Article: Please don't charge your Z10 with old BlackBerry chargers..

Originally Posted by spiraleze

Many people charge thier phone using the computer and unless I am wrong, that output is typically about 500 ma/h. This is even lower than my 'older' blackberry chargers which are rated at output 700 ma/h.

Terminology:

• A: Amp - measure of current.
• mA: milliamp - measure of current. One thousandth of an amp.
• mAh - measure of power output over time, specifically the number of milliamps that a power storage device (typically battery) will provide for one hour.

In short: mAh does not apply to chargers, only batteries, as chargers will theoretically continue to provide their rated power output forever as long as they have input power.

Originally Posted by pepe68

As for the OEM BB chargers with OEM BB USB cables, anyone will do. However, here comes the confusion: If any of the chargers are less than 750mAH, it will take longer to charge, period! It will work!

Not necessarily. The USB standard includes a protocol for a USB device to communicate to (actually "negotiate" with) a USB host its power requirements. If one of the two following events occurs, a compliant USB host is supposed to shut down its power output on that port to prevent current draw beyond the capacity of the individual port, or beyond the capacity of all currently connected ports:

1. Device communicates with host that it requires power in excess of 500mA, or beyond the total capacity of the host, considering all other currently-connected ports.
2. Device attempts to draw power in excess of 500mA, or beyond the total capacity of the host, considering all other currently-connected ports.

The 500mA figure applies to all USB ports prior to USB 3.0. In the case of USB 3.0, the maximum power-output per-port is 900 mA. If a port does not have any data communication function, the limits can be higher.

In short: it's possible that if a device with a high power requirement is plugged into a power-source or port which cannot supply its required current, the port or charger will either reduce its voltage to stay within its own current limit, or completely shut off power to the connected device.

I have a feeling that many inexpensive USB chargers do not bother to include any of the USB power-negotiation features, so strange things could happen. In addition, poor-quality chargers may have poor voltage regulation, fail to meet their claimed voltage/power specifications, various other things. All of those things can affect charging.

Also, chargers are not necessarily "dumb" sources of electricity. They may in fact have several different modes, such as trickle-charging, that are activated depending on how the load is behaving at the time.

Originally Posted by cwoodffr

Electricity is electricity! Amperage and voltage are the elements in play here. USB is all the same voltage as that is the standard (5.1 I believe). Amperage is the rate or throughput and this is what varies on a USB charger. There is nothing exotic here. Lower amperage charges slower, higher amperage charges faster. The circuitry in the charger or phone is what ensures you don't blow the lid.

Not in all cases, as stated above.

FWIW: USB voltage is 5.0 volts nominal, at full power output the rated tolerance is +/- 5%: ie from 4.75v to 5.25 v.

You are correct that there are typically current limiting devices in both the charger and the charged device.

Universal Serial Bus [Section: Power] - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by Neely2005

The Bold 9700 Charger is 700 mAh Not 750 mAh.

I was using my 9700 charger overnight but now I'll use the PlayBook charger or the Z10 charger. I'm not a big fan of the Z10 charger though.

The charger that came with my 9700 is 750mAh, same as the one that came with my Z10.

I take it using an Apple USB charger Cube (iPhone/ iPod Touch) would be fine. Output: 5V - 1A
The reason I ask is because, I have a couple of these laying around.

Originally Posted by CacheBerry

I take it using an Apple USB charger Cube (iPhone/ iPod Touch) would be fine. Output: 5V - 1A
The reason I ask is because, I have a couple of these laying around.

Should be fine.

One big reason you see so many devices today using MicroUSB ports for charging is because people finally got so fed up with all the incompatible device chargers that often ended up in landfill that some places (ie Europe) enacted legislation requiring companies make certain devices (ie cellphones, not sure of the exact details) all compatible with a standard plug and charger design.

So by definition, devices that comply with that standard should be broadly compatible with most chargers that also meet that standard. Whether any particular charger is "optimal" for a particular device is another matter.

