USB Charger dies

[Davo]

I'm curious if anyone else has had similar issues. In the last month I've had both my USB chargers go out in a wiff of smoke (just that electronic circuitry smell actually). The first one was over a year old so I can't say too much other than it was a good friend. But this latest one I bought from a Vaper that gave up and it hasn't been used that much in comparison. Both failed similarly, a little component in the piece where the battery screws in burns out. Same computer and same port as ever.

 

[curiousJan]

I lost one a couple of months ago ... right after both the 12V ports in my truck failed (first one one day, second one the next). I'm a little afraid to use the remaining usb charger even on my hub because if it was a failure in the charger that started the failure cascade of the 12V ports (not the controlling fuse, I already checked) I don't want to lose my usb hub to the same fate. I ordered an extra wall charger to replace them.

Jan

 

[markfm]

The $10 Walmart 2A iQ-Power Dual USB AC Power Adapter seems pretty solid, I've been using one at work for PT and cell phone charger, another one at home for PV battery chargers. Much happier to lose a $10 wall wart than a PC, if the USB-808 piece goes bad.

 

[Davo]

I lost one a couple of months ago ... right after both the 12V ports in my truck failed (first one one day, second one the next). I'm a little afraid to use the remaining usb charger even on my hub because if it was a failure in the charger that started the failure cascade of the 12V ports (not the controlling fuse, I already checked) I don't want to lose my usb hub to the same fate. I ordered an extra wall charger to replace them.

Jan

Snap, were those the USB style 12V ports and were you able to fix them or are they toast? The USB ports on the PC here are still going, but definitely a direct short like we've experienced isn't good.

 

[curiousJan]

Snap, were those the USB style 12V ports and were you able to fix them or are they toast? The USB ports on the PC here are still going, but definitely a direct short like we've experienced isn't good.

No, I was using the 12V-to-usb adapter from V4L. I haven't had time to fully diagnose the problems with the ports in the truck, yet, so I don't know if they're fixable. I only checked the fuse and know that it's good.

Yes, electrical shorts are definitely not good. I wonder what effect it had on my batteries as they all started to flake at around that same time. There were some that were 6 months old, though, so I just replaced them and changed my charging habits. That's the other reason I'm not using my remaining usb charger any more ... if the failed one did have anything to do with it, I don't have the funds to keep replacing my batteries!

Jan

 

[Davo]

No, I was using the 12V-to-usb adapter from V4L. I haven't had time to fully diagnose the problems with the ports in the truck, yet, so I don't know if they're fixable. I only checked the fuse and know that it's good.

Yes, electrical shorts are definitely not good. I wonder what effect it had on my batteries as they all started to flake at around that same time. There were some that were 6 months old, though, so I just replaced them and changed my charging habits. That's the other reason I'm not using my remaining usb charger any more ... if the failed one did have anything to do with it, I don't have the funds to keep replacing my batteries!

Jan

Interesting, I'm wondering now if perhaps it's the batteries that are causing the USB charger to fail. All my batts are over 6 months old and there are some older than that (which are about pooped out), sooooo they could be drawing excessive current while charging and exceeding the capabilities of the USB charger... hmmm! Something to ponder, who knows.