USB plug chargers

[Buckman]

For awhile I have been wondering why it has been taking so long for phones, laptops etc to recharge using Samsung USB chargers. Issue is when you buy something that needs USB-C recharging, very seldom do you get the USB-C charger with the item, i.e. Samsung. The charger and cable are separate purchases. Anyway decided to do a bit of research to find out any reason.

Except for one charger they are all USB chargers and not USB-C chargers. The USB chargers work and do charge the units plugged in, but are very slow and phones keep throwing up error messages asking to check the connection. None of these USB chargers are rated showing the wattage only the amp which in most cases is 1amp. i.e. Output 5v=1amp. As our Samsung units are fairly new and under 2- 3 years old, the connection charger should be USB-C and at least 25w. Ideally they should be 45w so it looks like we will need to purchase 2 - 3 USB-C chargers and the good ones are not exactly cheap especially when buying 2-3 of them. Then we have the problem of buying the USB-C cables as need at least three of them.

Lastly I hate throwing away something that is working so not too sure what to do with all the old USB chargers and old USB to USB-C cables?

 

[otherclive]

For awhile I have been wondering why it has been taking so long for phones, laptops etc to recharge using Samsung USB chargers. Issue is when you buy something that needs USB-C recharging, very seldom do you get the USB-C charger with the item, i.e. Samsung. The charger and cable are separate purchases. Anyway decided to do a bit of research to find out any reason.

Except for one charger they are all USB chargers and not USB-C chargers. The USB chargers work and do charge the units plugged in, but are very slow and phones keep throwing up error messages asking to check the connection. None of these USB chargers are rated showing the wattage only the amp which in most cases is 1amp. i.e. Output 5v=1amp. As our Samsung units are fairly new and under 2- 3 years old, the connection charger should be USB-C and at least 25w. Ideally they should be 45w so it looks like we will need to purchase 2 - 3 USB-C chargers and the good ones are not exactly cheap especially when buying 2-3 of them. Then we have the problem of buying the USB-C cables as need at least three of them.

Lastly I hate throwing away something that is working so not too sure what to do with all the old USB chargers and old USB to USB-C cables?

Give them away on Freecycle or Trash nothing. Alternatively shops like BQ or Curry's have small appliance collection bins for recycling small appliances.

 

[RogerL]

I bought one of these chargers recently, plus a Belkin USB-A to USB-C cable as our phones have different charger connections https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-Ad...rds=usb+c+charger&qid=1751626983&sr=8-15&th=1

 

[Sam Vimes]

Not all chargers are equal despite having perhaps the same wattage. Chargers need to match the protocol needed by the device being charged.

Some devices are proprietary technology and only work with the same make charger.

Others use protocols like USB-PD or QC 3. These allow for faster charge rates. However you also need a cable that supports these and just because it's got a USB-C connector on the end it doesn't mean it will work.

Many cheap cables have wires missing and just provide the basic for data and charging. Some USB -C cables may work only one way around despite supposedly being symmetrical.

Buyer beware😁

 

[Mr Plodd]

The output in amperage is what determines the charging time. 1 amp output is fine for phones, but tablets and sat nav's etc need 2 - 2.5 amps.
I have a multi output mains USB charging hub that has 4 x 1 amp and 4 x 2.5 amp sockets, by experimenting with what gets plugged into which output I have determined the above.
Phone chargers are only good for charging mobile phones because phones have pretty weedy batteries in them.

 

[Buckman]

The output in amperage is what determines the charging time. 1 amp output is fine for phones, but tablets and sat nav's etc need 2 - 2.5 amps.
I have a multi output mains USB charging hub that has 4 x 1 amp and 4 x 2.5 amp sockets, by experimenting with what gets plugged into which output I have determined the above.
Phone chargers are only good for charging mobile phones because phones have pretty weedy batteries in them.

The correct USB-C charger for our Samsung S24 phones should be 3A and 45 watt for normal charge and not the super fast charging. Our current Samsung USB chargers at 1A do not work very well at charging them.

 

[Sam Vimes]

The output in amperage is what determines the charging time. 1 amp output is fine for phones, but tablets and sat nav's etc need 2 - 2.5 amps.
I have a multi output mains USB charging hub that has 4 x 1 amp and 4 x 2.5 amp sockets, by experimenting with what gets plugged into which output I have determined the above.
Phone chargers are only good for charging mobile phones because phones have pretty weedy batteries in them.

Not entirely true.

Device current needs will vary. I have a phone that for fast charging needs 5A, one that needs 3A and others that need just 1A.

Tablets that also vary and numerous LiPo or Li-Ion powered gadgets that also vary in current needs.

Charge voltage may also vary from 5v to 48v

Power ratings can be as high as 240W for some devices. My laptop can be charged/powered via USB and needs 60w.

Phone chargers is really a generic term for USB chargers. They can charge pretty much anything if it's the correctly rated type of charger.

You can use a Fast Charger on a low power device or a Slow (low power) charger on a device capable of Fast Charging....times will just vary.

Some multiple port chargers can limit the charge current the more devices you plug in.

Cables are important for Fast Charging. Since some fast charging devices may need upto 5A you need a cable that can handle this. Plus it needs the wiring to be able to communicate with the device to determine the correct charging conditions.

Pays your money etc

 

[ProfJohnL]

The correct USB-C charger for our Samsung S24 phones should be 3A and 45 watt for normal charge and not the super fast charging. Our current Samsung USB chargers at 1A do not work very well at charging them.

I'm sure the 1A charger is working perfectly, but it will take longer to recharge your phone. Its not the chargers fault. You simply need to get the correct charger for your phone to minimise the recharge time.

