Phone/camera charger advice needed

[Dave Davenport]

I've got a Sony camera with a mini USB charger port. To save taking two chargers and a plug adaptor when we go touring, is it ok to use the euro 2 pin generic charger we use for the phone to charge the camera?
The camera charger output is 5v/0.5A and the euro one is 5.3V/2.0A

 

[marknotgeorge]

Are you sure the Euro charger is 5.3v, as USB specification is 5.0v?

If the Euro charger is genuinely USB, it will be okay as the camera will only draw the current it needs.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Are you sure the Euro charger is 5.3v,

That's what it says on it, so it doesn't matter about the amperage difference? I'm not worried about charging time as the camera battery should last a couple of weeks, I just don't want to bugger it up.

 

[ufkacbln]

In theory USB is a generic standard so it should work

The only problem tends to be with some high current devices like tablets which require more than they can deliver.

 

[marknotgeorge]

That's what it says on it, so it doesn't matter about the amperage difference? I'm not worried about charging time as the camera battery should last a couple of weeks, I just don't want to bugger it up.

With power supplies, the amps don't matter so much as long as the power supply can provide the required current. If the camera supply only outputs half an amp, the camera will only draw at most half an amp. Too many volts can cause damage, though, and 5.3v is outside of the USB specification of 5.0v +/- 5% (ie 4.75v - 5.25v). If the Euro charger works with your phones, you'll probably be okay, but it's entirely up to you.

 

[TheDoctor]

I bet that 5.3V figure is actually 5.25V rounded up, and a maximum output. I've been using any old USB charger with any old device with no problems.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I bet that 5.3V figure is actually 5.25V rounded up, and a maximum output. I've been using any old USB charger with any old device with no problems.

You're probably right. Just seems odd for a device to be rated right at the end of the tolerance band.