Charging Via Usb? Options

[daniel3000]

Hello,

as USB also works with 5V power supply to other devices, couldn't the Zauri (e.g. SL-C3000) be charged via USB when connected to a PC for syncing / data transfer?
One could hard-wire the USB power supply lines Vcc and 0V to the AC adapter plug, and each time you connect the Zaurus to the PC the Zaurus will be charged...

Or, without a hardware modification: An adapter cable could be made; basically a normal USB A to USB-mini-B cable with a third end with a charging plug, wired from the USB power lines.

Has anyone done this before, or are there any points against that?

daniel

[omega]

I do it on my c860... built a sync cable that can charge through the i/o plug... what you say will also work, making a usb cable with two plugs one or the dc power and the other for usb sync.

[TRIsoft]

I do it on my c860... built a sync cable that can charge through the i/o plug...  what you say will also work, making a usb cable with two plugs one or the dc power and the other for usb sync.

Omega,

NOOOO ! STOP ! Don't do this !
You're a SL-C860 user, so it's no problem.
Charging over USB is possible with C700/750/760/860 only !
These devices support charging via the SHARP I/O port.
The SL-C1000 / SL-C3000 models _don't_ support this. We
don't know if the appropriate pins are not connected or if
you may damage the device, but i wouldn't test it out.

Again: Don't use the previous available charging cables on
the CxK units.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

[Stubear]

You mean something like this

http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=138

I've been using one off and on now for about a month - used to use the same companies power/sync cable too on my C860.

According to Sharp's Japanese C1K/C3K faq, the usb mini-a/b doesn't support powering the Z.

Stu

[gdog]

I do it on my c860... built a sync cable that can charge through the i/o plug...  what you say will also work, making a usb cable with two plugs one or the dc power and the other for usb sync.

Omega,

NOOOO ! STOP ! Don't do this !
You're a SL-C860 user, so it's no problem.
Charging over USB is possible with C700/750/760/860 only !
These devices support charging via the SHARP I/O port.
The SL-C1000 / SL-C3000 models _don't_ support this. We
don't know if the appropriate pins are not connected or if
you may damage the device, but i wouldn't test it out.

Again: Don't use the previous available charging cables on
the CxK units.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

Marc's right. Why even bother taking the chance. The 6000 was chargable via USB also, but that's because the service port allowed it.

What are you really gaining compared to losing your warranty and possibly your device. For Pete's sake just carry an extra battery or a slightly larger case and the adapter. If you're doing something that requires a constant charge then why not just do it on the PC you're thinking of using in place of the adapter???

Just my $.02

gdog

[daniel3000]

You mean something like this

http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=138

No. I mean a real USB data cable with ADDED plug for the 5V AC jack of the Zaurus. The one shown on your link is only a plain USB power cable.

And Marc, I also don't mean charging via the Sharp I/O port.

I mean simply a (self-made) cable with an USB-A plug on one side (PC) and with two plugs on the other side: A Mini-USB-B plug (Zaurus data) and that round AC adapter plug (Zaurus 5V supply).

Since the USB ports of a PC should supply a very stable voltage for sinsitive devices, it should be well suited to charge the Zaurus. THe only thing to tke care of is not to connect in in parallel with many other devices on a passive USB hub, because the power on the USB port will not suffice.

daniel

[Stubear]

You mean something like this

http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=138

No. I mean a real USB data cable with ADDED plug for the 5V AC jack of the Zaurus. The one shown on your link is only a plain USB power cable.

And Marc, I also don't mean charging via the Sharp I/O port.

I mean simply a (self-made) cable with an USB-A plug on one side (PC) and with two plugs on the other side: A Mini-USB-B plug (Zaurus data) and that round AC adapter plug (Zaurus 5V supply).

Since the USB ports of a PC should supply a very stable voltage for sinsitive devices, it should be well suited to charge the Zaurus. THe only thing to tke care of is not to connect in in parallel with many other devices on a passive USB hub, because the power on the USB port will not suffice.

daniel

From the Sharp Japan site (http://support.ezaurus.com/sl-c1000/qa/qa_7_35.asp#a6)

Q.6  USBケーブルからSL-C1000へ電源供給されますか？
A.6  USBで供給できる電流は500mAまでです。SL-C1000に使用されている専用リチウム充電池EA-BL11の充電および実行にはそれ以上の電力が必要であるため（1800mA）、USBケーブルからは充電できません。ACアダプターをご使用ください。

Which translated says

Q.6 Can the USB cable charge the SL-C1000?

