charging batts with computer

Status
Not open for further replies.

oldsoldier

Retired ECF Forum Manager
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 17, 2010
12,503
8,000
Lurking in the shadows
www.reboot-n.com
Using your computer usb ports for charging or a passthrough is a bad idea because if the protection circuitry fails you can "fry" the motherboard of your computer. Better -- use a powered usb hub (plugs into the wall), Best-- use a wall wart or usb power supply that plugs into your wall socket.

Using the usb charger in your car is fine, the usb power ports in cars are made for cellphone chargers and other accessories. Some cars wont have the amperage required to run a passthrough well, so check your owners manual for the specifications.
 

dormouse

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Oct 31, 2010
12,347
1,611
Pennsylvania
Charging single batteries off motherboard USB ports only is doable by but I don't. I don't trust the supply to be as stable w/ reboots etc. and some have damaged their equipment by getting a static shock on their computer.

Re passthroughs - theoretically the ones with a real inline battery are just charging the battery while you vape it and could be used on a PC motherboard USB, but again I would not. Passthroughs with no real battery (the ones you cannot unplug and walk around with) - no way - these do not get used on PC USB nor and any battery charger - these need a USB to AC that puts out 5v and 2amp (2000mA) and if you are going to put something very LR on them, then you need 3mA (3000mA) of power for them.

I use multiport USB to AC adapters that have 2000mA total available (5v 500mA available per USB port) and I charge various combinations of batteries on them. If I was going to use a passthrough on it, I would remove all of the batteries.
 

subliminalurge

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Dec 30, 2011
139
64
Quad Cities
Here's the real scoop...

A standard USB port on a computer can supply up to 500 mA. As long as your batter charger lists an output less than that, you'll "probably" be ok plugging it into the computer.

It's still a bad idea, and here's why:

These chargers are all designed by the cheapest engineer that could be found, produced in the cheapest factory that could be found, with the cheapest materials that could be found, etc... See where this is going?

If something does happen to go wrong with it, do you want it to fry the motherboard in your $500 computer or fry the 4 dollar wall wart that you could have used with it?

USB ports in computers are meant for transferring data. They weren't designed to be bulletproof power receptacles. Some high end computers have protection circuitry built into the ports that would prevent damage if an accessory went bad, but those computers aren't exactly sold at best buy.

It costs like five bucks to play it safe. Just play it safe.

Having said all that, I typed all that while my KGO charger was plugged into the USB port on my laptop. It's like car insurance. If you really want to play the odds, then the odds are that you can drive without insurance for many years with no problems. But when you do finally have a problem, good luck finding a single soul that has even a tiny bit of sympathy for you.
 
Last edited:

PaporPlas

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Dec 27, 2011
656
399
Los Angeles
Does this also apply to the powered usb hubs you can buy that plug into a wall outlet wouldn't that have its own power supply and not hurt the pc

No. That is a separate power source, it is not using your computer's power source, but still...I would't do it...better to be safe...why risk it. If you can plug in that usb hub, then you have an outlet there near by. Stuff happens....if for some reason the PV charging plug decides to short out or overload it could feed back into all the circuits, and if that usb hub has a usb cable plugged into your computer.... : /
 

Murdock Ruml

Supplier's Manufacturer - Offline
ECF Veteran
Jun 19, 2010
3,703
5,972
Alaska
once again !! the "u" means standardized,,,amperage is a constant,,ohm rating is a constant also

But standardized starts with an S.

Eitherway they are not all stanardized and can have different amperage. I have USB wall charger that I got with one of my 510s that I decided to plug my iPod into because I left my normal apple one at work. While it did charge my iPod it also made the touch screen inoperable while it was pluged in. Needles to say I will not be doing that again. My point Is, if they were all stamdarized then this would never of happened.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread