AC adapter doesn't give an SL-C760 a full charge in the USA Options

[qx773]

I purchased my SL-C760 on eBay. I noticed that the battery was not getting a full charge. I thought that perhaps the battery was dying, since the computer was already used by someone else. I then read elsewhere on the web that the AC power adapter is meant for use in Japan, so I tried using the Zaurus SL-5500 power adapter. The model number of the SL-5500 adapter is EA-70. The SL-5500's power adapter was able to give the battery in my SL-C760 a full charge. The power adapter that came with the SL-C760 is for 100 volts.

[2devnull]

Interesting....I wonder where I can get a SL-550/SL-5600 adpater to purchase in the US for a resonable price?

[clivel]

I purchased my SL-C760 on eBay.  I noticed that the battery was not getting a full charge.  I thought that perhaps the battery was dying, since the computer was already used by someone else.  I then read elsewhere on the web that the AC power adapter is meant for use in Japan, so I tried using the Zaurus SL-5500 power adapter.  The model number of the SL-5500 adapter is EA-70.  The SL-5500's power adapter was able to give the battery in my SL-C760 a full charge.  The power adapter that came with the SL-C760 is for 100 volts.

I wonder if your adapter isn't perhaps faulty? If the adapter is designed for 100v, and you are running it on 110v, in theory you should be getting 10% more voltage out of the adaptor, which is more likely to give you a full charge.
I could see that Running a 110v adapter on 100v may be problematic, but unlikely, modern electronics are generally designed to cope with more than a 10% variation in power.
Clive

[qx773]

The EA-70 or similar adapters are available on sale on eBay in the range of $15-$20 dollars.

The bottom line is that I get a full charge indicator now in the taskbar by using the EA-70 power adapter versus the one that came with the SL-C760. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[HennaOjisan]

Unfortunately, many of the Japanese market electronics, particularly portable devices' charging circuitry fails with 110v input. I've killed my panasonic mp3 player charger by doing so. I would highly recommend and even say "must" use a step down regulator. I have dedicated step down for my c760 to avoid any risks...

HennaOjisan

[raybert]

Try to test the ouput of your adapter with a voltmeter. It should be pretty close to 5V. If it's not, your adapter is faulty.

Another guy on the ZUG has had the same problem. When he measured his output it was much lower than 5V (~1.3V, IIRC).

I measured the output of the adapter that came with my c860 at around 5.1V. My adapter works fine and my Z gets a full charge.

~ray

[ran]

The Sharp adapters are actual regulated power supplies, not just simple transformers, so they should provide the same output at 110V as ayt 100V.

I use Compaq adapters for my SL-5500s, and they work fine. Not only are they cheaper, but I'm not even sure it's possible to get an official Sharp car power cord. I assume the SL-Cxxx series power input is the same, but I haven't verified it personally.

Ran

[mcamou]

Is the Sharp adapter center-negative or center-positive?

[qx773]

Center positive.

[aixman]

Not sure about how this affects the 760 but I thought I had the same issue with my 860. I just got it on Wednesday and had it plugged in while piddling with it into the night. The next morning (6 hours of charge) the battery indicator was still on 3/4 charge. I took it into work the next day to show off my new toy and eventually ran the battery dry. I plugged it in when I got home (around 4:00 pm) and kept periodically checking (and more piddling) and still only a 3/4 charge around midnight. I left it on the wire till the next morning and it finally went to a full charge.

I would like to think that it may be some kind of 1st time charge scenario and won't take that long in the future, but I'm not counting on it.

[zbones]

A few points about charging,

The first one is that you should not use the Zaurus (or any device) for the first charge, the first charge is also best left overnight. Iknow it's tempting to turn it on early

Secondly, if the zaurus is in standby it will charge much quicker than powered up. in fact mine does not seem to charge fully while powered up.

Thirdly, lithium batteries tend to perform better after a few full charge/discharge cycles.

My c760 takes a couple of hours max to charge from empty on standby, as it generally still has plenty in the battery, a daily topup charge is usually 30mins.

Peter

PS, I am also using the two amp charger from my sl5500, not the one amp charger that came with the c760, that would most likely go bang if I plugged it into the ~240vac mains in the uk.

[Luke-Jr2]

I've been using the C760 charger since I got my Z a year ago. It never stopped charging, so I just figured that was normal. It doesn't bother me since it's rare that the battery runs out (I used to use my Z for ~8-9 hours w/o charging and still have a little power left).
Anyway, I guess my point to this reply is that the charger will continue to work fine even if it doesn't actually complete a charge. If it's still had no effect in the year I've had my Z, I don't see it damaging it in the future... Lucky me =p

[mac wilson]

You should purchase a voltmeter. They are cheap and can be VERY useful
(Radio shack in the US has cheap ones for about $10 US)

Now if you use a voltmeter it may say 5V and still be defective because a voltmeter has almost no current draw so the AC adapter might be faulty, when all of a sudden it is required to supply current (as when it's plugged into the Zaurus the voltage may drop way down)

But if the voltmeter says 1.5V not plugged in, than you know it's bad.(probable it's the case)

Most likely (most definitely) if your not getting a full charge the Ac adapter is bad (not the C860 japan adapter in general-just yours).

Either way, you might want to get a voltmeter.

They REALLY are usefull for plug polarities (something you must be certain about always).

[Miami_Bob]

Sharp EA-72
AC 100V 50/60Hz 11VA
DC 5.0V 1.0A
center (+)

Been fully charging C860s for about 8 months without problems or fail.

YMMV

[PDAgal]

The EA-72 Sharp charger than came with my C860 always charges to 100% and the Zaurus light goes from amber to green when charging is done.