Cell Phone Chargesr

[HyOnLyph]

Greetings, I've run a search and can't seem to find info on this.
I happen to have a bunch of old cell phone wall chargers. 5v. output or some read 1.5v to 7.5 v output.

I also have a few USB cable extensions male to female.

Just curious... can I splice the female end to the cell phone charger and use it with my usb e-cig charger to charge my e-cigs?

I realize I can buy a AC to USB adapter for $1-$4 on eBay (free shipping) but I'm funny that way... I like to McGuyver stuff if I have it laying around.
(Swiss army knife and duct tape are my friends)
Hy.

 

[Brad-c]

i have seen a thread here some where that cell chargers can be used... if i come across it i will post the link here... i think the guy said as long as the charger is a 5v output @ 2 amp..i might be wrong

 

[duby]

I'm a bit confused.
Are you trying to take a cell phone charger and modify it so that it functions as a AC to USB adapter for you USB Charger? So basically you want to make a USb wall wart out of a cellphone charger?
Thats easily possible and won't require a 2amp current rating.

Look at the back of your USB charger. Read the required input info. Its probably going to be 5v @500ma or similar.
Look at the back of your phone chargers. Find one whose out put matches or is close.
Take your multimeter. Test the Phone charger and make sure it has a relatively stable out put. Some of these are very inconsistent or they could have been damaged.

Once you've found a suitable charger splice, solder the appropriate leads, heat shrink, and you should be fine.

Now if you want to use a device like this for a USB passthrough, then you will need to be more strict on your requirements. 2amp rating is going to be required and very few cell chargers are going to put out more than 500ma.


Lastly, I should take a moment to say that there is always a risk when attempting to use something in a manner it was not intended for.

 

[HyOnLyph]

Thanks for the input.

Yes, I'm trying to make a cell phone charger into an AC to USB adapter.

For me, the benefit of using a cell phone charger is the long cord. All of the usb wall chargers either hang on the plug or stick out. Basically it means the e-cig has to hang from the wall plug. If I have one. Of course I guess that's why God invented extension cords isn't it. (He did invent them didn't he?)....

I've seen the wall AC to usb adapters run anywhere from $0.99 on eBay (free shipping) to $29.95 at Radio Shack or the local cellphone store. Do you know if there is any difference?

 

[WillieB69]

Now if you want to use a device like this for a USB passthrough, then you will need to be more strict on your requirements. 2amp rating is going to be required and very few cell chargers are going to put out more than 500ma.

Well.... shoot.

What about a 3.7V plugin? I've got several that are at 350mA.

 

[WillyB]

.... Thats easily possible and won't require a 2amp current rating.

Now if you want to use a device like this for a USB passthrough, then you will need to be more strict on your requirements. 2amp rating is going to be required and very few cell chargers are going to put out more than 500ma.

Well in general these aren't 'chargers', they are just power supplies. The phones them selves have the charging circuit.

A "2amp rating" with a Joye 510 will only get you about 4.2V, even if you plug what many vendors disingenuously call a '5V PT" into it.