SUGGESTION BOX - Feedback Thread

[awsum140]

According to a quick Google of USB port capacity on a PC, the max is 500-900 ma depending on the version. A multi-port adapter would certainly work if plugged into a PC, but if multiple batteries were being charged at the same time, especially a PCC and a few X2s, things would really slow down. The capacity of the 5 volt bus in a PC is well into the 10s of amps, so it is a limitation of the USB specifications, not the power supply. A multi-port charger would be best with it's own power supply just to maintain speed of charge, at least in my mind (what there is of it).

 

[Konstantine]

Small detail.
500mAh is not on a single port. It's the entire USB ports capacity, if you draw 250mAh's on one port you will have another 250mAh's available.
900mAh is uncommon.

 

[awsum140]

Exactly, a PC USB port can supply 500-900 ma depending on the version, USB 1, 2, or 3. If a multi-port device is plugged into it, the total supplied current is limited to under 1 amp. That would seem to indicate you could theoreticaly charge up to six 78mm batteries at a time. From my own experience with battery chargers, admittedly a little dated with niCAD and gel cells, you do want to have a fair amount of "head room", both voltage and current capacity being higher than demand, just to keep things moving along at the expected charge rate/time. My rule of thumb when I was fooling with chargers was to have at least 50% more current capacity than the expected maximum just to insure that charge time was short, capacity wasn't exceeded and the charger could just "loaf" along under the load. Then again, I'm sort of a "Clark Griswald" and tend to overdo things once in a while.

 

[Konstantine]

If you have a power supply on the limits especially on the summer prepare to fry it

 

[mudhill]

i will never plug a usb charger with a vapor battery in to my lap top again.

about 2 months ago i plug a vapor battery from 3dom in to the left side of my puter and shorted a double stacked usb port out .

the computer repair shop told me it would probobly cost about $400.00 to replace them if they are connected to the mother board and it would be cheaper to get a usb hub,so right now i only have one usb port that i hook my mouse in to.

never will i use my computer to charge a battery or use a pass thru on it again.

i will only use wall chargers from now on.

Larry

 

[Konstantine]

If you could change the reg/psu controller yourself it would cost around 5-10$ but anyway, you all have to be carefull.

 

[mudhill]

If you could change the reg/psu controller yourself it would cost around 5-10$ but anyway, you all have to be carefull.

this just went over my head (LOL)

i am almost 67 yrs. old and this is the first computer i have ever owned,,i have had it since mar. 12,,my daughter gave it to me and she lives in another state.

i have been teaching my self how to use it,if i had not had a webtv set up it would have been harder to learn the little that i know about it.

the woman across the road keeps telling me she will help me,but she is always busy when she is sober(LOL)

Larry

 

[awsum140]

I have a fair amount of experience with electronics, circuit board repair and soldering. I don't think I'd try replacing the USB ports/regulator involved in a laptop, just because they're such a paind to dis-assemble to get to them. Without a controlled temp soldering iron, decent solder vacuum and a LARGE magnafying glass it would be a real pain, and even with them it would be a tedious job.

What seems to have happened is the overcurrent drawn by a discharged battery, internal battery resistance at a very low point, was just too much for the physical connections of the port or too much for the regulator to handle or both at the same time. When I said a 5 volt buss is rated in the 10s of amps, that is in a desktop PC with a substantial power supply. A laptop, simply by virtue of its small size, can't put out as much current as a desktop. It still can put out enough to "fry" components or itself though. You're making me think about not using my laptop to charge things though, the desktop is much easier to repair and a wall transformer is easy to replace!

 

[Konstantine]

Desktops get burned too, by design all the PSU regs on the usb subsystem do not handle large currents. But that's OK as long as you stay on a safe level.

Repair is easy only if you have tools and some knowledge. I do it constantly on various devices i have and of my friends too.

 

[awsum140]

I'll keep you in mind if my laptop goes pooof!

 

[paddymx]

man, happy I saw this post! Luckily I have only charged my 78mm's on my laptop. But this raises a question. If I am reading these correctly, wouldn't a X2 1300mah put a strain on a laptop?

 

[Konstantine]

wouldn't a X2 1300mah put a strain on a laptop?

Good question.

X2's have the advantage by having a "smarter" (wax on wax off) power supply. They are not actually passthroughs byt they keep constantly charging or trickle charging the main battery, when you vape charging stops, you vape from the battery and then charging resumes when you stop vaping. As long as the battery has full capacity and you have it connected to your laptop you won't have a problem cause the current requirements from the battery are low.

If you have an EMPTY battery it would be better to use a wall adapter cause empty batteries tend to draw a lot of current (almost as much as the bat capacity) and would not suggest using a PC.

 

[paddymx]

...

If you have an EMPTY battery it would be better to use a wall adapter cause empty batteries tend to draw a lot of current (almost as much as the bat capacity) and would not suggest using a PC.

Thanks..Better safe than sorry!

 

[Imagine]

just don't wind up like this lol

 

[Konstantine]

just don't wind up like this lol

No but you can get a complete PC with HDMI and USB lan etc in the size of a cigarette pack for 25$ FAQs | Raspberry Pi

 

[awsum140]

But how big a magnifying glass does it come with so you can read the screen?

 

[awsum140]

If you have a power supply on the limits especially on the summer prepare to fry it

Based on the theory that everything electrical or electronic actually runs on smoke and as long as the smoke is contained everything is fine, that's called "letting the smoke out"

 

[Konstantine]

But how big a magnifying glass does it come with so you can read the screen?

It connects to a TV or monitor.

 

[three_sixteen]

Can someone at SI please get on inventing quantum teleportation?

Waiting for packages is so 19th century!

 

[mudhill]

whats the rush ?
when you get it you will just want some thing else.

and you will be waiting and waiting and waiting.
it will never end (LOL)