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[Q] TF Charging Indicator?

Sorry if this has already been asked and answered - the XDA Search has been down for the past couple of hours and I just want to be sure I'm not missing anything here..
From what I can see in the reviews, the TF does *not* have any sort of charging indicator / LED on it - correct? I read that there will be one on the keyboard dock - but there is not one on the tablet.
So what are you guys doing? Just plugging it in and letting it sit overnight to give it its full charge - and then going by the battery indicator when you turn it on?
I've got my new TF sitting next to me here, and I'm trying to be a good dad to it by charging it up first before using it - but not having any sort of an indicator on it - I have no idea if it's doing anything or not!!!
Screw it - I think I"m gonna unplug it and start futzing it with it! Battery be damned!!
btw - damn this charge cable is SHORT!!

No charging LED that I can see on mine, and yea, I hate this stupid charging cable, guess you can always get a USB extension cable.
pogul said:
Sorry if this has already been asked and answered - the XDA Search has been down for the past couple of hours and I just want to be sure I'm not missing anything here..
From what I can see in the reviews, the TF does *not* have any sort of charging indicator / LED on it - correct? I read that there will be one on the keyboard dock - but there is not one on the tablet.
So what are you guys doing? Just plugging it in and letting it sit overnight to give it its full charge - and then going by the battery indicator when you turn it on?
I've got my new TF sitting next to me here, and I'm trying to be a good dad to it by charging it up first before using it - but not having any sort of an indicator on it - I have no idea if it's doing anything or not!!!
Screw it - I think I"m gonna unplug it and start futzing it with it! Battery be damned!!
btw - damn this charge cable is SHORT!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Monoprice has the USB 3.0 extension cables, but they won't be in stock until tomorrow (their estimate). When they are back in stock, a 6ft extension will run you about $7-$8 shipped.

I plan to order a few cables from Monoprice with a mini hdmi to hdmi cable.

Does it need to be usb 3.0 or will usb 2.0 do the trick ?
dfin13 said:
Monoprice has the USB 3.0 extension cables, but they won't be in stock until tomorrow (their estimate). When they are back in stock, a 6ft extension will run you about $7-$8 shipped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

USB 2 cables don't supply enough power.
It will charge, but I think it has to be off and it'd be really slow going.

But usb 2.0 extension cable will work fine with the supplied charger? Also would you not require a usb 2.0 to usb 3.0 converter ?

Asus really overlook the inclusion of an charging indicator. Or, they are trying to make more $$$ on the keyboard/dock?

jake21 said:
But usb 2.0 extension cable will work fine with the supplied charger? Also would you not require a usb 2.0 to usb 3.0 converter ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone got some definitve experience on USB2 vs USB3 for charging and/or with an extension cable. The whole charging process and adaptor are making me a little nervous in general.

there is no reason to invest in USB 3 gear when all you really need is higher amperage, wich you often get from stand-alone chargers like the one supplied or you can buy in stores (just check that the output is 1000mah or more, 2000 mah is desired for effective charging).
The reason you might want to use a usb 3 PORT (cable makes no diffrence) is that usb 3 deliver more juice then usb 2, but unless it is a dedicated charger port that can supply 2000mah+ charge the port still require you to have the pad either off or stand by and even then charging will take ages.
Consider this, the supplied charger delivers 2000mah on 5v and my HTC charger to my phone has 1000mah @ 5v. Compared to the standard 550mah on a singel non-charger adapted USB port on a computer.

The TF charger output at 15V @ 1.2A with using the supplied USB3.0 cable. If you use a USB2.0 extension cable, it will drop the charging voltage down to 5V. You will need a USB3.0 extension cable

eli.kennedy said:
Has anyone got some definitve experience on USB2 vs USB3 for charging and/or with an extension cable. The whole charging process and adaptor are making me a little nervous in general.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a thread about this issue here. Several USB 3.0 cables have been found to work, but not for everyone. I have this one that I received today. It charged both the tab and the dock with the wall charger. I've also got a Tripp Lite that's worked for others on the way in the case the other didn't work.

it has to be USB 3.0 extension since the tablet recognizes the extra pin which is what lets it charge at the full rate.

jmkhenka said:
there is no reason to invest in USB 3 gear when all you really need is higher amperage, wich you often get from stand-alone chargers like the one supplied or you can buy in stores (just check that the output is 1000mah or more, 2000 mah is desired for effective charging).
The reason you might want to use a usb 3 PORT (cable makes no diffrence) is that usb 3 deliver more juice then usb 2, but unless it is a dedicated charger port that can supply 2000mah+ charge the port still require you to have the pad either off or stand by and even then charging will take ages.
Consider this, the supplied charger delivers 2000mah on 5v and my HTC charger to my phone has 1000mah @ 5v. Compared to the standard 550mah on a singel non-charger adapted USB port on a computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite correct. The charger senses a gnd connection on pin 7 of the USB 3.0 connector and delivers 15V @2a to the TF and or Dock. There are only 4 conductors in a USB 2.0 Cable. so the charger only delivers 5V as it does not see the gnd on pin 7. For all the technical details see the thread started by DevCake where the voltages and currents have actually been measured. A 5V 20A charger will not be as good as one with 11-15V at about 2A as the charger is not a constant current charger but a power source for a charge controller ( controlling the current) in the TF.

I appreciate that it is a slightly older thread and not sure if what I'm about to post is already known by TF owners but here goes anyway.
The discussion has moved on to cables but the threqad title is about a charging indicator. I've discovered that the battery icon in the bottom RH corner has a lightning symbol through it when it is being charged.
Sorry if it's old news but I've only had my TF one week and thought other users might not be aware

Really wish they would have put in a fancy multicolor LED somewhere on the housing but we can't win them all. Even the Nook Color had an LED on the cable itself.

USB charger

I tried to charge my A700 with a HTC USB charger, but it didn't work. Can anybody confirm that the A700 only can be charged with the original Charger and not with any micro USB cable?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA

schm1dt said:
I tried to charge my A700 with a HTC USB charger, but it didn't work. Can anybody confirm that the A700 only can be charged with the original Charger and not with any micro USB cable?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried several ones and none worked.

Thanks for confirming, that's really bad news.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA

But this was well known befor the device was available. This is necessary because of the huge power pack.
The original charger can provide 12V and 1,5 A. The USB specification is only 5V and 500 mA.

Did you try to charge the HTC with the acer charger ? you cannont plug it ! they added a pin

Out of couriosity,
in this preview they tell us it would charge on USB???
http://youtu.be/Zy736u97xJA
Not good News at all, im lucky i did not preordered this device, its a no go for me...
Can anyone try to charge over USB while the device is turned off, maybe this works?
Greetz Tokl

Tokl said:
Can anyone try to charge over USB while the device is turned off, maybe this works?l
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it doesn't take any power from regular USB pins.
One has the choice: big power pack or loading by USB. I prefer the running time of this device.
Edit: Loading via USB would take over 24 houres for sure.

Now I found also 12V/1.5A on the right side of the housing of the A700. OK so USB is not for charging.
Did someone already find a car charger I couldn'd find at Amazon. (or should we discuss that in the other thread?)
Sent from my A700 using XDA

schm1dt said:
Did someone already find a car charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not yet, I think third party suppliers just need a bit more time.

I have a different experience to your's.
I've tested USB charging with two different USB-chargers. One from Nokia (5V, 1200mA) and one from Samsung (genuine SGS2 charger). Both charge the A700 in stand by mode with about 4% per hour and up to 100% battery capacity. The android battery info does not say "charging" but it does!
When the A700 is switched on my 5V chargers are to weak to charge it.

Shudushi said:
I have a different experience to your's.
I've tested USB charging with two different USB-chargers. One from Nokia (5V, 1200mA) and one from Samsung (genuine SGS2 charger). Both charge the A700 in stand by mode with about 4% per hour and up to 100% battery capacity. The android battery info does not say "charging" but it does!
When the A700 is switched on my 5V chargers are to weak to charge it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice info, but i guess the charging led is off too ?

