Digitor model that seems to work. Go figure!

...

Pushka, I know that you weren't sent a charger (otherwise it would work.

) but YOU SAID that you and someone else used the SAME charger and it worked for one and not the other. That shouldn't be possible. There must be some difference -- either the charger (wall wart) or the cable or a different type of Kindle.

Pushka · 10-31-2009, 08:47 PM

Yes, ok, I get you know. On the Amazon Kindle forums there are two Australian users who bought one model of the Digitor charger which didnt work, and I got lucky enough to buy adifferent Digitor model which does work. I understand that one of those people then returned the charger and then bought the model I have, but that still isnt working so Amazon have agreed to send him a new kindle. The other person has now had success with buying the Digitor model I recommended.

I feel sorry for the first guy - he has wasted a good week buying three different adaptors now; none of them charging the kindle, and now having to send his back and get a replacement one. If the charger had been sent in the first place then he would have known within a day there was a problem. Let alone the expensive OS phone call to Customer service AND return postage.

kennyc · 10-31-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushka

Yes, ok, I get you know. On the Amazon Kindle forums there are two Australian users who bought one model of the Digitor charger which didnt work, and I got lucky enough to buy adifferent Digitor model which does work. ...

Okay, that make sense.

allenlux · 11-01-2009, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Pushka, I know that you weren't sent a charger (otherwise it would work.

) but YOU SAID that you and someone else used the SAME charger and it worked for one and not the other. That shouldn't be possible. There must be some difference -- either the charger (wall wart) or the cable or a different type of Kindle.

I think Pushka is correct in his observation. I can't elaborate on the details as I am away from home for a week, but I have also noticed that with two TomTom chargers, one appears to work and the other not. They are both TomTom brand chargers with identical specs, but from different manufacturers.

I think the reason is that USB chargers in effect signal to the appliance that they are chargers by means of a resistance across the two data lines in the USB pinout. The value of this resistance seems to be only loosely specified (some like "max 100 ohms", but I forget the figure). It may be that the Kindle is more sensitive to the value of this resistance than other appliances, so that two similar chargers are perceived differently by the Kindle.

When I get home I will get out my digital voltmeter and see if I can check out this theory.

kennyc · 11-01-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenlux

.. They are both TomTom brand chargers with identical specs, but from different manufacturers.
....

Then they are not IDENTICAL are they. Sheesh

allenlux · 11-01-2009, 08:07 AM

You are right, they are not identical - in fact they are a slightly different shape - but their specification on the label is identical in that they both say TomTom, 5.0V 1.0A (this from memory), and they are both sold by TomTom for use with the TomTom GPS range.

When I get home next week I plan to do 3 things:
- check that one of the TomTom chargers actually does successfully charge the KIndle
- post photos of the 2 TomTom chargers
- if possible, measure the actual resistance between the 2 data pins in the 2 chargers (and compare it with the Amazon charger).

allenlux · 11-05-2009, 05:04 PM

OK, here's the update on the 2 TomTom chargers.

Charger A
Manufacturer: AK Technology (see label)
TomTom part # 4A00.182
Does not work with Kindle 2: symptoms are (1) fails to charge (2) leaves "lightning" symbol on battery after charge lead removed (3) Kindle becomes unresponsive ie keys have to be pressed for some time before anything happens.
Resistance across data pins (D+/green D-/white): infinite (ie they are not connected)
Picture below:

Charger B
Manufacturer: Phihong
TomTom part # 4A00.181
Works fine with Kindle 2 (ie just like the Amazon charger)
Resistance across data pins (D+/green D-/white): about 5.7Kohms
Picture below:

I may be wrong, but I suspected that charger B works with the Kindle because of the resistance across the data pins. It would be interesting if people could check this on other chargers. However, the Amazon charger itself has a much lower resistance between the data pins - I measured 1.2 ohms (not Kohms) - which is close to having the 2 data pins actually shorted.

kennyc · 11-05-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenlux

OK, here's the update on the 2 TomTom chargers.
...
I may be wrong, but I suspect that charger B works with the Kindle because of the resistance across the data pins. It would be interesting if people could check this on other chargers.