 

[Buckman]

I'm sure the 1A charger is working perfectly, but it will take longer to recharge your phone. Its not the chargers fault. You simply need to get the correct charger for your phone to minimise the recharge time.

I do not recall stating that the 1A charger does not work? They do work, but take forever to charge up the phone, tablet or laptop battery. I did state that the 3A and 45w is the correct USB-C charger for the units mentioned?

 

[Dustydog]

We recently established fast chargers cause early deterioration of EV batteries.🙀

Is the same true for,my IPhone?😉

 

[otherclive]

We recently established fast chargers cause early deterioration of EV batteries.🙀

Is the same true for,my IPhone?😉

Did we? If so then most of the companies that produce EVs are heading in the wrong direction. I thought it was above 80% and holding at 100% that wasn’t recommended unless you were using the car afterwards. IE not letting it remain at 100% while not being used.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Good or bad I'm not bothered about fast charging most of the time. However, the engineer in me says that regularly fast charging may well shorten the life.

That said my old phone that still functions extremely well, except for the fingerprint reader, and was always fast charged to 100% from less than 20% in about 35mins and the battery life still seems ok.

 

[otherclive]

The two main point where I charge my iPhone are an Apple wireless charger or when the phone is plugged in to the cars data port. The former tends to be used overnight, and the latter when in the car. Speeds? No idea. Four year old iPhone battery condition just above 80%. My 8 year old ipad doesn’t even tell me battery condition. So no worries there.

 

[Buckman]

Both our phones stop the charging process when full.

 

[RogerL]

Both our phones stop the charging process when full.

Surely they all stop when full ?

My recently aquired Pixel has an option to stop charging at 80% or continue up to 100% - to extend the life I'm using 80%

 

[Beardy]

Good or bad I'm not bothered about fast charging most of the time. However, the engineer in me says that regularly fast charging may well shorten the life.

Ditto.

I use slow chargers on my phone and tablet and limit charge to 80%. My theory is that charging batteries causes heat build up, the faster you charge them the less time the heat has to dissipate so they get hotter. Obviously they should be designed to cope with this but in my mind it's better for them if they don't have to.
My last phone lasted 6 years with daily charging before the battery performance dropped to a level where I had to top it up during the day - by then the operating system was no longer supported and couldn't be updated so I needed to upgrade anyway.

 

[Buckman]

Surely they all stop when full ?

My recently aquired Pixel has an option to stop charging at 80% or continue up to 100% - to extend the life I'm using 80%

That is what I always thought, but it comes up with a message stating that charging process has been stopped?

 

[ProfJohnL]

I do not recall stating that the 1A charger does not work? They do work, but take forever to charge up the phone, tablet or laptop battery. I did state that the 3A and 45w is the correct USB-C charger for the units mentioned?

And I didn't suggest it did not work! in fact I suggested quite the opposite. Its your expectations that were incompatible with reality.

 

[Buckman]

And I didn't suggest it did not work! in fact I suggested quite the opposite. Its your expectations that were incompatible with reality.

Apologies I misunderstood your post. When we bought the phones, on neither occasion was it mentioned that the phone required a better charger. Phones no longer come with the cable and charger.

Although I kept getting messages requesting myself to check the connection I ignore it as over night the phone would charge. However ti came to a head the other day when I was charging cameras. The one camera was very slow on charging and the other was fully charged within an hour. I swapped over leads and within less than 15 minutes it was fully charged.

At that point I checked all our USB plugs and with the exception of one which was USB-C, they were all 1A. Doing a Google was when I found out that the USB plugs were the reason for the slow charging. Last night I used a USB-C charger and phone was charged up within 10 minutes.

Now as per the OP, I have to dump most of our good working USB plugs and get some thing more compatible as you suggest.

 

[Sam Vimes]

As previously mentioned you need a charger and cable that's compatible with the device you want to charge.

Usually these days phones and other devices at least include a cable.

By shear coincidence I just went to charge an old tablet and got the message it would take over 35 hours. Not right. Changed the cable and the time went down to about 5 hours. Same charger. Binned cable.

 

[Buckman]

As previously mentioned you need a charger and cable that's compatible with the device you want to charge.

Usually these days phones and other devices at least include a cable.

By shear coincidence I just went to charge an old tablet and got the message it would take over 35 hours. Not right. Changed the cable and the time went down to about 5 hours. Same charger. Binned cable.

Went through my cables and all are USB to USB-C. The very thin ones I am going to dump as they are probably suspect. Keeping the thick cables plus the braided grey cables. Hopefully my choice is correct.

 

[JTQ]

There is likely to be a significant difference in a practical USB charger for a phone and one for a laptop as the battery capacities are so very different.

I have to say I am not at all surprised a 1 Amp basic USB charger is going to take an age to charge a laptop. In fact I don't think my HP Envy 15" will even accept a charge from any one of my basic lower powered USB chargers.

The reason why we now don't necessarily get a charger with each USB charged device I recall is due to a well intended EU initiative to stop the very issue the OP has of collecting a lot of redundant chargers. Plus a requirement to move to a USB "C" connection.
In principle this seems right to me but does mean we have to have a suitable range of chargers as exampled, some devices I have need a low amperage charger, and so like the HP Laptop need something considerable more powerful to charge in a practical timescale, or even work at all.

I dare not even start counting the number of USB chargers I have, purchased or been given, certainly I have not had the OP's issue with not finding an adequate one. I have them from 0.5Amp 5.0 volts upwards. USB leads again fortunately I have a huge number of various capabilities, just I need to select one right for the job.
I also could possibly find a dozen or more old PCs with USB outlets, comes with mending and playing with them as a hobby.