Shudushi said:
I have a different experience to your's.
I've tested USB charging with two different USB-chargers. One from Nokia (5V, 1200mA) and one from Samsung (genuine SGS2 charger). Both charge the A700 in stand by mode with about 4% per hour and up to 100% battery capacity. The android battery info does not say "charging" but it does!
When the A700 is switched on my 5V chargers are to weak to charge it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed
I charged my A700 with my HTC USB charger (HTC TC E250) in standby mode this night. It charged from 23% to 64% in about 10 hours. There was nothing at the A700 that showed it is charging.
To be honest, 4% per hour is "nearly not charging".

schm1dt said:
Confirmed
I charged my A700 with my HTC USB charger (HTC TC E250) in standby mode this night. It charged from 23% to 64% in about 10 hours. There was nothing at the A700 that showed it is charging.
To be honest, 4% per hour is "nearly not charging".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is known as trickle charge. The device might charge if the micro USB provides enought mili amps AND the device does not need much power when connected (i.e. screen off).
I really doubt that the device will charge on USB when the screen is on, but on the other hand the device will definitly discharge slower when connected to USB.
I have a small calculation to explain things:
The original charger operates with 12V at 1.5 Amps = 18 Watts (which is not USB compatible so they hat to change the jack to ensure it will not be pluged in to a normal USB device and damage it)
If you would like to have the same Power over USB with its 5V max voltage you would need at least 3,6 Amps. Now that is far to much for those little pins on the micro USB jack and the currency would damage the pins when pluggin in and out.
USB standard specification normally is 500mA = 0,5 Amps ( -> 2,5 Watts in comparison with 3,6 Amps 18Watts)
So I think Acer has done a quite nice compromise.
Hope that clarifies matters a bit.

ninjaw said:
Nice info, but i guess the charging led is off too ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed, no charging LED with standard 5V charger. Orange LED while charging only with original 12V charger.

mearoth said:
This is known as trickle charge. The device might charge if the micro USB provides enought mili amps AND the device does not need much power when connected (i.e. screen off).
I really doubt that the device will charge on USB when the screen is on, but on the other hand the device will definitly discharge slower when connected to USB.
I have a small calculation to explain things:
The original charger operates with 12V at 1.5 Amps = 18 Watts (which is not USB compatible so they hat to change the jack to ensure it will not be pluged in to a normal USB device and damage it)
If you would like to have the same Power over USB with its 5V max voltage you would need at least 3,6 Amps. Now that is far to much for those little pins on the micro USB jack and the currency would damage the pins when pluggin in and out.
USB standard specification normally is 500mA = 0,5 Amps ( -> 2,5 Watts in comparison with 3,6 Amps 18Watts)
So I think Acer has done a quite nice compromise.
Hope that clarifies matters a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks M8,
this cleares things.
Still waiting for the 3G/4G Device here in Germany
Greetz Tokl

On the A510, when charging the battery via USB, the icon does not indicate it.
That must be the same on the A700.
DЯΦ[email protected]П said:
But this was well known befor the device was available. This is necessary because of the huge power pack.
The original charger can provide 12V and 1,5 A. The USB specification is only 5V and 500 mA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since USB 2.0 version :
"Several changes and increasing limits including allowing 1.5A on charging ports for unconfigured devices, allowing High Speed communication while having a current up to 1.5A and allowing a maximum current of 5A"
Source : wikipedia.org
Fortunately we are not limited to 500mAh, otherwise we could not quickly recharge our current smartphones .

There are some USB/AC adapters available that put out 2A of juice instead of the typical 1A. For those in the US, check out www.monoprice.com -> they're my go-to source for inexpensive spare cables & such.

