Anyone know of a good USB charger?

Lelusive on 29/11/2014 - 21:20

Does anyone know a good high-capacity (2A+) charger they would recommend? Not just rated capacity, but actually tested so it's real and works up to its rating.

Preferably a general/Android one, not the Apple-specific ones.

I find myself with an increasing number of high-current devices, but not enough chargers. Had a couple of Aldi ones rated for 2.1A, but they completely failed to deliver (~0.5A at best). So it's important that any new charger is (a) safe and trusted, and (b) capable of putting out a lot of power. Cheap would also be good, but I'd be willing to pay more for the first two.

For example, the Samsung one that came with my S4 is brilliant. It happily provides ~1.8A to every device I've thrown at it. But I can't find any on their online store (I'll have to drop by the physical one when I get a chance), and I'm not sure what other places will have the genuine item, not some shoddy fake.

Thanks!

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • PVA on 29/11/2014 - 21:33
    +2

    Try the Jackson brand ones. DSE sells them. (you can download the tech sheets from Jackson)
    The one I bought easily and quickly charges ipad, asus tablet, Xperia z and z3, iPhone, iPod.
    http://www.ji.com.au/products/PT1USB3A/

    • elusive on 29/11/2014 - 22:00
      +1

      So, this one? Heh, it looks identical to the 1A ones that OW sells - they could've changed the design just a little!

      Convenient that it's part of the Friday/weekend special - I'll buy it if there's no other suggestions by midnight.

      Thanks!

      • jzdhgkd on 30/11/2014 - 02:22
        +1

        I've got a couple of those. Just be warned the LED is RIDICULOUSLY bright. So much so that I have to put some masking tape over it otherwise I can't sleep with it on at night. Good otherwise.

      • PVA on 30/11/2014 - 15:19

        they have a fewthat physically look the same.
        strange, when I looked last night that model was on sale for $23 o DSE main page but when I clicked on it is came back with page not found. Now the page is up it's $39!!

        We have had the 1A ones for ages and the 3.1 for 6 months. All have been fine. And to be honest, would trust them more than a cheapie brand from ebay.
        And being DSE, take it back if its not suitable.

        • elusive on 30/11/2014 - 15:36

          Yea, the link from the search was broken (add to cart and then link from cart worked). And it looks like the $24 was a sale price until this morning.

          I'm just waiting for the delivery now (not in stock at local DSE).

        • PVA on 30/11/2014 - 16:15

          @elusive:
          checked the ones I thought were 1A, they are 2.1A, and 1 at 3.1A. Both charge anything quickly (except Playstation controllers)

    • elusive on 02/12/2014 - 23:32

      Preliminary test results:

      It charges my S4 just fine, typically 1.2A but up to 1.9A.

      The Asus tablet, on the other hand… refuses to charge. Gah. Probably tries something weird. But, oddly enough, both the Asus and Samsung chargers work.

      I'll try the Anker next.

      • PVA on 03/12/2014 - 12:55

        Our Asus tablet at home charges fine (MemoPad 10 - http://www.asus.com/au/Tablets_Mobile/ASUS_MeMO_Pad_FHD_10_M…)

        • elusive on 03/12/2014 - 14:08

          VivoTab Smart with the dreaded "Plugged in, not charging" :/

          It works for everything else though, so not too bad.

          One of the two ports is also rather tight. I wonder about their quality control - but it does function as expected, at least.

  • PVA on 29/11/2014 - 21:36

    or you can get a jackson wallplate http://www.ji.com.au/products/PT9804/

  • manja on 29/11/2014 - 23:05
    +1

    This one is very good. .
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IBDOB5I?vs=1

    • elusive on 30/11/2014 - 00:22

      I'll keep an eye on that one to combine shipping with next time I make an Amazon order. Thanks.

    • beaver2233 on 01/12/2014 - 14:41

      Can vouch for this. Bought the black version off aliexpress for around $30. Just make sure it's the 5 port 40W version and not the 25W version

    • tight-ass on 01/12/2014 - 21:58

      I was looking at purchasing this as well, however the failure rates of these Anker devices is too high for my liking after reading through all the comments on Amazon and Newegg.

      I've gone and purchased one of these - http://www.amazon.com/Photive-Desktop-Charger-Intelligent-Te…

      It's currently en-route……hopefully it's good.

      • elusive on 01/12/2014 - 22:05

        Hm. The Anker one has far more reviews, though, so the percentage of duds might well be lower. It's hard to say.

