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RegularJoe

macrumors newbie
Apr 6, 2012
2
0
Ohm's Law: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm's_Law

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volt


That tells us what the 5v x 1 or 2A translates to. It would indicate that twice the wattage is coming out of the iPad charger (W=V*A) and twice the current (I=V/R).

As I understand it, the block acts as a transformer: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer

So, it takes the 120V*15A=1800W power from the outlet and converts that power so that it will be transmitted at a much lower rate, giving the device less of that wattage.

I'm not sure if the earlier post by someone was trying to say that the iPhone has a particular resistor of it's own and so any different level and rate of power would simply dissipate, but wouldn't that still be stressful on that resistor?

I think, in the end, one would be better off spending the couple of bucks for an iPhone charger.

If there was absolutely no difference, then why would they make different chargers with different values? There would only be a need for stronger chargers for larger, more powerful devices, but the inverse (using that more powerful charger for a smaller, less powerful device) wouldn't make any sense.

Just use the corresponding charger.

In theory, the charger will take in the AC voltage (120V AC) and convert into DC using rectifiers. The DC voltage will then pass through a voltage regulator to maintain the output voltage at 5V (or whatever voltage is desired). The voltage regulator, in basic electrical engineering, it is just a simple circuit involving resistors and zener diode. The zener diode's job is to drain the excess voltage and current to ground. Unlike human, electronics component will just keep working on and on and will not be stressful.

Some devices require higher voltage than other. There are many reasons that could contribute to that differences, which I am not exactly sure. However, some of the reason that might contribute to this are:
(1) the input impedance of the devices might be high or low
(2) poor circuits design that require higher voltage and current but does not use to contribute to the actual need of the equipment
(3) the engineer who design the equipment said "I like it that way"

***hope it helps***
 

dukebound85

macrumors Core
Jul 17, 2005
19,123
4,099
5045 feet above sea level
I don't think charging an iPad using an iPhone/iPod charger is a good idea. The iPad requires more watts than the iPhone. For example my gf tries to charger her macbook with my macbook air charger and the charger really heats up. because my charger is a 45W, hers is 60W or so.



I don't think thats a good idea, see above.

Thanks
AE

It's fine. Apple states it is ok on the box

Why do you ask and then refuse the answer?


Edit: dang necro thread. Thanks to whoever bumped it...
 

pa1ch

macrumors newbie
Apr 18, 2012
1
0
Power Draw

If you plug a light bulb into a light socket it has a power consumption, say 60watts. You can choose a different bulb with a power draw of only 10watts. They both have the same voltage as they are both on your mains supply. The light bulbs draw the power they require. The mains acts like a really powerful 3000watt supply but you can plug in a device of any power as long as voltage is correct, like the pathetic little 10watt light bulb.

The iPhone works in the same way, as long as the voltage is correct it will draw the power it needs.
 

daemonite

macrumors member
Aug 18, 2010
91
0
the iPhone regulates itself, if plugged into a 2.1 AMP charger, it will detect that and regulate itself draw it's maximum of 1AMP from the available 2.1 AMPS.
 

Dkorda

macrumors 6502
Mar 7, 2012
291
0
I'm reading through too many threads and find too many different response. I am an electrical engineer and would like to offer a simple answer:

It is okay to use iPad charger to charge iPhone. Any charger with the same output voltage is also fine. The output current is what you should be less concerned about because it can vary up to max depending on the device being charge (i.e. the load).

For example, charging iPad with iPhone charger would take longer because the charger would give out 1amp max.

Charging iPhone with iPad charger would take the same amount of time since the iPhone only draw 1amp from the charger even though it is capable of providing 2amp.

On a different notes, most electronics is rated about 5% variance in voltage; therefore, a slightly higher or lower voltage of the charger should be okay.

Let's listen to the expert here, RegularJoe says it best, and it makes sense now.

My iPhone charges quicker on my iPad charger (2.1amp), my iPad charges slower from my iPhone charger (1.0amp)... But they both still charge.
 

chdwil

macrumors regular
Jun 14, 2009
174
1
You could use a charger rated at 1,000,000 amps, as long as the output voltage is the same. The device will regulate the charging current according to the battery capacity fitted.

yes this is true. I plugged mine into a 1000000 amp cigarette charger and it worked fine.
 

greentaloy

macrumors member
May 27, 2012
30
0
I'm also use a iPhone charger for iPod,iPad even they're of different watts, and get a lot from online shop that they always mention that the charger for iPhone/iPod/iPad...the answer will be it's better use them respectively if you show this questions to a professional one,however, who care on this, just forward at your convenience...
 

