Can i use a creative AC-USB charger to charge a clip?

[asmd]

hi,

is it safe to use a creative ac-usb charger to charge the clip?
its rated at 5v 2.4A.

http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=15050

[CrowdAds]

[WalkGood]

Any usb power adapter should work fine.

[asmd]

a regular usb port supplies 5v and some 500mA of current...
5V 2.4A (4 times the current) should in effect charge it up 4 times faster... right?

[advcomp2019]

2.4A might be over kill. You might want to look for 500mA to 1A.

[asmd]

dont need to look for one..
i already have one that came bundled with my zen micro.
i looked at the output rating before deciding to stick the clip on it.
i was actually surprised to see it rated at 2.4A
(the cowon d2 charger is 5V 2A)

from creatives website... compatible with:
"MuVo Slim, ZEN Neeon, ZEN Micro, ZEN MicroPhoto, ZEN V, ZEN V Plus, Creative Xmod, ZEN Stone, ZEN Stone Plus, Creative ZEN"

also :
"ZEN Power Adapter gives your ZEN a quick, full charge anywhere a wall outlet is available - at home, at a friends house or on vacation. Simply connect the power adapter to your ZEN and plug it into the wall outlet. Charge your ZEN in less than half the time of USB charging!"


from my limited knowledge, amperage shouldnt hurt it except charge it more quickly.... but dare I!

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by asmd

a regular usb port supplies 5v and some 500mA of current...
5V 2.4A (4 times the current) should in effect charge it up 4 times faster... right?

No. Charging a lipoly battery is not current limited.

Originally Posted by advcomp2019

2.4A might be over kill. You might want to look for 500mA to 1A.

Its more then needed, but since he already has it, it'd be worse overkill to buy another one.

[advcomp2019]

Yea, I am not sure myself. I know it might charge faster, but with like Creative's Zen Vision:M, you do not want to use that charger.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by advcomp2019

I know it might charge faster, but with like Creative's Zen Vision:M, you do not want to use that charger.

It definitely won't charge faster. The supply voltage/current don't impact charging speed. Instead it works at a constant rate until you go too far out of spec at which point it stops working (too low) or burns up (voltage too high).

[advcomp2019]

Then, how does rapid chargers work then?

[asmd]

i can speak for NiCd batts (used to race em in 1/10th scale yonks ago)... rapid charging is amperage dependant. the charging units we used were manually set.. with digital multimeters plugged in to watch the progress and decide when it peaked. those were the days.

from the creative compatible list.. note that the zen v, stone etc are all usb charged mp3 players. think it shuould work allright without damaging the clip.

ive got a 14 dollar clip in the mail... courtesy of buy.com. think i'll wait for that to come in and try it with the creative charger.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by advcomp2019

Then, how does rapid chargers work then?

If you mean the Creative thing mentioned above, the Zen probably just increases the charge current when its plugged into that thing. If you have a large enough battery, or don't mind killing it a little sooner, you can charge them faster. Some devices also have a fast mode where they only charge 80% of the way (which typically only take an hour or so vs. several hours for 100% charge).

Keep in mind though these devices aren't chargers. The charger is built into mp3 player for all lipoly devices and typically runs on the CPU. This thing is just a 5 volt power supply. Hook up any other supply that can do a couple hundred mA and the result is the same, 500mA or 500000mA.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by asmd

i can speak for NiCd batts (used to race em in 1/10th scale yonks ago)...

NiCds aren't used anymore in electronics since they're heavy, store less power and are filled with poisonous cadmium.

[advcomp2019]

Then why is a few years back, there are rapid chargers for like my ham radios charge faster then normal chargers. I know the device has a charging circuit, but that circuit has limit. You just do not know that limit tho.

[asmd]

Originally Posted by saratoga

If you mean the Creative thing mentioned above, the Zen probably just increases the charge current when its plugged into that thing. If you have a large enough battery, or don't mind killing it a little sooner, you can charge them faster. Some devices also have a fast mode where they only charge 80% of the way (which typically only take an hour or so vs. several hours for 100% charge).

Keep in mind though these devices aren't chargers. The charger is built into mp3 player for all lipoly devices and typically runs on the CPU. This thing is just a 5 volt power supply. Hook up any other supply that can do a couple hundred mA and the result is the same, 500mA or 500000mA.

i see. the charger (control unit) is built into the unit.. i get it.
kinda like nokias... you can use any generation charger to charge any of their phones.. and all of them have different amperage outputs. (i own a bunch, so i know - should have occured to me sooner - but i do know that some of the lower output ones do take longer to charge, prob cos its below minimum spec.)


still, kinda hesitant to stick in a new clip for the sake of experimentation although i am pretty darned sure it will work ok.

[advcomp2019]

Saratoga, then why is there is a rapid charger and a standard charger for this radio: http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...d/default.aspx. Plus, tell me how it works too.

[asmd]

btw.. off topic. speaking of radios, the fm radio on the clip sounds so so much better than the one on the d2 (which sounds tinny), muvo tx or creative zen/micro. almost on par with the nokia n82.

best radio of the lot.

[advcomp2019]

Yep, it is even better then my e200 series.

[FrododorF]

yes becuase the e200 was renown for it's amazing sound quality O>O :P smiley attack!!!

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by advcomp2019

Then why is a few years back, there are rapid chargers for like my ham radios charge faster then normal chargers.

Since you haven't told me what the part is, I have no idea.

Originally Posted by advcomp2019

I know the device has a charging circuit, but that circuit has limit. You just do not know that limit tho.

Sure I do. Its ~200mA for typical charge. The specs are on the rockbox webpage.

[advcomp2019]

I said a device with a Li-ion battery with a standard charger and rapid charger. Here it is again: http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...d/default.aspx

Plus, there are NiMH devices with rapid chargers, too.