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Are generic cradles from eBay harmful to the battery?

Hi,
I bought a spare battery for my Desire. But since the battery cover of the Desire is kind of a pain to remove, it's annoying to change the batteries all the time to keep them both filled up. Hence I'm looking for a cradle with an included charger for the second battery. They can be had from eBay for less than $20. But could these cheap cradles be harmful to the battery, e.g. due to overcharging? I've no idea if the overcharge protection is in the phone or in the battery, so I'm kind of clueless in this respect.

No one in the know?

All of these cradles are just a USB port wrapped in a plastic case so are no different than using any USB charger.
So I guess they are only as good as the mains charger being used.

I've been using it for two and a half moths now, and everything is OK. USB cradle connected to my pc, and I've used it as sync, disk and charge only. Mind you it is as someone already wrote just a micro USB wrapped in a plastic dock, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks guys! I went and bought one on eBay.

[Q]Where to find replacement parts?

My droid charge has made itself essentially useless in the last two weeks as the USB port no longer functions and I cannot charge it.
I had purchased the verizon inductive battery door and a powermat and discovered that they aren't compatible. I had heard the Energizer mat was compatible with the verizon door but I haven't had a chance to look into buying one yet- nor do I really want to spend 40+$ just to charge my phone.. Especially since I've already wasted $24 on a powermat that does me no good.
Thus I've determined that I'd like replace the usb charging port on the phone itself. I have 2 friends that work at sprint stores that repair these types of things all the time, and I'm pretty good at electronics stuff like that myself (having fixed multiple blackberries I used to have).
My question is, where can I find a replacement part for this particular phone? I haven't bought a replacement part for a phone in some years, and google searches aren't coming up with any good results. Ebay also doesn't have anything besides screens.. When all I need is a charging port.
Any leads would be greatly appreciated. I'm doing a lot of business traveling lately and I feel seriously crippled not having my cellphone to even make basic phone calls.

Is the USB connector physically damaged? It may be the circuitry that's behind it, in which case the repair process could be way more difficult, unless the Charge has a separate board that handles the charging function.
Does the USB port work for data connection when you connect it to a computer?
Might be easier to buy the desk cradle that comes with a spare battery and a battery charging slot. I hardly ever plug in my phone anymore. I simply replace the battery with a fully charged one.

The USB port is integrated into the board if I remember right-you're SOL unless you are somehow magical at de/resoldering. Other than that, I would assume you could just buy any microusb port and throw it on as long as that port has no bracket or anything (and that you connect the right leads).
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

My usb connecton is crap too, always have to jiggle it n one ot finally connects i cant move it or it will lose connection. But i really only plug it in to use odin. My suggestion would be to snag a wall mount battery charger and an extra battery. Go to ebay, they r dirt cheap.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA

Buy a dock , it comes with a spare battery
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

OEM USB Cable

Has anyone found a spot to buy them? The ones on the Samsung site look different. And I want to make sure the end fits inside my case because the hole is designed for the cable that comes with the phone. I don't want to get into cutting the case or cable ends.

v3rn said:
Has anyone found a spot to buy them? The ones on the Samsung site look different. And I want to make sure the end fits inside my case because the hole is designed for the cable that comes with the phone. I don't want to get into cutting the case or cable ends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't waste your money buying them from samsung. All usb cables are the same, just find a cheap one on amazon or monoprice. You could just look at pictures and find one that looks small enough to fit your case.
Edit- well I guess this is wrong. I've bought a few couple cheap usb cables and never had a problem but other people have.

Just to let you know...the tmobile mytouch usb fits into the neo case too. They might be cheaper too
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MD87T2/ref=mp_s_a_1_27?qid=1369346910&sr=8-27&pi=SL75
Under 4 bucks shipped
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

fly3rs28 said:
Don't waste your money buying them from samsung. All usb cables are the same, just find a cheap one on amazon or monoprice. You could just look at pictures and find one that looks small enough to fit your case.
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I used to think the same thing, but this is absolutely not true. You can download the app Galaxy Charging Current and compare your charging rates with different cables. If you don't believe the app, you can start from a specific charge level and time the charge with the screen off and no apps running. There can be a significant difference. There are several posts throughout the GS4 forums if you search for the app name.
This isn't only true for the GS4 either. I tried using a USB 2.0 extension cable I bought in 03 or 04 to extend my Palm Pre touchstone, but the phone wouldn't consistently charge with the extension in place.

