Will a 12V/1.2 Amp Charge a 2.1 Amp Gadget?

pennypincher3562

Hi

I've got a Bluetooth speaker, and need a new wall charger for it. I see Maplin are currently selling a 12v/1.2 Amp multi voltage charger reduced to £9.99.

Will I be able to use a 1.2 Amp charger for a 2.1 Amp device? I imagine the only downside is, that the rechargeable lithium battery in the device will charge slower?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

flashg67

My guess is that it will either charge slower, or not at all - helpful I know!
My Samsung phone uses a 1A charger but a 500ma charger we have doesn't seem to be powerful enough to cause the phone to charge.

sk240

Yeah it will be fine for charging a speaker.
Some phones struggle if they are discharging more than they are charging, most modern phones need a 2A supply to charge at the same time as being used.

bod1467

If you plan to use it to ONLY charge the speaker (i.e. whilst the speaker is NOT being used) then it might be OK. If you're planning to use the speaker whilst plugged in then it may not work. In either case there's a chance that the charger will run hot.

If the correct rating charge is not available, it is generally better to use a higher power charger than rated rather than a lower power one. The device being charged will (should) only try to pull as much current as it needs - if this is 2A and you use a 4A charger, only 2A will actually flow from the charger.

pennypincher3562

Thanks, very useful advice on something I didn't know much about.

Cheers
Pennypincher3562

Moneymaker

Its life will probably be short because you'll be running it continuously at maximum load. Watch out for overheating. Don't place it on, or near, anything flammable.

pennypincher3562

I won't bother buying 1.2A power supply. Don't like the idea of the charger possibly overheating. I'll just be patient, and look out for a charger with the correct specification.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

bod1467

What model is the bluetooth speaker?

pennypincher3562

Hi

It's a SoundFreaq SoundStep. The review below confirms the 12v/2.1A power supply:

http://www.pinstripemag.com/2013/10/sound-step-lightning-speaker-dock-review.html

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

bod1467

There are lots of 12V/3A power supplies on Amazon UK (example). Take a look and find one that has the right connector type for your speaker.

pennypincher3562

Thanks Bod1467. Do you know to identify the correct connector? They all look very similar.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562