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Mobile Phone Chargers...

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Hello.

My cat has chewed through my mobile phone charger cable so I need to get another. I have had a look on ebay but I don't know whether I need to get one for my specific phone or whether any one with the right size plug will work.

So for example, this looks like the one I currently have: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-ZTE-MICRO-USB-3-PIN-MAINS-CHARGER-FOR-ZTE-BLADE-SAN-FRANCISCO-BOSTON-ETC-/221071639147?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhoneAccessories_MobilePhoneChargers&hash=item3378e5826b

But would it be okay to get this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICRO-USB-MAINS-CHARGER-FOR-HTC-DESIRE-S-INCREDABLE-S-/121001564333?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhoneAccessories_MobilePhoneChargers&hash=item1c2c4158ad

I've checked the numbers on the back of my current plug but most people on ebay don't seem to supply voltage numbers in their descriptions. Does that mean that pretty much any cable will be fine?

Thank you!
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Comments

  • if you have a local market they usually have someone selling them
  • David333
    David333 Posts: 742 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    That's great, thanks. But is it okay just to get any charger...? As long as it fits the phone, it doesn't matter about voltage or anything...?
  • Most modern phones now (Except iPhones!) use a micro USB plug. As far as I'm aware they work with any charger that uses the micro USB plug.. one of the benefits of being in Europe is the courts said all phone makers had to use one standard type to make it easy for us and makes everything very compatible.

    Both charges you linked to look fine. Ebay tends to be the cheapest place to get them but if you need it in a hurry, check your local supermarket / market
  • pogofish
    pogofish Posts: 10,853 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I've been through quite a few chargers - OEM, cheapo alternative and cheapo multi charger and all have been just as effective and fine.

    Don't waste the extra cost on a specific charger for your brand if you can get a general one that does just as well.
  • tonyh66
    tonyh66 Posts: 1,736 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Saver0811 wrote: »
    I have two different mobiles that charge using mini USB plug.

    One charger is rated 400ma, the other 750ma.

    The 400ma charger will NOT charge the phone that came with the 750ma charger.


    yes it will, but will take a long............time
  • Figment
    Figment Posts: 2,643 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Saver0811 wrote: »
    I have two different mobiles that charge using mini USB plug.

    One charger is rated 400ma, the other 750ma.

    The 400ma charger will NOT charge the phone that came with the 750ma charger.
    Saver0811 wrote: »
    No it won't......

    The phone requiring the higher charge just doesn't register the lower current charger, it does for a second, then shuts down.

    It WILL NOT CHARGE using the lower output charger.

    I speak from actual experience.


    And no, they are not cheap phone / charger combos.

    I agree. I have two phones, both with Micro-USB sockets. One charger will charge both phones, the other will only charge the phone it came with.
    How do I add a signature?
  • BigRonW
    BigRonW Posts: 96 Forumite
    Saver0811 wrote: »
    I have two different mobiles that charge using mini USB plug.

    One charger is rated 400ma, the other 750ma.

    The 400ma charger will NOT charge the phone that came with the 750ma charger.


    The key issue here is hinted at by the phrase USB. Plug a data cable (rather than a charging cable, unless they're both the same thing for your phone - which they are for MY phone) into a USB socket on your computer, and you'll get a constant 5 Amps and a voltage of 5 Volts... because that's what USB devices are designed to work with. Phoines casn be designed to work with higher voltages and currents, but generally speaking, if power gets to the phone from a cable with a USB plug on it, then 5 Volts and 5 Amps WILL work. However, increasing either might speed the recharging process. How much it's safe to increase them to will vary from one make of phone to another.

    FWIW, I have an old Samsung "Tocco" which I use as a backup phone (the PAYG "Orange" Sim in it also gets me reduced cinema tickets) which I can recharge either from the Data cable (USB plug at one end, Samsung proprietay at the other) or from the charger I got for pennies on Ebay - mains plug & transformer on one end, Samsung proprietary on the other. The latter charges it significantly faster. Makes an excellent "iPod touch" equivalent when I'm walking my dogs; it has aMicroSD card for storage, and lasts several days between recharges.
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    BigRonW wrote: »
    The key issue here is hinted at by the phrase USB. Plug a data cable (rather than a charging cable, unless they're both the same thing for your phone - which they are for MY phone) into a USB socket on your computer, and you'll get a constant 5 Amps and a voltage of 5 Volts... because that's what USB devices are designed to work with. Phoines casn be designed to work with higher voltages and currents, but generally speaking, if power gets to the phone from a cable with a USB plug on it, then 5 Volts and 5 Amps WILL work. However, increasing either might speed the recharging process. How much it's safe to increase them to will vary from one make of phone to another.

    FWIW, I have an old Samsung "Tocco" which I use as a backup phone (the PAYG "Orange" Sim in it also gets me reduced cinema tickets) which I can recharge either from the Data cable (USB plug at one end, Samsung proprietay at the other) or from the charger I got for pennies on Ebay - mains plug & transformer on one end, Samsung proprietary on the other. The latter charges it significantly faster. Makes an excellent "iPod touch" equivalent when I'm walking my dogs; it has aMicroSD card for storage, and lasts several days between recharges.

    No you won't!

    You obviously have no basic electronic knowledge and don't understand the USB interface specification, so why post incorrect unhelpful information.
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 13,987 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My inclination would be to get a charger with a standard USB socket on it and a USB cable that fits your phone; we charge Nokia & Blackberry phones from an Apple mains plug (and also iPods).
  • Forwandert
    Forwandert Posts: 1,211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    All the debating and the OP didn't even state what phone they needed the charger for. It would be easier to compare if we knew the phone so could see what output was required.
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