It seems that finding a cheaper charger for the A700 isn't a simple task. I had to wade through a lot of cross references with some unintentioned misinformation. First thing was the model number. It's the A510 that is most like the A700 not the A500. Though the A500 does share some similarities it's not the closest match.
When I look for any type of charger, I make sure that the output voltage is correct and the amperage requirements are correct. Looking at the A700's charger, the manufacturer managed to squeeze a lot of info onto it. Amperage is what I always try to find. That is the total amount of current it can handle and deliver to the device connected to it. The A700's charger can handle 1.5 amps. So, the A700 sucks up a quantity of 1.5 amperes of electrons in order for the battery to fill up to it's capacity. That is the load the tablet's battery presents to the charger. Make sure that the charger bought for the A700/A510 can handle at least 1.5 amperes or the wall wart will be OVERLOADED. This is where the charger begins to overheat, smoking warning signals may start coming from the plug and your're asked for a donation for the local voluteer fire department. Besides the voltage which is 12 volts dc, load current requirement is the most important value I make sure is correct for saftey's sake. It is alright to get a charger that has a higher amperage rating but the voltage must be the same, 12vdc for the A700. It just means the charger can handle a larger load.
The only adapter I could find was the original Acer product, mainly because of the unique USB dual purpose connector interface. There is a little diagram of the pinout for the plug on the charger. Using a magnifing glass, I could barely make out the pins the +/-12vdc are attached. Pin P1 is +12vdc and pin P12 is -12vdc. It looks almost beyond a humans capabilities to make or solder together a short plug interface conversion cable in order to use other 12vdc/1.5 A chargers.
I've read in the forums some uncertainty about the proper specs for a replacement charger for the A700, that's why I wrote this post. Maybe , this will help clearup some of the confusion and not add to it. I've also noted a lot of chatter about using a USB cable with the micro USB plug to charge the A700 tablet. Apparently, USB charging can be acheived but it is very slow ( 24 hours or more ) and the amber/white power LED does not indicate the tablet is charging or has finished charging.
If anyone has more info about the A700 charger please reply or post....
Thanks All...

Hi All!
I know that it could be difficult for you to check this Polish site but you can find there a charger that I am going to buy. It has some changeble plugs - also micro usb.
link:
tridex.pl/ramka4.php?menu=towar1&symbol=9396
I think all what you have to do is to look for this kind of a charger - MW3R15GS, btw you can see this name on the original one...
Best regards
Gregork
Acer A701

Save your money and your A701. This thing has only a standard micro-usb plug-in. Check the connector of your Acer charger ... look really close and for better comparison hold a micro-usb-connector from a standard cable next to it. The connector from Acer is longer .. why? because the first row of pins that you can see are not the same ones that fit in a micro-usb-jack. Look deeper into the connector from Acer and you will see a second row of pins.
So if you use this charger with the adapter from that site and set a higer voltage you might fry the usb from your tablet. Sorry to disapoint you but better now than later with a broken tablet.

Charging Cables

Do the TF200/Prime/Other cables word with the Infinity?
I'm thinking about just getting a couple of spare cables here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GJR7GS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A1HKVQTYI2W24Y but want to make sure that they fit and work.
Also, (perhaps a separate thread?) Can we use any AC to USB converter (and cable) to charge the Infinity? The adapter bundled with mine was a bit more robust than normal adapters so I'm inclined to think no, but wanted to confirm before I get a spare one.

My cable from my prime works with the infinity....I also tried a cigarette to USB plug in my Jeep and it would not charge the Infinity

if anyone finds out if other USB charging adapters work successfully, could you please post about it?
much thanks

JMH-ESH said:
if anyone finds out if other USB charging adapters work successfully, could you please post about it?
much thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of them will work. The charging cable for the TF700 doesn't use any the USB pins for charging. It has additional USB3-style pins hidden up inside the connector. Also, the stock charger outputs 15V which I doubt we'd find on any standard USB charger.