I suspect you are correct!

Is it possible for you to measure on an actual Amazon Charger? If not I can check mine tonight. Just for funnzies...

Okay, I just measured the Amazon charger (U.S.A.) and it is the same as you saw approx 1.2 ohms between pins 2 and 3.

11-05-2009, 05:04 PM	#59
allenlux Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bofferdange, Luxembourg Device: Kindle 2 International	OK, here's the update on the 2 TomTom chargers. Charger A Manufacturer: AK Technology (see label) TomTom part # 4A00.182 Does not work with Kindle 2: symptoms are (1) fails to charge (2) leaves "lightning" symbol on battery after charge lead removed (3) Kindle becomes unresponsive ie keys have to be pressed for some time before anything happens. Resistance across data pins (D+/green D-/white): infinite (ie they are not connected) Picture below: Charger B Manufacturer: Phihong TomTom part # 4A00.181 Works fine with Kindle 2 (ie just like the Amazon charger) Resistance across data pins (D+/green D-/white): about 5.7Kohms Picture below: I may be wrong, but I suspected that charger B works with the Kindle because of the resistance across the data pins. It would be interesting if people could check this on other chargers. However, the Amazon charger itself has a much lower resistance between the data pins - I measured 1.2 ohms (not Kohms) - which is close to having the 2 data pins actually shorted. Last edited by allenlux; 11-05-2009 at 05:10 PM. Reason: Measurement on Amazon charger added

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hacks how to disable usb charge of Kindle DX	Happen	Amazon Kindle	4	09-19-2009 07:48 PM
Kindle 1 - Charge via USB?	Sydney's Mom	Amazon Kindle	17	03-02-2009 02:37 AM

10-29-2009, 11:40 PM	#46
Pushka Wizard Posts: 1,119 Karma: 1019140 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Device: kindle, Ipad, Iphone, Nexus and PPW	I have found an adaptor that works, it is Digitor brand and I posted this on the Amazon forum. So someone bought the same brand adaptor, but even that didnt work. So not only do you have to know the brand that will charge, not even all that brand's models will work with the kindle either!

10-30-2009, 09:30 PM	#50
readmorenow Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 84 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Device: Bebook	Have you checked the model number for both Digitor chargers? I have noticed that sometimes they may have the same brand but be different models.

10-31-2009, 03:40 PM	#51
geneven Member Retired Posts: 124 Karma: 340 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Nokia N800, N810, Kindle 2	As indicated, it's easy to see if the Kindle 2 is charging. If the white light at the bottom of the kindle is on, it's charging. If the light has turned green, it's charged completely. Also, of course, the depiction of the battery on the upper right of the reading surface changes when it's charging.

10-31-2009, 08:47 PM	#54
Pushka Wizard Posts: 1,119 Karma: 1019140 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Device: kindle, Ipad, Iphone, Nexus and PPW	Yes, ok, I get you know. On the Amazon Kindle forums there are two Australian users who bought one model of the Digitor charger which didnt work, and I got lucky enough to buy adifferent Digitor model which does work. I understand that one of those people then returned the charger and then bought the model I have, but that still isnt working so Amazon have agreed to send him a new kindle. The other person has now had success with buying the Digitor model I recommended. I feel sorry for the first guy - he has wasted a good week buying three different adaptors now; none of them charging the kindle, and now having to send his back and get a replacement one. If the charger had been sent in the first place then he would have known within a day there was a problem. Let alone the expensive OS phone call to Customer service AND return postage.

11-01-2009, 08:07 AM	#58
allenlux Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bofferdange, Luxembourg Device: Kindle 2 International	You are right, they are not identical - in fact they are a slightly different shape - but their specification on the label is identical in that they both say TomTom, 5.0V 1.0A (this from memory), and they are both sold by TomTom for use with the TomTom GPS range. When I get home next week I plan to do 3 things: - check that one of the TomTom chargers actually does successfully charge the KIndle - post photos of the 2 TomTom chargers - if possible, measure the actual resistance between the 2 data pins in the 2 chargers (and compare it with the Amazon charger).

Advert

Advert