As is often the case with governmental standards, I can't find any way to get the actual standard without paying a bunch of money to some governmental body. :mad:

But the documents below give an outline - the top one in particular is the only one that quickly summarizes the main electrical characteristics, which include a power-output range from 500mA to 1500mA. The standard itself (which you can get a feel for by looking at the "memorandum of understanding" which preceded the actual standard (document 2 below), is quite detailed and should ensure that compliant devices are of good quality. (I wish I knew if there was some sort of logo that one could look for to determine compliancy with the standard but I don't feel like spending any more time digging up info on this)

Apple managed to weasel out of putting a MicroUSB port on their devices by throwing an adapter in the box. Sorta defeats the purpose but that's Apple for ya.

EU standards for common mobile phone charger � Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog
MOU regarding the harmonisation of a charging capability for mobile phones (PDF)
Common External Power Supply - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I purchased a Blackberry Z10 in March 2013. Last week I was charging it with the supplied charger and as I purchased it from overseas (I live in Australia) it came with an adapter. Shortly after charging commenced I noticed a strange smell and saw that the reart cover had started to melt. I turned the charger off and removed it from the phone. When I opened up the reart cover and took the battery out I saw a small amount of fluid which I believe came from the battery. I've just looked at the setting on the charger and it says 750 ma but the adapter has nothing on it. After I had removed the charger from the wall socket I touched the metal tip and burnt my finger. I can't charge the phone or start it up at all now and I'm wondering if the battery and the phone have been cooked as a result. The supplier is now saying that the charger may not be covered by warranty!!! Any thoughts on what may have happened and is it just the battery that has been cooked or the phone as well?:mad:

Originally Posted by waynef1

I purchased a Blackberry Z10 in March 2013. Last week I was charging it with the supplied charger and as I purchased it from overseas (I live in Australia) it came with an adapter. Shortly after charging commenced I noticed a strange smell and saw that the reart cover had started to melt. I turned the charger off and removed it from the phone. When I opened up the reart cover and took the battery out I saw a small amount of fluid which I believe came from the battery. I've just looked at the setting on the charger and it says 750 ma but the adapter has nothing on it. After I had removed the charger from the wall socket I touched the metal tip and burnt my finger. I can't charge the phone or start it up at all now and I'm wondering if the battery and the phone have been cooked as a result. The supplier is now saying that the charger may not be covered by warranty!!! Any thoughts on what may have happened and is it just the battery that has been cooked or the phone as well?:mad:

I guess you bought a bad charger?

The charger was the supplied one that came with the phone, but I really would like to know thoughts as to whether it would just be the battery that has gone. If it is just the battery I'll buy a new one, but if its likely that the phone is damaged as well I won't bother getting the battery, I'll take it up with the supplier.

Z10 Rocking 10.1.0.2354!

When you say "bought overseas" and "came with an adapter" I assume you mean you bought it from a "grey market dealer", and since it presumably came from a country with a different voltage, they supplied some sort of plug adapter or voltage adapter with it that was not standard equipment inside the Blackberry box?

Because that could certainly have been one explanation.

Another one is that if you bought it from some unscrupulous reseller, they could have replaced the standard equipment with cheaper junk quality parts, like a low-quality 3rd-party battery or charger.

Even if those items say "Blackberry" on them, there are a lot of fake parts out there.

Originally Posted by Omnitech

When you say "bought overseas" and "came with an adapter" I assume you mean you bought it from a "grey market dealer", and since it presumably came from a country with a different voltage, they supplied some sort of plug adapter or voltage adapter with it that was not standard equipment inside the Blackberry box?

Because that could certainly have been one explanation.

Another one is that if you bought it from some unscrupulous reseller, they could have replaced the standard equipment with cheaper junk quality parts, like a low-quality 3rd-party battery or charger.

Even if those items say "Blackberry" on them, there are a lot of fake parts out there.

I'm hearing you, even though they put themselves up as 'reputable', they may not be? I guess that's why they sell the items at a lower price?

I charge my z10 with my old 9900 charger... (looks exactly like the z10 charger) and haven't had any problems. I also charge my z10 with a Samsung travel charger that charges at only 700 mah and no problems there either.


Maybe I'm lucky that way :p

Posted via CB10

Assuming things works to spec, you can use any USB charger 5V is then only vital spec. The phone will draw the current it needs, wants - up to 500mA from a PC, 750mA from the supplied charger and at Mist around 1A from the PlayBook charger (which can supply up to 2A).

