[Q] Is the Nook charger special?

[deadbot1]

True..it doesn't have to be "dumb". I guess I am assuming based off of other remarks I have seen about certain Pie Filling Chargers working fine. It seems for those to be true that the only thing being looked for is a certain amperage. I really need a second charger and cable to tear down and answer this once and for all...work got pushed off another week. 6+ inches of snow where we are headed.

I wish that the photos from the existing tear downs were a bit clearer...I could tell a lot from looking at the traces.

 

[deadbot1]

Performing an experiment right now. Using the cable from my daughters LG Ally and the charger from NC. Battery was down to 10%. Will let it charge for 1 hour with this combo. Should answer a few more questions. If all goes well will next try to connect usb with same cable.

If USB works, then will consider tearing down my current cable.

 

[deadbot1]

Last night I did some impromptu testing. I let my nook get to 10% bat then charged using my daughters cable from her LG Ally. In 1 hour it charged to 24%

I drained back to 10% and used the stock charger with the stock cable...44% in 1 hour.

This further supports my thinking that the charger is "dumb" and the magic is in the higher amperage and extra pins in the cable.

Data was EXACTLY the same with both cables...310Mb file transfered with an average of 4 Mb/sec and peaks of 6.2 to eMMC. Did no charging tests off USB.

 

[Divine_Madcat]

Last night I did some impromptu testing. I let my nook get to 10% bat then charged using my daughters cable from her LG Ally. In 1 hour it charged to 24%

I drained back to 10% and used the stock charger with the stock cable...44% in 1 hour.

This further supports my thinking that the charger is "dumb" and the magic is in the higher amperage and extra pins in the cable.

Data was EXACTLY the same with both cables...310Mb file transfered with an average of 4 Mb/sec and peaks of 6.2 to eMMC. Did no charging tests off USB.

Now, the other half of the experiment, would be to find a non B&N charger, that can do 2 amps, and try the same experiment. That will prove once and for all where the brains lie..

 

[Nilist]

Any 2A USB charger will do fast charging of the Nook Color IF you are using the original cable AND it is a Dedicated Charging Port as per USB specification (pin 2 & 3 shorted: D+ and D-).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus#Cable_properties

Many of the older iPhone chargers are not shorting the D+ and D-, but sets a fixed voltage level on the pins. That's why they don't fast charge, even with the Nook Color cable.

 

[combustiblemonkey]

Now, the other half of the experiment, would be to find a non B&N charger, that can do 2 amps, and try the same experiment. That will prove once and for all where the brains lie..

It could also be that the light on the stock cable is just completing a circuit in the Nook, telling it to suck up more juice.

Thats lazy but... Well thats how I would do it. Im lazy tho.

 

[zavien3]

This is what I was told, I haven't tested it, but who knows....

"About your charging troubles: If you have the stock cable, you can charge at full tilt if you don't connect the data (2 center) pins to anything. Most of the cig lighter chargers have the pullups for iPhones which the NC doesn't like. So get a USB extension cord, lop off the plug end, and connect the red and black to a 2A 5V supply and leave the green and white wires unconnected."

 

[jsw31]

Here's what I've tested so far:

The Charger shorts the data pins. If you plug in to the nook charger you will find that the green and white data pins will show continuity. The charger does not send any voltage over the data pins. Using a usb extension and a scosche revive ii ipad car charger I was able to show ac plugged in and show ~+1200 ma current while in use with full brightness display (~+2a total). HOWEVER, this was with the stock nook color cable. Using a regular micro usb cable in the same setup still showed as ac charging, but with an amperage of ~-300ma. (~+500ma, same result as using a normal cable with the stock nc charger.)

So it turns out there is something special about both the charger and the cable. It may not be possible to get a "fast charge" without a OEM cable, but at least you can charge on the go with this method.

 

[iolinux333]

Here's what I've tested so far:

The Charger shorts the data pins. If you plug in to the nook charger you will find that the green and white data pins will show continuity. The charger does not send any voltage over the data pins. Using a usb extension and a scosche revive ii ipad car charger I was able to show ac plugged in and show ~+1200 ma current while in use with full brightness display (~+2a total). HOWEVER, this was with the stock nook color cable. Using a regular micro usb cable in the same setup still showed as ac charging, but with an amperage of ~-300ma. (~+500ma, same result as using a normal cable with the stock nc charger.)

So it turns out there is something special about both the charger and the cable. It may not be possible to get a "fast charge" without a OEM cable, but at least you can charge on the go with this method.

