Mix and Matching Chargers

[ShaunB-91]

Right I need this cleared up because I'm sick of the arguments it brings. Are you allowed to mix and match chargers so long as they have the same connection?

Example. Brand new Beats Pill runs out of charge, "Quick grab any old charger" "Err no that just cost me £180 and I aint sticking nothing but the official stuff in it because I don't know the rules on volts, amps, watts and all that."

Same thing with phones, different brands, older chargers, newer chargers.

For me I think there is a reason why manuals say "Please only use provided charger". Whats the truth on this?

 

[MadShadow]

If the amperage is too high, batteries can swell/leak and ruin your day. Or at least thats my understanding.

 

[ShaunB-91]

I also remember seeing not to long ago that they are bringing in an industry standard so that chargers aren't wasted and binned. That must mean with each new device you use the new charger?

The guy at work just got a Galaxy S4 but he said if he uses the Sony charger his battery drains so much quicker.

Can chargers also be damaged?

 

[MadShadow]

Can chargers also be damaged?

I dont think so, unless theres something wrong with the power coming from the socket. Im no expert, but I assume a charger would not become damaged.

 

[Remmy]

As long as the specifications of the chargers are the same in terms of voltage and current then there should be no problem. Manufacturers tell you to only use the provided charger just to be safe, and to cover their own backs if you used a charger with different specifications and it damaged the device.

Also, even if they are the same specifications, cheap rip off chargers can be especially dangerous because they have poor safety features and poor quality components.

I remember reading the same thing. Unsurprisingly, Apple didn't seem happy about the universal connector/charger idea, but they are one of the worst for making proprietary connectors and fittings. I think it mentioned that the initiative was to come into effect by 2017.

 

[YouWhat]

basically the higher the ampage on the chargers the quicker the battery will charge, unless you throw some silly ampage at it eg, my Nexus 7 came with 2Amp wall charger, but a USB socket is nowhere near that, and takes around 5 times as long to charge it up, as long as the voltage is correct, various chargers can be mixed and matched, just be aware of the Amps on them and what the factory original is, and as long as you don't exceed that factory charger ampage then you should be ok.

On side note, if you have a quick charger they can shorten the battery life substantially, ideally you should use the factory specified charger as it is all certified with that, but using other chargers wont hurt if you take into account the above information.

 

[ShaunB-91]

Difficult then to know amps for all your devices but I'll show my brother in law this to prove him wrong.

I knew it wasn't as simple as well its the same connector so its fine.

Do you think chargers are different for a phone with a large battery as opposed to a smaller one?

 

[MadShadow]

Difficult then to know amps for all your devices but I'll show my brother in law this to prove him wrong.

I knew it wasn't as simple as well its the same connector so its fine.

Do you think chargers are different for a phone with a large battery as opposed to a smaller one?

If you want to see the amps for your device, its usually on the charger or a quick google will find the answer in no time. A phone with a larger battery will probably need a charger with more amperage so it charges faster, while a phone with a small battery can charge just as quickly with less amps.