Charging Via A High-Power Usb Port.

[anotheoldgit]

I own a MP4 player which needs charging via a high power USB port on my computer.

When I plug it into the USB port on my computer it comes up with the message to plug it into a high power one.

Where can one of these be found on a computer?

[Buenchico]

>>>Where can one of these be found on a computer?

Probably nowhere. All USB ports provide a 5V DC supply but those on a computer generally offer only a very limited current capacity.

You probably need to buy a mains-powered charger. Plenty of places sell them quite cheaply, but with the majority of those on sale providing a 1 Amp supply. In view of your problem however, you should probably look out for one rated at at least 2A. (They're often sold as iPad chargers).

[rojash]

If your computer is capable of supplying a higher power. The high power ports will be on the back. On many machines they are red instead of black.
Asus offer a small piece of FREE software that they claims works on any modern motherboard to boost the power available.

http://event.asus.com/mb/2010/ai_charger/

[rojash]

...just to add: I use this software on my non-Asus PC and it allows me to charge my Blackberry Playbook from the front ports. This wasn't possible before I installed the software.

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you for those answers

Buenchico

Would it hurt to push 2 amps into my device, not knowing anything about it's specification etc?




rojash

Not sure I like the idea of installing something on the motherboard of my computer which is now quite a few years old, but thanks anyway.

[Buenchico]

>>>Would it hurt to push 2 amps into my device

Electrical appliances only 'pull' the current they require, AOG; it's not 'pushed' into them. For example, a table lamp might need about a quarter of an Amp. When you plug it into a mains socket (capable of supplying around 13A) it still only 'draws' a quarter of an Amp, it doesn't get 13A pushed into it.

Plugging low-current devices into a high-current supply is always acceptable; it's doing it the other way round which is likely to cause problems!

[anotheoldgit]

Buenchico

Thank you for that exclamation, can I question you further, does that mean that with one of those main adapters that have a variety of low voltage outlets, it wouldn't matter setting it at say 6volts and plugging it into a 3 volt device?

Or are these 240 volt multi transformer devices, the kind needed to run battery operated devices such as radios etc, a different kettle of fish altogether?

[rojash]

"Not sure I like the idea of installing something on the motherboard of my computer"
You don't install anything on the motherboard of your computer. You simply install a small piece of software, which is produced by one of the world's largest motherboard manufacturers.

[Buenchico]

>>>it wouldn't matter setting it at say 6volts and plugging it into a 3 volt device?

Potential difference ('voltage') isn't the same thing as current. Connecting a 3V device to a 6V supply would probably cause it to fail instantly.

[sandyRoe]

http://direct.asda.com/Dual-USB-Universal-Mains-Travel-Adaptor/000501984,default,pd.html
Would something similar to this do?