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Android charging hack


hiro
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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.

image.png.906d00c3306261e09f808674490c3c5e.png

 

Android_charging_Anker_only.jpg

Android_charging_cut_data_lines.jpg

Android_charging_shorted_data_lines.jpg

Android_view_Anker_cable.jpg

Android_view_shorted_data_lines.jpg

Edited by hiro
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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?

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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.  

battery-tender-usb-motorcycle-union-garage.jpg.2a3ed775e93da3e58d66b13918e71381.jpgRampow-micro-USB-cable-1024x576.thumb.jpg.8a26436590f0d1ba6ad63890fd01dc76.jpg

 

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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.

  • Haha 1
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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 by hiro
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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

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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.

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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.

Screenshot_20171023-164911.thumb.png.06930d22438f8626315aa15f4929b844.png

 

Second test was after all apps were shut down and running things at a minimum.

Screenshot_20171023-172912.thumb.png.3b46c00dd7c017a26a7d11e03b307e4e.png

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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?

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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...

Screenshot_20171024-082420.thumb.png.08743e95b6bb8ebf7c039d9487631eb4.png

Not running...

Screenshot_20171024-082122.thumb.png.74bf068ff935cc680b552f95393a0dd5.png

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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.

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