        The Photive one doesn't ship here anyway, so that's a pass.

    • Munificent on 25/12/2014 - 19:29

      If you buy from amazon, how do you get the AUS compatible plug?

  • tebbybabes on 29/11/2014 - 23:21
    +1

    I've tried both of these products.

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/adapter-usb-charger-arlec-w-dual-…

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/hpm-usb-charger-twin-2-1a-with-1-…

    However, I don't quite understand what spec they were at. Plugging in apple stuff worked exactly as advertised, but I couldn't get full current draw from a PSVita - UNLIKE BOTH OF MY GENUINE NEXUS CHARGERS. Since I primarily bought them as an extra charging port for the the portable console, I think I failed to check their current draw with my android devices.

    Thankfully Bunnings' return policy was generous.

    • elusive on 30/11/2014 - 00:24
      +1

      Yea, that's what I was afraid of - there's quite a few chargers that use the Apple proprietary signalling protocol, and I'm not sure if my devices will accept it. I can mod them to short the data pins properly, but with the other suggestions I'll try them first.

  • scupper on 30/11/2014 - 00:40

    Pretty happy with this:

    http://www.banggood.com/USEUUK-Plug-5V-6A-30W-6-Port-USB-Cha…

    Maybe you don't need to short it if you have proper cables. The android app CurrentWidget allowed my to sort my cables to those that allow my devices to pull up to 1 amp and those that don't.

  • c2k on 30/11/2014 - 09:04

    Also looking…Haven't found one yet. I believe the charger which came with the S4 is a 5.3v, 2.1 amps charger.

    • elusive on 30/11/2014 - 14:33

      Mine is labelled 5.0 V and 2.0 A, but it delivers up to 5.3 V when measured.

  • matabuntu on 30/11/2014 - 14:40
    +1

    checkout the HP Touchpad charger - came out on top during test http://www.righto.com/2012/10/a-dozen-usb-chargers-in-lab-ap…

    Good build quality and comes with UK, EU, Australian and U.S. adapters

    currently $20 delivered on ebay - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270940010930

    • elusive on 30/11/2014 - 14:43

      Have you purchased it from this particular seller?

      • matabuntu on 30/11/2014 - 14:44

        I bought three from this seller last year for me and family :)

        • elusive on 30/11/2014 - 14:45

          I already placed an order for the Jackson one above, but I'll try this if that doesn't work. Thanks!

  • Densor on 30/11/2014 - 19:08

    I can recommend the Orico DCP-5U. It's a 5 port charger, 2 off which are 2.1 amp. It has a separate 240 power supply which keeps the size of the charger smaller, and also keeps the higher voltages away from your valuable phones.

    I bought it off Mushtatoo on EBay for $29.95 and it was delivered within 2 days. I have a larger Orico charger station which has always been reliable but took 4 weeks to arrive from China.

    • tebbybabes on 06/01/2015 - 00:56

      Would you happen to know if the charger follows USB charging spec or Apple's crazy proprietary stuff?

  • ronorboris on 10/12/2014 - 23:37

    Edit: Nvm - didn't realise you meant a wall charger.

    • elusive on 10/12/2014 - 23:39

      I already have two of them, thanks :P

      My problem was a lack of wall chargers - those were actually one of the devices I needed to charge. Solved now, though - the Anker (arrived today!) one works with the tablet, and the Jackson one works with everything else.

  • Pigey on 04/03/2015 - 02:13

    Would be good if anyone could recommend USB Cables other than Tikbro ones.

    Mine all break after a period of time.

    Thanks.

    • elusive on 04/03/2015 - 02:16

      Well, all cables break eventually. But I agree the Tikbro ones seem to have particularly poor connectors. I'll be trying Anker next; no idea how long they'll last. Might be useful to keep an eye on the more recent thread.

      • Pigey on 04/03/2015 - 02:24

        The cables that come with my phone and my other micro USB devices don't seem like they break.

        Ok will keep an eye on it. Thanks!

  • twister292 on 07/03/2015 - 02:25

    Belkin and Samsung both do good chargers…

    I bought a Samsung 10W Travel charger from JB Hifi (Came with a 1.5m cable as well) for $30 (I believe it's the same as the ones bundled with the Tab/Note/S5 devices)…

    Apple's 12W charger is $25, and I believe they're made to a good standard as well…

    You could also look at something like the Comsol 50W charger which has 6 USB ports…costs about $59 at OW, but the Anker version on Amazon (doesnt ship to AU) is about US$25 or so…

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