A.6 The current that can be supplied from USB is up to 500mA. Because more power is needed to charge the special lithium rechargable battery EA-BL11 (1800mA) used in the SL-C1000, it is not possible to chaege it from the USB cable. Use the AC adaptor.

They don't mention whether the wiring of the usb cable support the charging of the battery, but they don't seem to think that it would work even if the wiring was properly connected, but the extra AC plug idea just might be workable.

Give it a try, I would love to hear your results on this. I loved being able to sync and charge my C760 with the one cable, I can still charge using USB but need another cable for data transfer.

Stu

[Meanie]

The USB cable cannot charge the Z, but it can supply sufficient power for it to run.
If you want to charge your Z via USB, then you will need to build a custom cable with the power plug on one side and two usb a connectors on the other to draw power from two usb ports.

[TRIsoft]

OK,
now i got it.
Using such a funny USB-to-power-jack cable is OK.
But you shouldn't use these cables on external active
hubs. Some of the hubs blow out more than 5V which
could damage your Zaurus. As long as you use it
connected to a PC, there should be no problem.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

[daniel3000]

OK,
now i got it.
Using such a funny USB-to-power-jack cable is OK.
But you shouldn't use these cables on external active
hubs. Some of the hubs blow out more than 5V which
could damage your Zaurus. As long as you use it
connected to a PC, there should be no problem.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

Thanks for all your feedback! I will give it a try, maybe with two USB plugs (thanks for the idea! I remember that I have seen something like this for external HDDs!). And when I'm finished, I'll report here!

daniel

[euroclie]

You mean something like this

http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=138

I've been using that cable for a while now to charge my C3000's battery while on the move. I've got a nice small USB hub with a not too bulky 5V DC adapter, so basically I have the power-to-go cable connected between one of the USB connectors of the hub and the Zaurus, and I use my USB mini-A to USB adapter, and a USB to mini-B cable to connect the USB hub to the Zaurus through the USB host plug. (OMG, how confusing it sounds when I try to re-read this sentence... See the attached picture, it'll be easier to understand! It shows my Zaurus connected to the USB hub by both USB-host cable and power cable, and a bluetooth USB dongle and USB mouse connected to the hub. Works like a charm!  c3kusb1.jpg ( 18.05K ) Number of downloads: 584
)

All in all, my Zaurus can recharge if I don't need any particular power from the USB hub for another USB device, and if so I just disconnect the power-to-go cable and the AC adapter then powers the USB device.

I'm not sure if sharing the same USB port to plug a cable that would go to the Zaurus USB host plug AND to the Zaurus DC plug would work (maybe there are electrical implications to doing that, like the Zaurus DC requiring too much power and conflicting with the normal USB link), but OTOH I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. It's close to what I'm doing right now, except that the USB cable is plugged to a different port on the HUB than the DC cable...

[samxiao]

is it possible i get the C7x0/C8x0 series Serial-USB cable and charge that way instead?

[euroclie]

is it possible i get the C7x0/C8x0 series Serial-USB cable and charge that way instead?

I don't think so. The C7x0/C8x0 could be recharged by simply using the USB connector, while the C3x00/C1000 can only be recharged via the DC plug, as far as I understand...

[Meanie]

is it possible i get the C7x0/C8x0 series Serial-USB cable and charge that way instead?

I don't think so. The C7x0/C8x0 could be recharged by simply using the USB connector, while the C3x00/C1000 can only be recharged via the DC plug, as far as I understand...

Yup, the C3x00 and C1000 use a special DC plug which unfortunately is not too common, but the "P to GO" cable fits just perfect. The USB port is a OTG port and does not charge like the older models.

[Curious Aardvark]

Right well I guess that's another reason for me to hang on to my 860 :-) I can charge from any usb port, car, mains all with one compact cable.

It does make you wonder why sharp changed such a useful 1 port solution.
But then I don't have usb in support - I can live with that :-)

I did try messing around with chargers on my original 5500 and fried it - so just be careful folks :-)
But you've got to admire the ingenuity :-)