How many Amps do the cheap 4port USB wall chargers realistically deliver?

[JEDI]

i have 2 phones and a fitbit but only a single port wall charger.
i cant charge both phones at same time and i'm tired of switching out the usb micro-A cable with the fitbit cable.

so i was looking at 3 or 4 port usb wall chargers.
Aukey multi-port wall chargers are EXPENSIVE compared to ebay.

eBay $4.29:

4 Port Quick Fast Charge QC3.0 USB Hub Power Adapter Wall Charger EU US Plug-WI | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 4 Port Quick Fast Charge QC3.0 USB Hub Power Adapter Wall Charger EU US Plug-WI at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

3 regular ports + 1 fast charge port:

the ebay one above says 3.1A.
i need at least 1A since my desktop computer's usb port (500mA) barely charges my phone because i use the phone as a wifi Hotspot.

how much power do you think it actually delivers?

 

[ultimatebob]

Realistically, you'll probably get more than 1A if you have just one device connected, but less than that if you have more than 1 device plugged in at once.

Of course, you also have to worry about the thing overheating, catching on fire, and/or damaging your device because of poor quality control on those Chinese knockoff chargers. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[dullard]

I've had multiple cheap ones burn out on me. I have since switched entirely to Aukey. They aren't too expensive if you get a discontinued model.

Amazon.com: AUKEY USB Charger 4 Ports with Foldable Plug, USB Wall Charger Compatible with iPhone 12 Pro Max/11 Pro Max/XS/XR, Samsung Galaxy Note10/S10, iPad Pro/Air 2 / Mini 4 and More: Electronics

Buy AUKEY USB Charger 4 Ports with Foldable Plug, USB Wall Charger Compatible with iPhone 12 Pro Max/11 Pro Max/XS/XR, Samsung Galaxy Note10/S10, iPad Pro/Air 2 / Mini 4 and More: Electronics - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I personally always use this 2-port one, since I only need to charge two things, and since it folds up to not have snaggy parts in my luggage:

Minima Duo 12W Dual-Port USB Wall Charger

Not much bigger than the Apple 5W charger, yet features a dual-port 12W output and foldable prongs. Adaptively charges USB-powered devices at up to 2.4A. Portable and travel-ready. Built-in safeguards protect your devices against excessive current, overheating, and overcharging.

shop.aukey.com

 

[JEDI]

I've had multiple cheap ones burn out on me. I have since switched entirely to Aukey. They aren't too expensive if you get a discontinued model.

Amazon.com: AUKEY USB Charger 4 Ports with Foldable Plug, USB Wall Charger Compatible with iPhone 12 Pro Max/11 Pro Max/XS/XR, Samsung Galaxy Note10/S10, iPad Pro/Air 2 / Mini 4 and More: Electronics

Buy AUKEY USB Charger 4 Ports with Foldable Plug, USB Wall Charger Compatible with iPhone 12 Pro Max/11 Pro Max/XS/XR, Samsung Galaxy Note10/S10, iPad Pro/Air 2 / Mini 4 and More: Electronics - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I personally always use this 2-port one, since I only need to charge two things, and since it folds up to not have snaggy parts in my luggage:

Minima Duo 12W Dual-Port USB Wall Charger

Not much bigger than the Apple 5W charger, yet features a dual-port 12W output and foldable prongs. Adaptively charges USB-powered devices at up to 2.4A. Portable and travel-ready. Built-in safeguards protect your devices against excessive current, overheating, and overcharging.

shop.aukey.com

fire/burn up???

and thanks for the link to the cheap 4 port!
how did you find this deal?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've been using multi-port 'Orico'-brand USB chargers for a while. For some time, they were available below $10 at Newegg.

 

[teejee]

Don’t buy cheap chargers. It is as simple as that.

Only buy quality brands like Anker and Aukey.