DefectiveRobot said:
None of them will work. The charging cable for the TF700 doesn't use any the USB pins for charging. It has additional USB3-style pins hidden up inside the connector. Also, the stock charger outputs 15V which I doubt we'd find on any standard USB charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, correcting my previous post, it can charge via a USB 2.0 connection (as on a standard USB charger) but very very slowly. The current is not enough to charge it while the screen is on. The display will read, "Not Charging" but it actually does. See the following thread for more info:
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1788055

I want to extend the charging cable. Can I use any regular USB M to F cable or do I need something specific?

Aria807 said:
I want to extend the charging cable. Can I use any regular USB M to F cable or do I need something specific?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need a usb 3.0 extension cord to extend the cable

wolfman87 said:
Do the TF200/Prime/Other cables word with the Infinity?
I'm thinking about just getting a couple of spare cables here: but want to make sure that they fit and work.
Also, (perhaps a separate thread?) Can we use any AC to USB converter (and cable) to charge the Infinity? The adapter bundled with mine was a bit more robust than normal adapters so I'm inclined to think no, but wanted to confirm before I get a spare one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got this one and it worked for me.
off of e- bay Item number: 180937129661

DefectiveRobot said:
None of them will work. The charging cable for the TF700 doesn't use any the USB pins for charging. It has additional USB3-style pins hidden up inside the connector. Also, the stock charger outputs 15V which I doubt we'd find on any standard USB charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm... did you actually test that? I went through my charger pin by pin with a multi-meter and found 5 VDC between pins 1 and 4. Look closely at the charger, it says it can supply 5VDC @ 2A or 15VDC @ 1.2 A. The only reason for switching to 15VDC would be if they had some sort of feedback signal on pins 2 and 3 going to the plug-in adapter to signal that the battery was fully charged and tell it to switch to a higher voltage/lower current mode.

ASUS standard charging cable has 5 pins instead of 4. I'm betting the feedback you're looking for actually occurs on the 5th pin.

Charger specs

Anyone know the charger specs needed to charge this from the keyboard while docked? I have a couple and its not touching it.

ang1dust said:
Anyone know the charger specs needed to charge this from the keyboard while docked? I have a couple and its not touching it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the tablet requires at least 12v

Anyone know alink to a wall charger for this tablet? I went to best buy today and found they have nothing to sell me to charge my tablet. I tried my friends IPad 3 wall charger and it doesnt work. Someone suggested 12v but i cant find any of these with a volt regulation spec just wats. If anyone can suggest a wall charger and link it would be great. Thanks!

ang1dust said:
Anyone know alink to a wall charger for this tablet? I went to best buy today and found they have nothing to sell me to charge my tablet. I tried my friends IPad 3 wall charger and it doesnt work. Someone suggested 12v but i cant find any of these with a volt regulation spec just wats. If anyone can suggest a wall charger and link it would be great. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link first.
5v @ 2amp
or
15v @ 1.2amp
The label from my stock wall charger.

ang1dust said:
Anyone know alink to a wall charger for this tablet? I went to best buy today and found they have nothing to sell me to charge my tablet. I tried my friends IPad 3 wall charger and it doesnt work. Someone suggested 12v but i cant find any of these with a volt regulation spec just wats. If anyone can suggest a wall charger and link it would be great. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the original charger has a dual mode operation, if you stick a regular usb cable it will work as a regular usb charger - 5v @ 500-2000mah, if you stick asus transformer cable it will switch to 15v @ 1200mah
asus cable sport a usb 3 connector but uses it in an non-standard way, pin 7 is used to switch modes, if the charger find it connected it will go into 15v mode otherwise usb mode.
on the other side, the tablet wont go into "charging mode" if it dont find at least 12v on its connector so if you want to build a diy charger you'll need one that at least has these specs.

