Charging Via A High-Power Usb Port.

anotheoldgit | 13:09 Wed 06th Mar 2013 | Technology

9 Answers

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?

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Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Mobile

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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

Question Author

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

Question Author

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.