 

[sdifox]

i have 2 phones and a fitbit but only a single port wall charger.
i cant charge both phones at same time and i'm tired of switching out the usb micro-A cable with the fitbit cable.

so i was looking at 3 or 4 port usb wall chargers.
Aukey multi-port wall chargers are EXPENSIVE compared to ebay.

eBay $4.29:

4 Port Quick Fast Charge QC3.0 USB Hub Power Adapter Wall Charger EU US Plug-WI | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 4 Port Quick Fast Charge QC3.0 USB Hub Power Adapter Wall Charger EU US Plug-WI at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

3 regular ports + 1 fast charge port:

the ebay one above says 3.1A.
i need at least 1A since my desktop computer's usb port (500mA) barely charges my phone because i use the phone as a wifi Hotspot.

how much power do you think it actually delivers?

Lol that one can only put out 3A @ 5VDC.

See picture 6.

 

[teejee]

The cheapest 3-port charger I recommend is IKEA Koppla

Products

Browse our full range of products from dressing tables to complete modern kitchens. Click here to find the right IKEA product for you. Browse online and in-store today!

www.ikea.com

It is actually quite well built. But it is only 17W so still limited. But no safety issues at least.

So look for Anker/Aukey and pay the price

 

[sdifox]

The cheapest 3-port charger I recommend is IKEA Koppla

Products

Browse our full range of products from dressing tables to complete modern kitchens. Click here to find the right IKEA product for you. Browse online and in-store today!

www.ikea.com

It is actually quite well built. But it is only 17W so still limited. But no safety issues at least.

So look for Anker/Aukey and pay the price

5V max 3.4A

 

[rh71]

and thanks for the link to the cheap 4 port!
how did you find this deal?

That's a great price for a 40W Aukey. I paid $25 for my Anker 40W (5-port) a few years back... still going strong. Not sure if Anker's IQ technology is Quick Charge equivalent (don't think so). This doesn't have QC either.

Agree that cheapo ones get really hot and scary.

 

[JEDI]

Lol that one can only put out 3A @ 5VDC.

See picture 6.

so .75A each port?
or it'll allow you to draw as many amps as your device can drink and exceed the 3A max? thus why it could melt/burn up?

5V max 3.4A

so 1.13A max each port?
or any combination up to 3.4A and then the built in circuitry wont allow you to draw more than 3.4A max thus preventing a fire?

 

[dullard]

fire/burn up???

and thanks for the link to the cheap 4 port!
how did you find this deal?

Smoke smell / stop working. No actual fire.

Honestly, I just typed "Aukey 4 port" into Amazon and that deal came up. It isn't high powered, but it is cheap.

 

[JEDI]

Honestly, I just typed "Aukey 4 port" into Amazon and that deal came up.
It isn't high powered, but it is cheap.

ahh.. when i typed 'aukey' in amazon, that 4 port didnt show up.
when i typed 'aukey 4 port', it showed up but when i sorted from low to high, it disappeared again.
amazon algorithm sucks!

avg 2A per port for $10 is the best bang for the buck out of all the suggestions listed in this thread.
also, i dont need more than 2A/port.

even if i do need more than 2A/port in the future, i doubt i need more than 8A from a single port.

um.. are there usb devices that take more than 8A to charge from a single port?
if so, what?

 

[UsandThem]

Many of the no-name chargers on Ebay are not very good. There have been a few websites where people have opened up the wall chargers (and laptop) chargers and found unsafe junk components.

I'd be very careful buying super cheap items that fall under the category of "too good to be true" pricing.

 

[sdifox]

so .75A each port?
or it'll allow you to draw as many amps as your device can drink and exceed the 3A max? thus why it could melt/burn up?


so 1.13A max each port?
or any combination up to 3.4A and then the built in circuitry wont allow you to draw more than 3.4A max thus preventing a fire?

The first one doesn't specify how much each port is limited to but it can only put out 3A total at 5V. Ikea one says max per port is 2.4A but the charger can only put out 3.4A

And I would trust the IKEA rating a bit more than the ebay noname one.

 

[JEDI]

The first one doesn't specify how much each port is limited to but it can only put out 3A total at 5V.

so how does a cheap ebay wall charger catch on fire if the max it'll do is 3A?
or it's lying about the 3A limit and you can draw unlimited thus melting the insulation protecting the wires?

