Branded/certified 5V DC charger - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

DonaldStott · 14th Jan 2021, 12:00 pm

I've disassembled a number of cheap imported 240V AC to 5V DC chargers and have been regularly alarmed by the components used, transformer windings and track spacing.

See here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNoGCdX1IdQ

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So what I'm looking for is a branded/certified 240V AC to 5V DC charger but somewhere between the 'silly' prices charged by the likes of Apple and the bargain basement cheap imports. This charger is required to provide a power supply for my Bluetooth board project?

Nickthedentist · 14th Jan 2021, 12:34 pm

I've had luck raiding the local WEEE bin and charity shops.

Plenty of 5V supplies from top brands, originally supplied with phones, Blackberrys, external hard drives, zip drives, USB hubs, digital cameras and so on. I even found a couple of genuine Apple ones the other day, which are already in use at home.

What kind of current were you looking for? And "wall wart" or inline presentation? I will have a look and send you one FOC for the cost of the cheapest postage I can find, if you want.

N.

Herald1360 · 14th Jan 2021, 1:20 pm

Maybe check what "Big Clive" on YouTube has to say- some of the cheap units he has investigated have been well designed and built, others have been truly awful.

paulsherwin · 14th Jan 2021, 1:22 pm

BigClive has performed teardowns on a lot of USB chargers with some surprising results. While he did find some horrors, some of the very cheapest chargers performed very well. I remember he was very impressed with one of the Poundland chargers.

14th Jan 2021, 12:00 pm	#1
DonaldStott Octode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Glasgow, UK. Posts: 1,150	Branded/certified 5V DC charger I've disassembled a number of cheap imported 240V AC to 5V DC chargers and have been regularly alarmed by the components used, transformer windings and track spacing. See here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNoGCdX1IdQ So what I'm looking for is a branded/certified 240V AC to 5V DC charger but somewhere between the 'silly' prices charged by the likes of Apple and the bargain basement cheap imports. This charger is required to provide a power supply for my Bluetooth board project? __________________ BVWS Member

14th Jan 2021, 12:34 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 15,288	Re: Branded/certified 5V DC charger I've had luck raiding the local WEEE bin and charity shops. Plenty of 5V supplies from top brands, originally supplied with phones, Blackberrys, external hard drives, zip drives, USB hubs, digital cameras and so on. I even found a couple of genuine Apple ones the other day, which are already in use at home. What kind of current were you looking for? And "wall wart" or inline presentation? I will have a look and send you one FOC for the cost of the cheapest postage I can find, if you want. N.

14th Jan 2021, 1:20 pm	#3
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 15,009	Re: Branded/certified 5V DC charger Maybe check what "Big Clive" on YouTube has to say- some of the cheap units he has investigated have been well designed and built, others have been truly awful. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

14th Jan 2021, 1:22 pm	#4
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 20,932	Re: Branded/certified 5V DC charger BigClive has performed teardowns on a lot of USB chargers with some surprising results. While he did find some horrors, some of the very cheapest chargers performed very well. I remember he was very impressed with one of the Poundland chargers.