Ryan658

macrumors newbie
Jun 11, 2012
3
0
I use a universal solar charger

I find that use a universal solar charger for all my iPhone ,iPad, and digital camera is very convenient, solar charger can charge through electricity and solar
 

rgctx

macrumors regular
Apr 12, 2012
123
0
Some people have to much time to ask questions lol. Seriously just charge it with the charger you think works best, to each there own. I have been using my ipad charger for years now on my iphone, had no issues. I dont see the point in taking out a new oem charger out of the iphone box when i already have a ipad charger on the wall.:D
 

Ryan658

macrumors newbie
Jun 11, 2012
3
0
Agree

Some people have to much time to ask questions lol. Seriously just charge it with the charger you think works best, to each there own. I have been using my ipad charger for years now on my iphone, had no issues. I dont see the point in taking out a new oem charger out of the iphone box when i already have a ipad charger on the wall.:D


yeah, I totally agree with you, just charge it with the charger you think works best. Convenient will be good!
 

Whitegooner

macrumors newbie
Jun 30, 2012
1
0
iPhone charger blows fuses

I plugged my iPad into my Iphone charger last night, when I woke this morning my electrics had tripped.

after investigating I found my iPhone charger had blown up (black soot)

I'm really worried that this could of caused a fire.

what is the approximate action I can take as this might in future cause a fire

Should I contact apple as they might not be aware
 

Gjwilly

macrumors 68040
May 1, 2011
3,216
701
SF Bay Area
Was it the official charger and did it have the green dot?
All early iPhone chargers were recalled and the replacements have the green dot on the back.
Of course, even the knockoffs now have the green dot so that's no guarantee.

Regarding the original topic though, iPhone and iPad chargers are compatible because Apple is violating USB standards in order to guarantee compatibility.
USB is a 4-pin standard -- two pins for DC voltage and two for data.
In an ordinary charger you won't see any voltage on the data pins.
Apple intentionally puts voltage/resistance on these pins and the iPhone and iPad are looking for it in order to determine how fast they can charge. And the resistance changes according to the charger.

A non Apple charger or a computer USB port won't have this voltage so the iPhone will charge at 500mA. If the iPhone sees that it's connected to an iPhone charger it will charge at 1A because it knows the current is there.
Same with the iPad. iPad on iPad charger draws full amperage. iPad on iPhone charger and it draws only half amperage. iPad on computer port or non-Apple charger and it shows the not-charging message.

The problem can come when non-Apple chargers are created that mimic this data port voltage without actually being built to supply the intended current safely.
 
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satyenshah

macrumors newbie
Oct 7, 2012
3
0
Separate questions

There are two questions here.

Safety: Is is safe to plug an iPhone 4 into a 12/15 watt iPad charger? Of course it is. The best analogy is that your ordinary bathroom faucet works the same whether it's connected to a 1/2" supply line or a 4" pipe, and you will still only get 1.5 gallons a minute out the aerator as long as the water pressure is the same. To get more water out the tap, you'd need a faucet designed to allow that.

Practicality: Did Apple design the iPhone 4 to recognize and take advantage of a 12/15 watt iPad charger to charge itself faster? Sounds like they did though the battery can get warm. You can charge your iPhone faster, at the cost of somewhat higher battery wear.
 

Gjwilly

macrumors 68040
May 1, 2011
3,216
701
SF Bay Area
There are two questions here.

Safety: Is is safe to plug an iPhone 4 into a 12/15 watt iPad charger? Of course it is. The best analogy is that your ordinary bathroom faucet works the same whether it's connected to a 1/2" supply line or a 4" pipe, and you will still only get 1.5 gallons a minute out the aerator as long as the water pressure is the same. To get more water out the tap, you'd need a faucet designed to allow that.

Practicality: Did Apple design the iPhone 4 to recognize and take advantage of a 12/15 watt iPad charger to charge itself faster? Sounds like they did though the battery can get warm. You can charge your iPhone faster, at the cost of somewhat higher battery wear.

No, they really truly didn't.
In your faucet analogy, think about a high-flow and a low-flow setting.
The iPhone 4 only has two charge rates and no charger is going to change that.
People have measured and documented it.
The caveat however is that the charge rates are set via firmware so Apple could theoretically change it.
It's pretty unlikely but I don't know if anyone has checked since the release of iOS 7.
 
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edhchoe

macrumors 65816
Oct 28, 2011
1,398
899
Interesting fact.
I measured the charging current with my galaxy note 3.
Samsung supplied 2.0A charger charged at 1.2A while apple 1.0A charger charged at .450A. USB port on iMac also charged at 450mA.
 

parrot5

macrumors 6502
Aug 10, 2010
393
23
Interesting fact.
I measured the charging current with my galaxy note 3.
Samsung supplied 2.0A charger charged at 1.2A while apple 1.0A charger charged at .450A. USB port on iMac also charged at 450mA.

That's because the Note 3 doesn't recognize the Apple charger and the Mac as one of its own Samsung chargers. Which is to be expected. The more surprising element is that it doesn't use the 2.0A of its own Samsung charger. Maybe the phone wasn't discharged enough?
 

edhchoe

macrumors 65816
Oct 28, 2011
1,398
899
That's because the Note 3 doesn't recognize the Apple charger and the Mac as one of its own Samsung chargers. Which is to be expected. The more surprising element is that it doesn't use the 2.0A of its own Samsung charger. Maybe the phone wasn't discharged enough?

That was from 20%-90%. Same readings.
 
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