 

[sdifox]

so how does a cheap ebay wall charger catch on fire if the max it'll do is 3A?
or it's lying about the 3A limit and you can draw unlimited thus melting the insulation protecting the wires?

Many different ways, mainly poor component quality and design.
I would never get a charger that does not have a cord. Having to cram everything into form factor that works with receptacles carries compromises.

 

[dullard]

so how does a cheap ebay wall charger catch on fire if the max it'll do is 3A?
or it's lying about the 3A limit and you can draw unlimited thus melting the insulation protecting the wires?

I'm not an electrical engineer, but I have played with a few voltage regulators. The cheap linear voltage regulators output heat proportional to the current used. Double the current and you double the heat output. Without additional circuitry (at additional cost) to limit how much current is used, the heat output can be quite high. Then put the whole thing into a cheap plastic box which can't dissipate much heat and you see why the regulators burn themselves up.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Wouldn't it be cheaper/easier to buy multiple one-port rapid chargers and plug then into a power strip that plugs into one wall outlet?

 

[FaaR]

how much power do you think it actually delivers?

Why not just plug your charging cable/s into your computer/laptop. Stick the charger you got in your travelling bag, so you're ready when you're going out of town...

 

[snoopy7548]

Just replace a couple of your outlets with these:

Leviton 15 Amp Decora Type A and C USB Charger Tamper-Resistant Outlet, White R02-T5633-0BW - The Home Depot

The Type A and Type-C USB Charger/Tamper Resistant Receptacle offers superior charging power for smartphones, tablets, laptops, monitors, printers and more. Two high powered vertical USB Ports, one Type

www.homedepot.com

Leviton 3.6A USB Dual Type A In-Wall Charger with 15 Amp Tamper-Resistant Outlets, White R02-T5632-0BW - The Home Depot

Our USB Charger Devices feature a smart chip that recognizes and optimizes the charging power of your electronic devices for fast and efficient charging. Strategically placed vertical USB Ports in all

www.homedepot.com

 

[sdifox]

Just replace a couple of your outlets with these:

Leviton 15 Amp Decora Type A and C USB Charger Tamper-Resistant Outlet, White R02-T5633-0BW - The Home Depot

The Type A and Type-C USB Charger/Tamper Resistant Receptacle offers superior charging power for smartphones, tablets, laptops, monitors, printers and more. Two high powered vertical USB Ports, one Type

www.homedepot.com

Leviton 3.6A USB Dual Type A In-Wall Charger with 15 Amp Tamper-Resistant Outlets, White R02-T5632-0BW - The Home Depot

Our USB Charger Devices feature a smart chip that recognizes and optimizes the charging power of your electronic devices for fast and efficient charging. Strategically placed vertical USB Ports in all

www.homedepot.com

You want a shorter charging cable and wall sockets are pretty far from where your phone usually is.

 

[Muse]

I contributed to an Indiegogo startup (SlimQ) and got a literally cool GAN 2 port 65watt charger that's pretty small. They have a followup campaign going and I contributed $96 and am supposed to get a 100watt and another 65watt GAN charger. It's slow to come because they are having problems developing the product, design issues. But they send out emails around every 2 weeks and explain the issues. I'm in no hurry. I have all kinds of chargers. I often just plug USB charging cables into a PC. Those GAN chargers are especially good for travel. Light, good charge, run cool. The other ones are notorious for overheating.

 

[Midwayman]

Most chargers from descent brands will tell you their total wattage.
Typical 'fast charge' is 12w. Newer ones are 18w for phones. Bigger devices can take 45w or even more. If you're looking to charge a couple phones and a tablet you probably want 30-60w above there it starts getting expensive. I wouldn't buy something without at least 1 usb type c port, preferably 2.

Cheap ebay ones probably don't deliver more than 12-15w if you're lucky. 1A shouldn't be a problem. FWIW your cable *could* be your problem with your desktop port. It'll only put out 500ma if it can't determine that its a charging cable. Most ports can put out 1A, even usb 2.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I find the rule of thumb is 1 Chinese watt = 0.25 real watts.