PSP Adapter: 5V, Reader DC IN: 5.2V?

Max Introvert · 09-15-2009, 07:03 PM

Perhaps an EE could set me straight on this, but the widespread recommendation of using a PSP adapter to charge the reader has me thinking. The Reader specifies 5.2V for DC, and the PSP adapter only supplies 5V, ostensibly meaning 5.0V.

I have had some small EE training in my education, and I'm aware that a specified voltage has a tolerance, which usually works out to +/- 10%. Granted, the two voltages above are well within that particular tolerance of each other, but I'm still wondering WHY the Reader is specified for 5.2V as opposed to the bog-standard 5.0V. I seriously doubt Sony did it just for the sake of being able to sell another adapter.

Any thoughts?

Seventh Son · 09-16-2009, 12:23 AM

No thoughts. Tried the PSP adapter and it works beautifully

Justice Strike · 09-16-2009, 03:53 AM

got a sony minidisc adapter which is 6 volts. Works perfectly!

jwhayn · 09-16-2009, 09:15 AM

There should be no problem at all

JSWolf · 09-16-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justice Strike

got a sony minidisc adapter which is 6 volts. Works perfectly!

Don't use it. You are risking your Reader. The voltage is too high to be safe.

Grandma Aubbie · 09-16-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Introvert

Perhaps an EE could set me straight on this, but the widespread recommendation of using a PSP adapter to charge the reader has me thinking. The Reader specifies 5.2V for DC, and the PSP adapter only supplies 5V, ostensibly meaning 5.0V.

I have had some small EE training in my education, and I'm aware that a specified voltage has a tolerance, which usually works out to +/- 10%. Granted, the two voltages above are well within that particular tolerance of each other, but I'm still wondering WHY the Reader is specified for 5.2V as opposed to the bog-standard 5.0V. I seriously doubt Sony did it just for the sake of being able to sell another adapter.

Any thoughts?

SonyStyle is selling the PSP505 adapter as an "accessory" to the 600. They do not have a different adaptor for the 600.

bsg75 · 09-16-2009, 05:38 PM

5.0V power supplies don't provide exactly 5.0V, there is variation. 4.8V to 5.2V would be a typical guaranteed range. They just specified the upper limit in this case because a too low voltage wouldn't cause a catastrophe whereas say 6V could cause damage.

Anyway I'd stick to USB charging. It's slower and that's usually better for the battery in the long run.

JSWolf · 09-16-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsg75

5.0V power supplies don't provide exactly 5.0V, there is variation. 4.8V to 5.2V would be a typical guaranteed range. They just specified the upper limit in this case because a too low voltage wouldn't cause a catastrophe whereas say 6V could cause damage.

Anyway I'd stick to USB charging. It's slower and that's usually better for the battery in the long run.

Why would USB charging be better?

vrf3 · 11-06-2009, 02:23 AM

I know this thread has been inactive for months but hopefully bsg75 or somebody would answer the question about usb charging. I've been charging my reader via usb but since I recently came across the suggestion of using the PSP charger to charge it, I came across this thread, so is there really an advantage to just charging the reader via usb? or any device for that matter, is slower charging really better for the batteries? thanks!

MSJim · 11-06-2009, 08:53 AM

The only advantage I see to USB charging vs. the DC in port would be a potentially lower charge rate resulting in less heating of the battery as it charges - thus extending the battery life. However, IMHO the charge rate from DC charging is not likely to result in overheated batteries. The Sony DC charger supplies 2000mA, and I don't think they would sell a charger that would damage their hardware.
I'll also point out that not all USB ports have the same potential current output. Some PC/laptop have ports that will supply up to 2000mA specifically for charging devices. The normal USB only supplies 100mA.
In addition to faster charging via the DC port, some posters report what they feel is a more complete, longer lasting, charge. I have not tried to verify this for myself.
I have found that, for my usage, the brief time I have my reader connected to the USB cable for file transfer/management, is sufficient to keep the battery topped up.

wbo · 11-08-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandma Aubbie

SonyStyle is selling the PSP505 adapter as an "accessory" to the 600. They do not have a different adapter for the 600.

Actually Sony does have a AC adapter that is specifically for the Sony Readers which is different from the PSP adapter. I purchased it from BestBuy when I got my PRS-600. The part number for the reader adapter is AC-S5220E and it outputs 5.2 volts at 2000mA.

I also have a 3rd generation PSP charger which is part number PSP-380. That adapter supplies 5 volts at 1500mA. Both adapters work fine to charge my PRS-600 but it does charge a bit faster when using the "official" Sony reader adapter which makes sense because it supplies 2000mA of current instead of 1500mA.

Yoshi 1080 · 11-08-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSJim

The only advantage I see to USB charging vs. the DC in port would be a potentially lower charge rate resulting in less heating of the battery as it charges - thus extending the battery life.

For me USB charging has only one advantage, too, but that is enough to let me stick to it with every new gadget I buy: I only need one power adapter. No matter if iPhone, iPod, video camera or anything else that's released in the last couple years, I can charge everything with the same power adapter. At home I usually charge everything on my Mac but on vacation this becomes extremely handy.

