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USB charging

L

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I’ve just bought a rechargeable torch, there’s no charger included as it uses a usb cable.
It’s mainly for additional lighting when working in dark areas and my old rechargeable site light is getting a bit temperamental. Thought it might come in handy if we have a power cut.
The only charger plugs I have are for the iPhone and iPad, I don’t want to use these if I can help it.
Do these chargers come in different amp outputs ?
I am aware that some of the aftermarket chargers can be a bit dodgy.
Any suggestions?
Am I overthinking the issue?
 
I'd suggest asking family and friends if they have a charger they don't want - preferably one that came with a decent brand name (just so you feel safer leaving it unattended). Any charger will charge your torch. A higher current one might do it faster but does speed matter? Can't see it harming your apple chargers if you use one of those.
 
USB "chargers", and I use quotes because they are actually power supplies - the charging algorithm is performed in the device (same as EV chargers), have a few variations that are supposed to be signalled via the data conductors in the cable. Having evolved over time, it's a bit confusing, IMO.
As for suggestions, I buy the triple output chargers from IKEA, Big Clive did a tear down on YouTube a while back.
 
I have a Luceco rechargeable head torch, an Anver rechargeable battery pack and a pair of Bose headphones. All came with USB cables which are identical. I just plug just one of these cables into an Apple USB charger to charge all 3 items and have never had any trouble.
 
You are over thinking it :-)
If it fits and was made in the last ~2 years, it will work.
 
Lurker said:
Do these chargers come in different amp outputs ?
Click to expand...
Yes, but it doesn't really matter in practice.

Any USB charger will be able to supply the baseline 5V output with some amount of current. Some chargers can supply higher voltages, but will only do so if the thing being charged asks it to. The thing you're charging will have a set of voltage levels it can accept, and an amount of current it can take at each of them. It won't draw more current than it needs, and the charger won't supply more voltage than it asks for, so the worst case situation (unless you have very dodgy knock-off devices) is that it charges a bit slower.

For the most part, if both ends are USB and you've got a cable that physically fits, it'll charge. The main exception is laptops that charge via USB-C - those require a lot more power and will refuse to talk to an underpowered charger.
 
Last time in Ikea I over ordered and wished I had not got the gravadlax as well as the wish and fips. Food is very cheap but not as good as M&S. Was a bit greedy. Also wish I had not bought the funky battery table lamp (does not work) or either of the photo frames (acrylic not glass :mad:and both indelibly marked with a triangle black logo in several places not visible when packed. Some ikea stuff is trashy and the store layout is dangerous if there is a fire IMO. I can't find my way out even in perfect lighting :cool:
 
spb said:
Yes, but it doesn't really matter in practice.

Any USB charger will be able to supply the baseline 5V output with some amount of current. Some chargers can supply higher voltages, but will only do so if the thing being charged asks it to. The thing you're charging will have a set of voltage levels it can accept, and an amount of current it can take at each of them. It won't draw more current than it needs, and the charger won't supply more voltage than it asks for, so the worst case situation (unless you have very dodgy knock-off devices) is that it charges a bit slower.

For the most part, if both ends are USB and you've got a cable that physically fits, it'll charge. The main exception is laptops that charge via USB-C - those require a lot more power and will refuse to talk to an underpowered charger.
Click to expand...
While I mainly agree, I've no doubt that Apple would be happy to invalidate your warranty if they knew you'd used their charger with a non-Apple device. There are some fairly crappy chargers out there, which is why I suggested IKEA. Poundland used to have an excellent charger for £2, however illogical that sounds.
 
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