hiro Posted October 21, 2017 Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 (edited) Shorting the data lines at the Android end doubled the charging current using an Anker cable and a 3A USB charger. I used an old USB extension cable to play with the data lines. The Anker cable was better than some random, skinny cable, but no better than a stock Samsung cable for current in this case. Edited October 21, 2017 by hiro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 BTW, using a random cable, the phone lost charge while on the charger with Google Maps running, the screen on full brightness, and active Bluetooth. I'm guessing the screen was doing most of the killing. The Anker cable alone may or may not be able to handle it. I'm thinking, no. What I'd like to get or make is a small, USB pass-through connector that cleanly shorts the data pins without needing to mod the cable or charger. Anyone have something like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 F-it. Maybe it would be easier to get an SAE to cigarette socket and an Adaptive car charger. That should set up higher current charging automatically, and I could still use my pretty red cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 Battery tender USB adapter and a Rampow cable is all I've used for several years and never unplugged it from the bike with less than 100% battery. And I run GPS (nav), Music (Pandora), GPS tracker and all back ground stuff running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 What's this charging app your using? I'll test mine out tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 12 minutes ago, 2talltim said: What's this charging app your using? I'll test mine out tonight. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTheAzn Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 Beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 Cut me some slack been up since 2 a.m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 57 minutes ago, 2talltim said: Cut me some slack been up since 2 a.m. We didn't give you any grief, just answered the question. If you are feeling like a dumbass for not seeing the name of the app that was there in a huge font in a big pic that is on you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 (edited) Different phones and chargers may use different ways to signal that they can handle more current. In my case it seems to be shorted data lines. I ordered a specific data blocker that should also trick the phone into drawing more current. The same company also makes a cable that shorts the data lines, but I already have a nice cable. Anyway, the data blocker could be used with any cable, so that's convenient. It's just a little big. PortaPow Data Blocker USB Adaptor with SmartCharge PortaPow Specialised 1ft 20AWG Charge Only Micro USB Cable Edited October 23, 2017 by hiro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 10 minutes ago, hiro said: Different phones and chargers may use different ways to signal that they can handle more current. In my case it seems to be shorted data lines. I ordered a specific data blocker that should also trick the phone into drawing more current. The same company also makes a cable that shorts the data lines, but I already have a nice cable. Anyway, the data blocker could be used with any cable, so that's convenient. It's just a little big. PortaPow Data Blocker USB Adaptor with SmartCharge PortaPow Specialised 1ft 20AWG Charge Only Micro USB Cable I've had 3 different phones too. Galaxy S3, S5 and now S7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 4 minutes ago, 2talltim said: I've had 3 different phones too. Galaxy S3, S5 and now S7 All better phones than mine. Maybe I should get one of those. (I never really cared for a smart phone before, so I just got a cheap J1.) Higher current (or higher voltage) could be signaled by specific voltages on the data lines, or shorting the data lines. There is a cable that has built-in resistors to put voltage on the data lines. The charger is supposed to handle that though. Maybe the Battery Tender does that? Clearly my USB port doesn't do what my phone is expecting, and I've read that other people have had slow charging with the Battery Tender even. Just need the right combination for it to work, I guess. Apple does something more complicated, probably so you have to buy their cables and chargers. Partly why I don't like Apple products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 BTW, I think Ampere shows the charging current minus the discharging current. So if it shows -250mA without the charger and 750mA on the charger, it's really pulling 1A from the charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekClouser Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 This is typically how all my random 2am searches end. I start with doing some research on something common and end up trying to learn the intricacies of how a USB charger works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 This is what I got... Test one was with a shit ton of apps running, 2 tracker apps, 2 GPS apps, Pandora was running and screen on bright with the led flashlight on. Second test was after all apps were shut down and running things at a minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 What app did you use for that test Tim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 3 minutes ago, Tonik said: What app did you use for that test Tim? Dick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Tonik said: What app did you use for that test Tim? 5 minutes ago, 2talltim said: Dick Someone else got called that tonight too. to the lot of you. @JustinNck1 Edited October 24, 2017 by 2talltim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 4 hours ago, 2talltim said: This is what I got... Test one was with a shit ton of apps running, 2 tracker apps, 2 GPS apps, Pandora was running and screen on bright with the led flashlight on. Second test was after all apps were shut down and running things at a minimum. Looks pretty good. Is that through the Battery Tender? How about without the charger connected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Looks like I got caught with my clutch cable lock nut undone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 9 hours ago, hiro said: Looks pretty good. Is that through the Battery Tender? How about without the charger connected? Yes that's with the tender adapter. Her are the same test unplugged. Apps running... Not running... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 3 hours ago, 2talltim said: Yes that's with the tender adapter. Her are the same test unplugged. Wow, so the phone is pulling about 1.5A from a 2.1A USB port. Impressive! If my phone still discharges after trying the new work-around, I'll try a Battery Tender port. Unless my phone's issue is battery calibration or something. It dropped into the 80's from 100 with the cable connected for navigation only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinNck1 Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Here's what I got on my $12 wireless charger with some apps running in background. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted October 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2017 Seems a little weak, but charging a battery fast all the time might not be good for it. Not sure. Wireless seem cool dho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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