How's the charging speed on those? I know some cheaper cables don't charge as quickly.

fly3rs28 said:
Don't waste your money buying them from samsung. All usb cables are the same, just find a cheap one on amazon or monoprice. You could just look at pictures and find one that looks small enough to fit your case.
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Click to collapse
NOT all cables are the same!
The included one with the phone allows charging up to 1900mA. The one from the S3 (for example) will only charge up to 960. I have some that won't go over 460.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

Its true about the varying speeds of usb cables. Here are some pics of the app with different usb plugs:
Pic 1: unplugged
Pic 2: white Samsung cable (stock)
Pic 3: htc evo 3d cable (stock)
Pic 4: htc evo 3d cable (aftermarket from car adapter)
I will grab the palm pre cables speed on Tuesday when I go to work.
Sent from the CHUUZ3D Galaxy via XDA Premium

So is it the cable that is affecting the charging current, or is it just the charger itself?
Thanks

v3rn said:
Has anyone found a spot to buy them? The ones on the Samsung site look different. And I want to make sure the end fits inside my case because the hole is designed for the cable that comes with the phone. I don't want to get into cutting the case or cable ends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldnt you be able to get a replacement cable from saumsung?

Foulwx said:
So is it the cable that is affecting the charging current, or is it just the charger itself?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both.

What is strange to me the phone with that app reports it's getting 1900mA when I use an old HTC charger capable of 1A (1000mA) @ 5V when using the OEM USB cable. Either that HTC charger's specs were grossly understated or the phone itself tries to sense electrical properties of the USB cable? Not sure if that last bit is even possible.
Anyone with knowledge on how the phone determines how much current to draw on a lower level? Kinda curious.
Also, there are sellers on eBay for the original S4 charging cable for something like $7, or same charging cable and 2A wall adapter for $10.
See for example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/230980370756
The part number they list (ETA-U90JWE) is the same as my OEM charger, that can do 2A @ 5 V.

CHUUZE said:
Its true about the varying speeds of usb cables. Here are some pics of the app with different usb plugs:
Pic 1: unplugged
Pic 2: white Samsung cable (stock)
Pic 3: htc evo 3d cable (stock)
Pic 4: htc evo 3d cable (aftermarket from car adapter)
I will grab the palm pre cables speed on Tuesday when I go to work.
Sent from the CHUUZ3D Galaxy via XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With palm pre usb cable and power adapter
Sent from the CHUUZ3D Galaxy via XDA Premium

v3rn said:
Has anyone found a spot to buy them? The ones on the Samsung site look different. And I want to make sure the end fits inside my case because the hole is designed for the cable that comes with the phone. I don't want to get into cutting the case or cable ends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:BUMP:
Also looking for a 1900mA charger/usb chord combo. Found 2 "OEM" fakes on Amazon (reviews reported fake), and can't just buy, and hope for the best on eBay. Looking to see if someone has bought, tried, and tested a charger/chord combo that does 1900mA from a reliable source. I'm not paying $40+ for a charger/usb chord from samsung. There's got to be an alternative.

Newegg.com sells them.

I've ordered this charger + cable (aware of the risk of fake, will be comparing to my included/OEM), this micro USB cable, and this micro USB cable.
Also waiting on this car charger.
Using Battery Monitor Widget app to get mA readings during charge.
Will report back with results as I receive and test.

I bought this, since my S4 came with the european one, this is 100% original (Same that comes with the S4 and Note 2):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Uni...A_Chargers&hash=item48575436ad#ht_5253wt_1170

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YDFX7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8
Bought that one from seller1on1. Came in today. Cable is shorter than OEM but has the same current
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

FYI regarding my post above, I've started a separate thread since this one has gone a bit off-topic. Sorry OP!

[Face]TigerBite said:
:BUMP:
Also looking for a 1900mA charger/usb chord combo. Found 2 "OEM" fakes on Amazon (reviews reported fake), and can't just buy, and hope for the best on eBay. Looking to see if someone has bought, tried, and tested a charger/chord combo that does 1900mA from a reliable source. I'm not paying $40+ for a charger/usb chord from samsung. There's got to be an alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44181182&postcount=2

bo8 said:
I've ordered ... this micro USB cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wasting money here ... finally received above cable via DX.com and nope, only transmits 700 mA max to the S4. fakkkk

Wireless charger - which one?

Hi,
So, I'm one of the 'few' users which the USB connector on my nexus became loose to the point where doesn't charge anymore. One of the connectors inside broke (shorter then the others), I tried to fix another connector (successfully) but I can't do much about the broken one.
With this I'm left with 3 alternatives.
Send to RMA, logical, but would take at least two months since I'd have to send it to UK (was bought there) and I don't wanna be that long without it.
Order a USB connector and mount it myself. I'm actually considering this... But moving on...
Order a wireless charger, this seems the most fast option to get it charging. Now choosing this option leaves me with some questions. Considering that the official wireless charger is way more expensive than those QI ones, I checked the specifications and seems like the mA/output between QI chargers and official wireless is the same, so, do they take the same amount of time charging? Will I have any issues with another brand (considering it should work on nexus) ? Any big pratical differences between official / other brands if the technical specifications are the same?
Someone care to shed a light on this matter?
Thank you so much in advance
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I use a choetech qi charger. It works perfectly. Charging time is a little longer, but it works awesome
sent from my Paranoid HAMMERHEAD

Since charge faster than others. Some get hot, ie the tylt. I use the Nokia dt900 chargers. They are cheap, charge fast, don't get hot, and just work great.