I picked up the b&n car charger at a brick and mortar last night. it's cute, charges FAST, solved all issues and it is expensive. -- bit it is less than all the money and time I wasted trying off brand chargers that never worked.

 

[heffe2001]

I tried my HTC Thunderbolt's charger, and no dice with a standard USB cable. I will try the nook cable plugged into it when I get home and see if it's any different. The nook knew it was plugged in, but wasn't charging, but didn't say discharging either...

 

[deadbot1]

Here's what I've tested so far:

The Charger shorts the data pins. If you plug in to the nook charger you will find that the green and white data pins will show continuity. The charger does not send any voltage over the data pins. Using a usb extension and a scosche revive ii ipad car charger I was able to show ac plugged in and show ~+1200 ma current while in use with full brightness display (~+2a total). HOWEVER, this was with the stock nook color cable. Using a regular micro usb cable in the same setup still showed as ac charging, but with an amperage of ~-300ma. (~+500ma, same result as using a normal cable with the stock nc charger.)

So it turns out there is something special about both the charger and the cable. It may not be possible to get a "fast charge" without a OEM cable, but at least you can charge on the go with this method.

Yeah, basically the special part is the extended length of the stock cable...it makes contact with secondary charging paths inside the nook. If you look closely at the end of the cable you can see 2 seperate rows of pins...need to get a second cable for teardown, but I'm sure that these pins are for the charge controller chip in the nook. A few for extra amperage capacity, a few for the LEDs in the cable. There might be a resistor in the charger as well that the controller looks for, to tell if it is an official nook charger.

Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

 

[terryk88a]

I've ordered a "power filter plug" off eBay

I've ordered a "power filter plug" off eBay that is supposed to plug in between cable and nook, and allow charge even with low amp power source.

When I receive and test it with combinations of oem and vanilla chargers (hi/lo amp) and cables, I'll let you know if it was worth $6.50 vs $25 for OEM parts.

If you're curious, search for "Barnes & Noble Nook Color filter plug for USB charger"

 

[Phatdawg]

I hate to necrobump a thread, but I also don't want to start a new one.

I just tested another aftermarket 2amp usb charger.

It does _NOT_ charge fast.

After about 4 hours, I had about 27% charge from 0.

In 4 hours with the regular cable, I'm usually at 80%+.

So it seems the charger + the cable is needed.

I am wondering if the usb go between people are selling might be able to allow 2amp charge to flow fully.

 

[DiDGR8]

I hate to necrobump a thread, but I also don't want to start a new one.

Even worse, this could be considered slightly off-topic, but there is something "special" about the microusb end of the cable (besides just the LED) if it gets damaged.

I break that end fairly often by dropping the Nook when I fall asleep with it plugged in. The end will bend several degrees but if it bends too far (or you try to straighten it back out), something breaks. The result is a red LED constantly during slow charging and then the red LED extinguishes when fully charged (no LED).

It's remarkably consistent. No orange LED, no green LED, no fast charge (but still will slow charge).

What I'd really like to see is a cable with a stronger/stiffer micro usb tip.

 

[Imbroglio]

I've ordered a "power filter plug" off eBay that is supposed to plug in between cable and nook, and allow charge even with low amp power source.

When I receive and test it with combinations of oem and vanilla chargers (hi/lo amp) and cables, I'll let you know if it was worth $6.50 vs $25 for OEM parts.

If you're curious, search for "Barnes & Noble Nook Color filter plug for USB charger"

How did that thing work out? I am wondering how well it works with external batteries.

 

[Phatdawg]

I'm curious too, I wonder if that filter plug allows you to use 3rd party 2amp sources at full strength like the stock adapter.

 

[ssholloway]

Zagg Sparq 2.0

Although this thread is old, I didn't want to start another one on a similar topic.

I've been searching for a portable battery pack for my NC, mainly for use as a backup battery when traveling.

The Sparq's output is 2000mA @ 5V and charges my NC to about 60% when plugged into the Sparq's "General" USB outlet using the original NC cord. Although I have not timed it, the Sparq seems to charge the NC at the same rate as the original NC wall plug. The Sparq also has an "Optimized" USB outlet designed for iPads/iPhones, but the NC does not support this feature so it sees the Sparq as a regular USB port.

The Sparq takes between 8-9 hours to recharge itself. This is not an issue for me since I intend to recharge it once I reach my destination.

The list price is $99.99 but it will be half price with free shipping on Zagg's web site on Monday and Tuesday. I do not work for Zagg but thought other NC users might be interested in my experience with this product.