USB Charging (PRS500 model)

tekchic · 03-12-2007, 04:53 PM

I'm trying to charge my reader via USB on Windows Server 2003. Sony's fabulous Connect Software won't run on anything but XP (or I suppose Vista) and I can't install it.

I have my Reader plugged in, all I want to do is have it charge while I'm working. The amber charge light doesn't come on at all.

I can't remember if the charge light comes on when I'm charging USB or if it's not actually charging. It does have the screen on saying "USB Connected", but no battery meter or anything.

Anyone know offhand?

Thanks

diabloNL · 03-12-2007, 05:17 PM

The battery won't charge if the Connect software isn't installed on your computer. It will show "USB connected", but it won't charge. Had the same problem when I was on holiday and thought to charge my Reader through USB on the laptop from my girlfriend.

HarryT · 03-13-2007, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekchic

I can't remember if the charge light comes on when I'm charging USB or if it's not actually charging. It does have the screen on saying "USB Connected", but no battery meter or anything.

Anyone know offhand?

Thanks

The charge light does show if it's charging via USB or not. As others have said, on a PC at least, it'll only charge via USB if you have the "Connect" software installed. Rather oddly, some have reported that the Reader does charge on a Mac without the software. Some difference between the USB ports of Macs and PCs, perhaps?

If it's any help, the PSP charger works fine on the Reader. You can pick these up very cheaply.

Robert Marquard · 03-13-2007, 08:53 AM

This is probably a driver issue which makes me believe that the reader indeed implements proper USB charging. Keep in mind that you cannot simply draw power from USB. The power is part of the bus protocol.

HarryT · 03-13-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Marquard

Keep in mind that you cannot simply draw power from USB. The power is part of the bus protocol.

That may be true in theory, but the world is full of devices which use USB purely as a power source. I have a USB-powered pencil sharpener

.

tekchic · 03-13-2007, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the help, it was indeed not charging. I *really* wish Sony's Connect software was a little better. It's not unfathomable that a developer like myself might want to install the software on Win Server 2003 - it's my daily work machine where I work.

Got home and charged off the wall to give it a good solid charge and I'm back to reading today

Thanks for the tip!

(HarryT - it was a matter of just being stuck at work with a dead Reader, I use my PSP charger at home for regular charging, I think my Reader charger's still in the original box, hehe).

NatCh · 03-13-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekchic

... I think my Reader charger's still in the original box, hehe).

Well if you're not using it at home, you could take it to work.

RWood · 03-13-2007, 03:54 PM

Have you thought of installing VirtualPC on WinServer 2003, putting XP under that, and then installing CONNECT in XP?

NatCh · 03-13-2007, 04:02 PM

Hmmm. That brings the phrase "Rube Goldberg" to mind, for some reason.

RWood · 03-13-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Hmmm. That brings the phrase "Rube Goldberg" to mind, for some reason.

Rube always took a too direct approach for my tastes, I like a more indirect kind of event.

dhbailey · 03-14-2007, 05:08 AM

I have seen some devices which plug into a car's cigarette lighter and provide power to a USB cable for charging devices capable of being charged via USB port.

Has anybody tried this sort of thing to see if the Sony Reader will charge with such a device? Naturally there isn't any PC involved, so the Connect software won't be present.

I'm wondering if purchasing such a thing would be worthwhile, or if it might be better to by a power inverter and just use the AC adapter to charge the Reader while in the car.

HarryT · 03-14-2007, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhbailey

I have seen some devices which plug into a car's cigarette lighter and provide power to a USB cable for charging devices capable of being charged via USB port.

Has anybody tried this sort of thing to see if the Sony Reader will charge with such a device? Naturally there isn't any PC involved, so the Connect software won't be present.

I'm wondering if purchasing such a thing would be worthwhile, or if it might be better to by a power inverter and just use the AC adapter to charge the Reader while in the car.