In theory there is no difference between official and third party chargers - if they are in spec.

One downside of "faster" charges is that it wears out the battery more, whether you notice it though is another debate.

Coming back to the issue of voltage that J saw mentioned:
Normally all chargers are built for 120V and 250V - so that should not cause any problems.
Normally, excessive voltage should break the charger only and not any attached devices - at least in theory...


Personally, I would say if anything goes wrong with the power supply, take it up with the supplier or manufacturer - I would assume a defect (baring any personal modifications) and under that assumption it is a warranty case.
In Europe you have a two year warranty by law - even when countries like the UK try to tell you otherwise.

Posted via CB10

I have not had any issues and I have used several type of chargers from car (convert able to a travel charger with plug in adaptor) to the charger that came with my Lenovo tablet which is a 2 amp charger. Bad battery maybe?

Posted via CB10

I charge mine way more than I would like to with any micro usb charger present.

Posted via CB10

Originally Posted by waynef1

The charger was the supplied one that came with the phone, but I really would like to know thoughts as to whether it would just be the battery that has gone. If it is just the battery I'll buy a new one, but if its likely that the phone is damaged as well I won't bother getting the battery, I'll take it up with the supplier.

If the battery is leaking a liquid, then the battery is gone.

If the phone was purchased through an Australian supplier, then the charger has a 6 month warranty on it. If it was purchased from an Overseas supplier, then you would have to deal with their warranty, as the Asutralian Consumer Law will not come into play.

You can always try buying a new battery and charger (maybe take the phone to you local Telco to see if it will fire up with their demo battery).

No, won't just charge slower. Will not charge as full. Needs more voltage & amperage from chargef & probably higher capacity connecting cable.
And, phone may be drawing most of charging power, so not much left to charge phone.

Originally Posted by Neely2005

I just use my PlayBook charger if I'm in a rush. If I'm charging overnight I use my Bold 9700 charger.

Didn't Thor make a joke about how BlackBerry 10 would continue to use micro USB chargers? (As a shot at Apple and their new Lightning chargers)




Posted via CB10

Yep I only use PlayBook chargers with all my phones. Why wait longer if you don't need to?

Originally Posted by tdaye

This was posted this morning here on Crackberry

PSA: Your BlackBerry 10 device may lose charge when connected to a non BlackBerry 10 charger | CrackBerry.com

Posted from my Z10.

PSA: The title of that article is very misleading. The device won't 'loose charge' because it is connected to a lower capacity charger, but because the heavy use is consuming more current than the charger can provide. The difference comes out of the battery.

Originally Posted by waynef1

I'm hearing you, even though they put themselves up as 'reputable', they may not be? I guess that's why they sell the items at a lower price?

Please don't tell me you bought it in Hong Kong or something. :cant-watch:

I'm pretty well convinced that this thread kicked a dead horse long enough that they had it running in the Kentucky Derby.

Posted via CB10

Sounds like a marketing scam to me. No harm in using low amperage chargers. The device will only draw what is required and if the charger can't produce, it simply runs at full tilt until it's done or disconnected. At worst, you might burn out your inadequate charger.

Posted via CB10

Originally Posted by va3hie

Sounds like a marketing scam to me. No harm in using low amperage chargers. The device will only draw what is required and if the charger can't produce, it simply runs at full tilt until it's done or disconnected. At worst, you might burn out your inadequate charger.

Not likely burn out the charger, though it's quite possible the device will never charge since in some cases the device's power draw is higher than the charger's power output.

hi
i am charged my z10 with 1000mA 5v 2A
is it harmful to my phone please tell me

FWIW, I have two Z10s. One I bought from T-Mo USA on the day they came out. This one came with a 750mA Charger. A few months ago I bought a second Z10 from Shop BBerry. The more recent phone came with an 850mA charger.

I also have several USB cables (did not come with BBerry( with tags that say "Data Transfer Only".

Originally Posted by ali04

hi
i am charged my z10 with 1000mA 5v 2A
is it harmful to my phone please tell me

Personally I would use the stock charger with the stock USB cable. I think the quality of the charger is the most crucial element as a cheap, after market charger, may not be out putting the stated charge. But, that's just me.