Source for 3rd Party Chargers Found

[mwheinz]

Update: Be sure to read this whole thread - the information I provided below isn't quite right; gomadic does not offer a "real" NC charging adapter, so the NC will not charge at full speed with their adapters.

I was a bit cranky when I discovered how non-standard the micro-USB jack on the NC really is. Searching the forums here did not provide any 3rd party sources for car-chargers and so on, so I spent some time googling around and found a company with an extensive line of universal power accessories, and supports the NC via a special connector tip:

http://www.gomadic.com/brand-barnes-...cessories.html

Personally, I'm liking that universal charging station - I've been using something more basic for the past several years to charge family phones, it might be time to upgrade.

[rhadin]

You might also want to check out iGo (www.igo.com).

[geertm]

Originally Posted by mwheinz

I was a bit cranky when I discovered how non-standard the micro-USB jack on the NC really is. Searching the forums here did not provide any 3rd party sources for car-chargers and so on, so I spent some time googling around and found a company with an extensive line of universal power accessories, and supports the NC via a special connector tip:

http://www.gomadic.com/brand-barnes-...cessories.html

Personally, I'm liking that universal charging station - I've been using something more basic for the past several years to charge family phones, it might be time to upgrade.

Did some research on these Gomadic chargers some time ago. Found some negative reviews, mentioning that you just get a regular micro-usb charger. So no power charging as with the NC charger.

[NoName]

I wrote Gomadic back in February and this is the reply I got.......

Actually, the Nook color is a bit different and requires a unique connector tip which we are working on. While tip 90 will charge the Nook, it is not a perfect solution (for example, it charges quite slowly and the device specifically says that it is not charging even though it is). We have designed a new tip for it and are in the prodcution process. We hope to have something out shortly.


Sincerely,
Gomadic

I don't know if they've fixed it, but the tip they show for the NC is still #90.

I've been a big user of Gomadic tips and the retractable cables for a long time, but I haven't gotten around to ordering a #90 yet. I do have a #68 (what they said is for sync) and found it didn't work as well as the OEM cable, or even the cable for my EVO to sync. (Can't remember what I didn't like about it, think it was buggy for sync.)

If anyone has the #90 tip, please let me know if it works. I really hate the OEM cord.

[mwheinz]

I don't know if they've fixed it, but the tip they show for the NC is still #90.

Feh. I was wondering about that; I saw your earlier message and I thought you were saying that they had stopped selling B&N adapters because they didn't have a part, when I saw that they were shipping again, I guessed it was the correct tip.

#90 is a different part number from the one they show for my cell-phone though, for the phone they show tip #69.

[mwheinz]

They seem to show the same picture for everything that uses a micro-usb connection. Makes it kind of hard to tell....

[NoName]

I just emailed them again asking if they have a new tip yet........will post back when I hear, but probably not till next week sometime. I would think if it had a new tip it would have a new tip number.

Just FYI since this has nothing to do with the NC, but they do have tips that work well with the Samsung Galaxy Tab (I have the wifi). Only thing I've found that charges like the OEM and SHOWS that it's charging.

[drv]

Something odd is going on at Gomadic. Over on one of the BN forums there's a discussion about a Gomadic external battery. Seems Gomadic doesn't have them in stock but buy.com does. According to one poster, a call to Gomadic to ask about ordering this device provoked an angry response from the rep saying it was only a prototype and demanding to know where the caller saw the device! But buy.com is selling them and Gomadic doesn't know this?

FWIW, I personally would be cautious in dealing with Gomadic. YMMV, of course.

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...20872#U1020872

[goldberry]

I notice those Nomadic shargers put out 1000 ma doesn't the Nook charger give 1500?

[NoName]

I have an old Gomadic battery pack that I bought for an iPod back in January 2010 - High Capacity Rechargeable Pocket Charger for the Apple iPod touch PBPM-1500 $ 49.95
It looks like the one they have now for the NookColor –
Rechargeable Pack Charger for Barnes and Noble Nook Color / NookColor
http://www.gomadic.com/barnes-and-no...y-charger.html

It didn’t work with the iPod Touch and after months of reworking they sent me a free replacement Gomadic Power Pack with LED
http://www.gomadic.com/gomadic-power...usb-cable.html (the charger part that seems to be discontinued now.)

I also have -

Scosche IPDBAT2 Portable Back Up Battery (Comes with an adapter for the Galaxy Tab, but works for the Nook Color also. Connection seems a better fit then the ebay adapter but guess that’s what you get for cheap.)
http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-IPDBAT...5331275&sr=8-1


New Trent iDual-Port Pack IMP50D 5000mAh External Battery Pack
http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-iDua...5331383&sr=1-4


All of the above battery packs DO work and say it’s charging IF I use the OEM cord and an adapter I bought from ebay -

Barnes & Noble Nook Color filter plug for USB charger
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...E:L:OU:US:1123


I still don’t know if the tips Gomadic has work or if they only trickle charge. So far, the only cord that I’m sure about is the OEM cord. Seems like most battery packs will work but only with the adapter.

Found a wall wart replacement that DOES work – but still – only with the OEM cord.

http://www.zipkord.com/index.php?mai...986vonkejlnof6

[NoName]

Originally Posted by goldberry

I notice those Nomadic shargers put out 1000 ma doesn't the Nook charger give 1500?

I haven't timed the NC charging from different battery packs or different outputs - The Scosche has a high outlet. All I know is they all work but only with the little ebay adapter. The little adapter also works for charging from a computer USB port - something about fooling the NC into thinking it's a high output or something.

[NoName]

Heard back from Gomadic about the tips and I guess they still have tips that trickle charge - they do work, but slowly.

I'm afraid we do not have a solution for it yet (tip 90/68 will not work). We are having great difficulty sourcing the appropriate connection hardware from our suppliers which is preventing us from releasing a new design.


Sincerely,
Gomadic

[mwheinz]

Well that's extremely disappointing given that their site explicitly calls it out as an NC adapter.

It also looks like there's something non-standard about the NC's charger itself, not just the cable. I used the B&N usb cable with a high-power USB hub (2500 mA, total output) and the NC still only trickle charged. Now, it's possible that the hub limits the current available to each port to much less than 2500 mA, but it's a pretty simple piece of kit.

[NoName]

Originally Posted by mwheinz

Well that's extremely disappointing given that their site explicitly calls it out as an NC adapter.

It also looks like there's something non-standard about the NC's charger itself, not just the cable. I used the B&N usb cable with a high-power USB hub (2500 mA, total output) and the NC still only trickle charged. Now, it's possible that the hub limits the current available to each port to much less than 2500 mA, but it's a pretty simple piece of kit.

I don't know what USB hub you used but the EVO 4G 9292 - Travel Adapter By ZipKord http://www.amazon.com/EVO-4G-9292-Ad...0233327&sr=8-2 does say it's charging when the B&N usb cable is used. No adapter, just the cable. I like it because it has 2 USB outputs. It will charge both my NookColor and my Galaxy Tab at the same time. Folds up nicely for travelling.

If you do look for the Zipkord, be careful because there's an older version out there that's a little cheaper and doesn't have the high output. The one that works (model POWERAC2A2) says One amp from each USB socket. The other one has TOTAL 1 amp output (.5 amp each outlet)and probably doesn't work.

[mwheinz]

Good to know. Thanks.