No, car USB chargers won't work with the Reader. What will work, though, is the car charger for the Playstation Portable (PSP); the PSP uses the same charger as the Reader (5.2V DC) and PSP chargers, car adapters, etc, work fine on the Reader. To be honest, though, you need charge the Reader so infrequently (I charge mine once every couple of weeks, and read about an hour a day) that it's something of a non-issue.

flumbo · 03-15-2007, 06:00 AM

I could swear I could get this thing to charge over usb when I bought it, but now it doesn't do anything unless I use the wall charger. When connect software is started, the charging led is red-- does that mean it is charging and connected or just connected? Otherwise, if the connect software is shut down, no light.

Did something change in the firmware or when switching to Vista?

HarryT · 03-15-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flumbo

I could swear I could get this thing to charge over usb when I bought it, but now it doesn't do anything unless I use the wall charger. When connect software is started, the charging led is red-- does that mean it is charging and connected or just connected? Otherwise, if the connect software is shut down, no light.

Did something change in the firmware or when switching to Vista?

When the light above the power switch is on, it's charging. If there's no light, it's not charging. It certainly SHOULD charge over USB but, as you've read here, the firmware update seems to have seriously messed up USB charging in particular. Hopefully it'll be fixed at the next update.

RWood · 03-15-2007, 10:12 AM

I also have an iGo "Juice" charger that takes power from the line, the car, or a plane seat outlet. While originally designed for laptops and cell phones, there is a tip that works for the Reader, the A54.

03-12-2007, 04:53 PM	#1
tekchic Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 120 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro	USB Charging (PRS500 model) I'm trying to charge my reader via USB on Windows Server 2003. Sony's fabulous Connect Software won't run on anything but XP (or I suppose Vista) and I can't install it. I have my Reader plugged in, all I want to do is have it charge while I'm working. The amber charge light doesn't come on at all. I can't remember if the charge light comes on when I'm charging USB or if it's not actually charging. It does have the screen on saying "USB Connected", but no battery meter or anything. Anyone know offhand? Thanks

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03-12-2007, 05:17 PM	#2
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	The battery won't charge if the Connect software isn't installed on your computer. It will show "USB connected", but it won't charge. Had the same problem when I was on holiday and thought to charge my Reader through USB on the laptop from my girlfriend.

03-13-2007, 08:53 AM	#4
Robert Marquard Delphi-Guy Posts: 285 Karma: 1151 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: iLiad, Palm T3	This is probably a driver issue which makes me believe that the reader indeed implements proper USB charging. Keep in mind that you cannot simply draw power from USB. The power is part of the bus protocol.

03-13-2007, 03:17 PM	#6
tekchic Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 120 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro	Thanks for the help, it was indeed not charging. I really wish Sony's Connect software was a little better. It's not unfathomable that a developer like myself might want to install the software on Win Server 2003 - it's my daily work machine where I work. Got home and charged off the wall to give it a good solid charge and I'm back to reading today Thanks for the tip! (HarryT - it was a matter of just being stuck at work with a dead Reader, I use my PSP charger at home for regular charging, I think my Reader charger's still in the original box, hehe).

03-13-2007, 03:54 PM	#8
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Have you thought of installing VirtualPC on WinServer 2003, putting XP under that, and then installing CONNECT in XP?

03-13-2007, 04:02 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Hmmm. That brings the phrase "Rube Goldberg" to mind, for some reason.

03-14-2007, 05:08 AM	#11
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	I have seen some devices which plug into a car's cigarette lighter and provide power to a USB cable for charging devices capable of being charged via USB port. Has anybody tried this sort of thing to see if the Sony Reader will charge with such a device? Naturally there isn't any PC involved, so the Connect software won't be present. I'm wondering if purchasing such a thing would be worthwhile, or if it might be better to by a power inverter and just use the AC adapter to charge the Reader while in the car.

03-15-2007, 06:00 AM	#13
flumbo I got nothin... Posts: 127 Karma: 302 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hawaii	I could swear I could get this thing to charge over usb when I bought it, but now it doesn't do anything unless I use the wall charger. When connect software is started, the charging led is red-- does that mean it is charging and connected or just connected? Otherwise, if the connect software is shut down, no light. Did something change in the firmware or when switching to Vista?

03-15-2007, 10:12 AM	#15
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	I also have an iGo "Juice" charger that takes power from the line, the car, or a plane seat outlet. While originally designed for laptops and cell phones, there is a tip that works for the Reader, the A54.

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