Well if the USB connecter doesn't work you really should get it replaced, not just work around it by getting a Qi Wireless Charger.
How will you ever use fastboot and adb?
Anyways, it doesn't matter what charger you get and the price tag attached to it, as long as they adhere to the standards they should all charge at the same speed and should last the same amount of time. Better to get a cheaper one and save a few bucks.

Check out the RAVPower wireless chargers. Have one of the round-shaped models, works perfectly with Nexus 5.

Qi Chargers?

Has anyone tried one of those Qi charger films you can find on ebay or amazon that plug into your micro usb port and slip into the back of your case or cover? Do they work? Are they slow as sin?

Our phones are powermat only. No qi for us. Stupid ATT
Sent from my LG-D850 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

conan1600 said:
Has anyone tried one of those Qi charger films you can find on ebay or amazon that plug into your micro usb port and slip into the back of your case or cover? Do they work? Are they slow as sin?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In reading the original XDA LG G3/Accessories forum, somebody posted about using one of these and it worked fine. The only drawback is that you lose the functionality of the USB port. I've been using Qi charging with my GALAXY S3 and don't really use the USB port anymore. Not sure if that would be a deal breaker, but since you're asking the question, it probably isn't. If you buy one of these USB receivers, buy the correct orientation for the plug. The receiver plugs are made two ways, fat side up or fat side down.
I'm on the fence with this phone. Really like it's camera, form factor, the buttons on the back are more convenient & natural to me. The charging thing has put me off. If AT&T would give the Duracell PMA chargers away, it would be easy.
But, I suppose that if one was to add the USB Qi receiver under the case, get a PMA back (when available, only Circle case available currently), you would have all charging possibilities covered!

I was wondering about taking one of the folio cases from Verizon since theirs uses qi and put it on ours. Wouldn't that work? Cut off the front flap? (I don't really care for the folio cases myself.)

Reggie, that won't work. The Qi charging isn't enabled on the AT&T G3. Don't waste your money.
Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

ATT has a deal with powermat to be the wireless charging manufacturers for our g3. Imo I like the powermat and it's pretty cheap on Amazon right now. Got 2 for 20 bucks. Charged pretty fast also. Lets not look at what's wrong but instead look at what lg got right with this device.
Sent from my LG-D850 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

If you want to use a case that utilizes the wireless charging contacts on the back of the phone (under the back cover), then you need to use a Powermat charging coil.
If you want to use a system that plugs into the USB port to charge, you should be able to use any system that you want as it by-passes the wireless contacts. The USB port has no restriction as to what type of power it accepts.

sic0048 said:
If you want to use a case that utilizes the wireless charging contacts on the back of the phone (under the back cover), then you need to use a Powermat charging coil.
If you want to use a system that plugs into the USB port to charge, you should be able to use any system that you want as it by-passes the wireless contacts. The USB port has no restriction as to what type of power it accepts.
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Click to collapse
I dont see why a qi wouldn't work, it's just inductive charging. not magic, is there something in the standard the maybe uses the NFC to do some sort of handshake?
I do know there's two pin types on these phones, if you look at the contacts on the case it's either 4 contacts or 2 contacts, space, 2 contacts.
just gotta get the one with the space. also you can get the sticker from here: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fact...G-G3-CASE-D885-D830-D851-D850/1971193812.html and just peel off the nfc sticker you currently have and replace it.

screwyluie said:
I dont see why a qi wouldn't work, it's just inductive charging. not magic, is there something in the standard the maybe uses the NFC to do some sort of handshake?
I do know there's two pin types on these phones, if you look at the contacts on the case it's either 4 contacts or 2 contacts, space, 2 contacts.
just gotta get the one with the space. also you can get the sticker from here: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fact...G-G3-CASE-D885-D830-D851-D850/1971193812.html and just peel off the nfc sticker you currently have and replace it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a different voltage, and the way inductive charging works the Att one doesn't have the hardware for it. It only has hardware for pwa so it won't work.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I'll add my experience with Qi here. I've got two of them, one on Note 3 and the other on a Nexus tablet. There are two problems that I see. The first is that there isn't any centering mechanism so sometimes the device doesn't sense the charger and doesn't charge. The second is that sometime after a power failure the charger has to be reset before it will charge. In both cases you wind up with a dead device.
I'm about to switch to the PMA charging and will see how it fares. At least it has a magnetic centering mechanism (or so I've been told).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Free mobile app

stuartr said:
I'll add my experience with Qi here. I've got two of them, one on Note 3 and the other on a Nexus tablet. There are two problems that I see. The first is that there isn't any centering mechanism so sometimes the device doesn't sense the charger and doesn't charge. The second is that sometime after a power failure the charger has to be reset before it will charge. In both cases you wind up with a dead device.
I'm about to switch to the PMA charging and will see how it fares. At least it has a magnetic centering mechanism (or so I've been told).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
If you mean a bulky magnet that's in the quick circle case then yes it has "centering". I prefer qi because the receivers are thinner, and it's easier to find chargers and qi tags.