NixZero said:
the original charger has a dual mode operation, if you stick a regular usb cable it will work as a regular usb charger - 5v @ 500-2000mah, if you stick asus transformer cable it will switch to 15v @ 1200mah
asus cable sport a usb 3 connector but uses it in an non-standard way, pin 7 is used to switch modes, if the charger find it connected it will go into 15v mode otherwise usb mode.
on the other side, the tablet wont go into "charging mode" if it dont find at least 12v on its connector so if you want to build a diy charger you'll need one that at least has these specs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this work? http://www.digitalinnovations.com/chargedr-usb-charge-booster.html

al89nut said:
Will this work? http://www.digitalinnovations.com/chargedr-usb-charge-booster.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might work but you will most likely damage your motherboard. Sucking more out than what is supplied will destroy it. Hence why FC mods are not highly recommended. Look at the specs of whichever computer you are going to plug that into. If it has sufficient power (most are standard 5v 500ma) USB ports. Just use caution. I personally just grabbed a powered USB charger. Meaning, there is a battery that can be recharged from a wall outlet, the charged battery then charges whatever i plug into the two USB ports. (up to 15volts) works great on my TF300T. However, i hardly need to use it. Battery lasts all day from a single charge overnight from the wall outlet.

al89nut said:
Will this work? http://www.digitalinnovations.com/chargedr-usb-charge-booster.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just buy an asus transformer compatible charger on amazon...

[Q] Charger/Charging Questions

I searched through some of the threads and I didn't see one directly related to my question so here it goes. I have been unable to get my tablet and or dock to charge with any other charger other then the one it came with. I'ver tried a samsun tablet charger, an 8w usb charger, other misc wall blocks etc. Will our tablet only charge with the asus charger? Any thought's or ideas on this would be great.

eeeeeeeeek said:
I searched through some of the threads and I didn't see one directly related to my question so here it goes. I have been unable to get my tablet and or dock to charge with any other charger other then the one it came with. I'ver tried a samsun tablet charger, an 8w usb charger, other misc wall blocks etc. Will our tablet only charge with the asus charger? Any thought's or ideas on this would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to some it is possible to use a USB 5V charger to charge but you need the patience of Job and have it shut down. The simplest answer is that this tablet cannot be charged from ANY USB 5V power source.
The tablet charges at 12V 1.2A. The ASUS Charger is wired in such a way that when using the supplied cable it charges the tablet with 12V @ 1.2 A. When any other USB cable is used the charger will output 5V so that it can be used to charged other devices.
The only other source of chargers is from eBay. Just make sure you buy one that puts out 12Volts with a minimum of 1.2Amps.
There are other answers to this same question just maybe not the way you posed it!

eckka said:
According to some it is possible to use a USB 5V charger to charge but you need the patience of Job and have it shut down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the tablet (but not the dock) will charge from a 5V USB port, but it will be *very* slow (a few % per hour), and the tablet must be in standby or off.
eckka said:
The tablet charges at 12V 1.2A.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The original charger outputs 15V.

_that said:
Yes, the tablet (but not the dock) will charge from a 5V USB port, but it will be *very* slow (a few % per hour), and the tablet must be in standby or off.
The original charger outputs 15V.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the original is 15V, it does actually switch to 5V if a non transformer USB device is connected. I'll add that a lot of the cheap eBay chargers output 11V to 12V which is why we have so many issues with the device trying to figure out what it is connected to.... imo.

A regular USB charger is 5V.
The tablet starts detecting a charge at 12V.
The original charger is 15V.
It CAN be charged from 5V, but you have to shut it down and it charges at 3-5% an hour. This isn't "some" mentioning it; it's in the bloody manual.
@sbdags If the cheap chargers indeed charge at between 11V and 12V, that explains the constant beeping people experience whilst using them. It keeps varying between "Charging" and "Not Charging".

So basically it sounds like the best way to charge is from the original charger/cable that came with the unit. This is no biggie. I was just trying to understand why a 8v battery back wasn't charging the tablet, but it wasn't idle, i had it on. So if I wanted to use that I would need to power off the device and it will essentially trickle charge. I don't see to many 15v usb car chargers on the market, though I haven't done extensive research. Thanks for the input.

It does charge (slowly) when on and idle - I regularly charge it overnight hooked up to my PC.