I'd even go so far as to say that a lack of USB charging would be enough for me not to go with a specific device and instead buy a competing product that supports it.

JSWolf · 11-08-2009, 12:31 PM

We already had a USB wall wart (USB AC outlet charger) and I bought the following to go with it for only $5.99 (including shipping).

http://www.meritline.com/5-in-1-usb-...--p-28335.aspx

I use it for charging Sony Readers using the PSP plug, the mini USB plug charges the GPS, the DS Lite plug charges the DS Lite, and the iPod plug charges the iPods.

Very handy cable for a variety of things to be charged.

Plus, you could buy the following wall wart to go with the cable for only $2.49 for a grand total of $8.48.

http://www.meritline.com/apple-iphon...--p-31362.aspx

vrf3 · 11-13-2009, 01:20 AM

Thank you MSJim for the reply. I think I will stick to charging via USB coz like you said the eReader usually gets fully charged during the time I plug it to my PC. My recent problem is that I've filled up the 190mb of my 505 (I consider it my library and can't delete my favorites) and have had to use a memory stick which drains the battery so much faster.

09-15-2009, 07:03 PM	#1
Max Introvert Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2007 Device: Sony PRS-T1	PSP Adapter: 5V, Reader DC IN: 5.2V? Perhaps an EE could set me straight on this, but the widespread recommendation of using a PSP adapter to charge the reader has me thinking. The Reader specifies 5.2V for DC, and the PSP adapter only supplies 5V, ostensibly meaning 5.0V. I have had some small EE training in my education, and I'm aware that a specified voltage has a tolerance, which usually works out to +/- 10%. Granted, the two voltages above are well within that particular tolerance of each other, but I'm still wondering WHY the Reader is specified for 5.2V as opposed to the bog-standard 5.0V. I seriously doubt Sony did it just for the sake of being able to sell another adapter. Any thoughts?

09-16-2009, 09:15 AM	#4
jwhayn Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 2685 Join Date: Aug 2004 Device: Kindle Voyage	5V is well within the tolerance range There should be no problem at all

11-08-2009, 12:31 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	We already had a USB wall wart (USB AC outlet charger) and I bought the following to go with it for only $5.99 (including shipping). http://www.meritline.com/5-in-1-usb-...--p-28335.aspx I use it for charging Sony Readers using the PSP plug, the mini USB plug charges the GPS, the DS Lite plug charges the DS Lite, and the iPod plug charges the iPods. Very handy cable for a variety of things to be charged. Plus, you could buy the following wall wart to go with the cable for only $2.49 for a grand total of $8.48. http://www.meritline.com/apple-iphon...--p-31362.aspx Last edited by JSWolf; 11-08-2009 at 12:37 PM.

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09-16-2009, 12:23 AM	#2
Seventh Son lurker Posts: 123 Karma: 356 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: EU Device: I should probably stop	No thoughts. Tried the PSP adapter and it works beautifully

09-16-2009, 03:53 AM	#3
Justice Strike Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: psr600	got a sony minidisc adapter which is 6 volts. Works perfectly!

09-16-2009, 05:38 PM	#7
bsg75 Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle 2, PRS-600 (?)	5.0V power supplies don't provide exactly 5.0V, there is variation. 4.8V to 5.2V would be a typical guaranteed range. They just specified the upper limit in this case because a too low voltage wouldn't cause a catastrophe whereas say 6V could cause damage. Anyway I'd stick to USB charging. It's slower and that's usually better for the battery in the long run.

11-06-2009, 02:23 AM	#9
vrf3 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	I know this thread has been inactive for months but hopefully bsg75 or somebody would answer the question about usb charging. I've been charging my reader via usb but since I recently came across the suggestion of using the PSP charger to charge it, I came across this thread, so is there really an advantage to just charging the reader via usb? or any device for that matter, is slower charging really better for the batteries? thanks!

11-06-2009, 08:53 AM	#10
MSJim Bookworm Posts: 104 Karma: 26 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Georgia, USA Device: PRS-600, Nook STR	The only advantage I see to USB charging vs. the DC in port would be a potentially lower charge rate resulting in less heating of the battery as it charges - thus extending the battery life. However, IMHO the charge rate from DC charging is not likely to result in overheated batteries. The Sony DC charger supplies 2000mA, and I don't think they would sell a charger that would damage their hardware. I'll also point out that not all USB ports have the same potential current output. Some PC/laptop have ports that will supply up to 2000mA specifically for charging devices. The normal USB only supplies 100mA. In addition to faster charging via the DC port, some posters report what they feel is a more complete, longer lasting, charge. I have not tried to verify this for myself. I have found that, for my usage, the brief time I have my reader connected to the USB cable for file transfer/management, is sufficient to keep the battery topped up.

11-13-2009, 01:20 AM	#14
vrf3 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Thank you MSJim for the reply. I think I will stick to charging via USB coz like you said the eReader usually gets fully charged during the time I plug it to my PC. My recent problem is that I've filled up the 190mb of my 505 (I consider it my library and can't delete my favorites) and have had to use a memory stick which drains the battery so much faster.

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