Charger Overload Rant

[allin]

Almost every battery dependent device I own has a unique charger or at least a unique connecting tip.  This is ridiculouis, almost all of them use the same voltage or are basically USB derived.  Cell Phone, golf GPS, laptop (different voltage), Nook, various other camera or portable electroncs.  There is no valid reason why every product needs its own unique tip and its own charger.  Why can't munufacturers agree to some degree of standardization and save us some money and the need to keep track of all these different chargers.  Of course they all claim it voids there warranty  if you use anyone elses charger.  What  a crock.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by allin

Almost every battery dependent device I own has a unique charger or at least a unique connecting tip.  This is ridiculouis, almost all of them use the same voltage or are basically USB derived.  Cell Phone, golf GPS, laptop (different voltage), Nook, various other camera or portable electroncs.  There is no valid reason why every product needs its own unique tip and its own charger.  Why can't munufacturers agree to some degree of standardization and save us some money and the need to keep track of all these different chargers.  Of course they all claim it voids there warranty  if you use anyone elses charger.  What  a crock.

Because people are dumb and stick adapters in laptops rated at 3.5 amps and 90w with adapters with 4.74 amps 120w if they use the same tip.

Really I don't see an issue with it.

Most people have a phone, laptop, camera ( some that charge VIA USB anyway ) and maybe let's say an ipad ( again can charge via USB ). maybe even a GOLF GPS can charge visa USB, I don't know.

Really it's not that many devices to worry about

And there is no way for them to prove that you used another charger unless you tell them or there is physical damage to the coupling...

[allin]

I just counted 8 different devices, only the laptop has different electrical requirements.  i don't know about you but keeping track of 8 different chargers, well 7 because the spare charger for the laptop is always in my briefcase, is silly.  TV's, stereos, clocks. lamps, everything that runs off household current uses a standardized connector, I see no reason why all these devices all using lithium ion batteries can't be standardized.  At least for each voltage requirement.  That would keep the idiots for using their laptop charger for their cell phone. After all the chips manufactured for these products use standardized voltgage so they can be used in multiple products.  I  basically see it as wastefull also.  Money is being spent, these things discarded in droves.  If their was standardization then every product would not need to come with a charger, lowering costs and saving resources several ways, you could just have a couple of them and buy a new one when you need it.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by allin

I just counted 8 different devices, only the laptop has different electrical requirements.  i don't know about you but keeping track of 8 different chargers, well 7 because the spare charger for the laptop is always in my briefcase, is silly.  TV's, stereos, clocks. lamps, everything that runs off household current uses a standardized connector, I see no reason why all these devices all using lithium ion batteries can't be standardized.  At least for each voltage requirement.  That would keep the idiots for using their laptop charger for their cell phone. After all the chips manufactured for these products use standardized voltgage so they can be used in multiple products.  I  basically see it as wastefull also.  Money is being spent, these things discarded in droves.  If their was standardization then every product would not need to come with a charger, lowering costs and saving resources several ways, you could just have a couple of them and buy a new one when you need it

It's a non issue really.

And there will never be standardization as long as companies like Apple exist who patent anything and everything then sue any company that comes close.

Like their 'magic' magnetic charger tip which is really a piece of crap. We replace more of these than any other power adapter at my work.

And it's not just volts, it's more importantly amps to worry about

[zeg]

For most devices, the variations are so small that there's no practical reason that chargers couldn't be standardized.

In Europe, for cell phones at least, the charger plug is (or maybe already has been) being standardized.  That's a good step, but cell phones are relatively easier because they're pretty limited in their design variations.

However, it is somewhat expensive to standardize things like that, which is why it doesn't tend to happen.  It requires defining a good standard in advance, then adhering to it.  Of course, ultimately there are savings since volumes increase for the parts, etc, but the costs are front-loaded so it's not all that attractive.