Different charger specs

sampahnetgua

Junior Member
May 14, 2011
14
0
61
Hi, I need some advice from those who understand how electricity works.
I'm as blind as a bat on this matter.

I have an ebook reader with the original charger spec like this (edited):
Input: 120-240V 50-60Hz 300 mA
Output: 5V 1A


It broke, and All I could find is a similar charger (same tip) with the following specs :

Charger X :
Input: 120-240V 50-60Hz 300mA
Output: 5V 1.2A

Charger Y:

Input: 120-240V 50-60Hz 500mA
Output: 5V 1A

Charger Z:

Input: 120-240V 50-60Hz 500mA
Output: 5V 1.2A


Can I use any of the charger ?

Some people say "No. It will burn out the reader because it has higher Amp rating output".
Some other say "Higher Amp is fine. The charger can cope with the reader's min requirement."

I'm confused. Anybody understand how it works?
One has higher input. The other has higher output.
Which is acceptable/unacceptable ???

Thanks
 
Last edited:

OBLAMA2009

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2008
6,574
3
0
i wouldnt use a charger other than the original. i lost my phone charger on a business trip and bought a common $20 third party one and it took a lot longer to charge my blackberry and it got very hot when used. i stopped using it, im pretty sure it would have damaged my phone, even though it was probably electrically within spec
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,350
4,973
136
Hi, I need some advice from those who understand how electricity works.
I'm as blind as a bat on this matter.

I have an ebook reader with the original charger spec like this:
Input: 50-60Hz 300 mA
Output: 120-240V 1A

It broke, and All I could find is a similar charger (same tip) with the following specs :

Charger X :
Input: 50-60Hz 300mA
Output: 120-240V 1.2A

Charger Y:
Input: 50-60Hz 500mA
Output: 120-240V 1A

Charger Z:
Input: 50-60Hz 500mA
Output: 120-240V 1.2A

Can I use any of the charger ?

Some people say "No. It will burn out the reader because it has higher Amp rating output".
Some other say "Higher Amp is fine. The charger can cope with the reader's min requirement."

I'm confused. Anybody understand how it works?
One has higher input. The other has higher output.
Which is acceptable/unacceptable ???

Thanks

What is important is the Input and Output Voltage must be the same. The output current has to be the same or higher. Higher is fine, it will not burnout anything. It is a rating of the maximum the charger is capable of. The device will drawhat it needs and no more.

Match the input Voltage exactly.
Match the output Voltage exactly.
Match the Tip and Polarity exactly. ( This means if the center is positive or negative )
Look for this symbol: http://www.12volt-travel.com/knowledgebase/universal-adapter-tip-polarity/

The output current has to be equal or higher.
 

sampahnetgua

Junior Member
May 14, 2011
14
0
61
What is important is the Input and Output Voltage must be the same. The output current has to be the same or higher. Higher is fine, it will not burnout anything. It is a rating of the maximum the charger is capable of. The device will drawhat it needs and no more.

Match the input Voltage exactly.
Match the output Voltage exactly.
Match the Tip and Polarity exactly. ( This means if the center is positive or negative )
Look for this symbol: http://www.12volt-travel.com/knowledgebase/universal-adapter-tip-polarity/

The output current has to be equal or higher.

Thank you. I also receive the same comment from many people in other forums I asked. Now I'm positive I can use it. The alternative chargers also have the same polarity. I forgot to mention it. Same input/output voltage too. I will buy it tomorrow then. :biggrin:

i wouldnt use a charger other than the original.

The reason is because I couldn't find the original charger everywhere in my country. It's a cheap reader made in China like the Skytex here:
http://www.amazon.com/SKYTEX-Primer-...7038684&sr=8-1

It works very well for me just as a reader. 6-7 hours for reading in one charge. I'm very happy with it because it has matte screen suitable for reading. I have an android tablet, but I hate the glossy screen for reading & it boots slow like 50 secs. This one boots in 5 secs which makes it nicer for quick power-on. :awe:

Thank you all. Appreciate all your help.
 

paperwastage

Golden Member
May 25, 2010
1,848
2
76
What is important is the Input and Output Voltage must be the same. The output current has to be the same or higher. Higher is fine, it will not burnout anything. It is a rating of the maximum the charger is capable of. The device will drawhat it needs and no more.

Match the input Voltage exactly.
Match the output Voltage exactly.
Match the Tip and Polarity exactly. ( This means if the center is positive or negative )
Look for this symbol: http://www.12volt-travel.com/knowledgebase/universal-adapter-tip-polarity/

The output current has to be equal or higher.

agree with the above
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
What is important is the Input and Output Voltage must be the same. The output current has to be the same or higher. Higher is fine, it will not burnout anything. It is a rating of the maximum the charger is capable of. The device will drawhat it needs and no more.

Match the input Voltage exactly.
Match the output Voltage exactly.
Match the Tip and Polarity exactly. ( This means if the center is positive or negative )
Look for this symbol: http://www.12volt-travel.com/knowledgebase/universal-adapter-tip-polarity/

The output current has to be equal or higher.

Agree.

HOWEVER, OP you are missing some vital information on the label of those chargers. What you have listed as the output voltage (120-240V) is almost certainly the input voltage instead. The output voltage will probably be somewhere between 5V-20V. You need to find that part of the label and compare.
 

sampahnetgua

Junior Member
May 14, 2011
14
0
61
Agree.

HOWEVER, OP you are missing some vital information on the label of those chargers. What you have listed as the output voltage (120-240V) is almost certainly the input voltage instead. The output voltage will probably be somewhere between 5V-20V. You need to find that part of the label and compare.

My bad...my bad
You're right. It's the wrong spec. I just used my memory before. :biggrin:

The real spec is edited on the main post with blue color.
Thank you for pointing that out
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
My bad...my bad
You're right. It's the wrong spec. I just used my memory before. :biggrin:

The real spec is edited on the main post with blue color.
Thank you for pointing that out

With that information, you can use any of those chargers as long as the tip/barrel polarity is the same.
 

sampahnetgua

Junior Member
May 14, 2011
14
0
61
Just to update you guys.

I've finally bought one with the Output: 120-240V 1.2A and it works without problem.
Charge about 2 hours like the original charger.
Definitely happy now. :D

Thank you all guys