Can you charge with the USB cable?

axmax · 03-11-03, 11:32 PM

I am going to order my Axim next week and I am deciding on the Dell USB Travel Sync Cable. I intend to use the cradle at home and the cable for work with a laptop. Will this cable charge up the Axim - or will I need a power sync cable from Nomadic?

jaynieh · 03-12-03, 09:39 AM

I just received my USB travel sync cable Monday. (Ordered from Moonlight Technology.) Apparently, Dell does not sell the cable separately (at least they didn't at the time I placed my order). I am assuming the sync cable doesn't charge the unit (maybe I'm wrong) because the power button doesn't light up as it does in the cradle.

Never had a problem with this with my Casio E-125 - it was pure serial all the way, but I had to carry the cradle with me if I wanted to sync anything. Oh well, three steps forward, one step back.

WindWalker · 03-12-03, 09:53 AM

I don't know that the Moonlight Tech cable is power+sync, but I assume it is. The Gomadic cable is also power+sync, and it is resold at http://www.thepocketsolutions.com

Damager · 03-12-03, 10:02 AM

There has been some debate on this topic on these boards, but my experience with a charge and sync USB cable and the Axim is that it will charge the Axim, but only VERY slowly, and only if the Axim is off. In other words, it looks to me like the Axim burns more charge while it is on that the USB cable can provide.

poor fat kid · 03-12-03, 11:10 AM

I have the Moonlight Technologies charge/sync cable. It does charge a little more slowly than the AC adapter. If I use the Ax continuously while on the USB cable the battery does lose some ground, not much. If the Ax is just on but not used it works perfect. Overall I like it alot. It has always kept the battery level above the danger zone.

cadman · 03-12-03, 11:18 AM

I too have purchased the Sync cable from dell! Waste of money for the most part! I also bout an el' cheapo model off of Ebay for like $9.00 and it both sync's and charges, and it's great. Keep in mind that I plug it into a 4 port USB hub that is self powered, and I haven't noticed the battery go down while using it.

My two cents....

JakeRich · 03-12-03, 12:02 PM

USB ports are only REQUIRED to provide 100 ma current. The Ax uses about 200 ma current when on. So, on some USB ports you will lose battery power, but at a slower rate, if the Ax is on. However, USB ports MAY provide as much as 500 ma power, in which case you're laughing.

If the Ax is off, both levels of power will charge the Ax, slowly.

WindWalker · 03-12-03, 12:24 PM

In my expereince with sync cables, I have seen that it is slower, and it can be slowed down by having your brightness set very high while it is connected....but it has NEVER failed to charge the device. It is sitting on my desk at thie moment, having just been recharged to full by the sync cable mentioned above. Of course, your mileage may vary, but this has been consistent for me.

Damager · 03-12-03, 01:20 PM

As the previous poster mentioned, this depends on your USB port. It may charge perfectly with no problem, it may actually continue to drain your battery power if the USB port doesn't supply enough power and you keep the Axim on.

Synth · 03-12-03, 03:58 PM

The sync cable I bought from Dell does not charge the Axim, I use the USB charge cable I bought for my Casio.

Some third party sync cables do charge the Axim.

axmax · 03-13-03, 11:19 PM

Thanks, everyone, for the input. This is a great forum because people like you have something to say.

Another related question, does anyone know if the Dell cable and the power+sync cables are electrically equivalent? I mean, do the connectors on each end of the cable have the same number of live contacts, are they in the same positions within the connectors, and are they wired the same way within the cable? If anyone out there is handy with a continuity meter it is quick to find out.

Based on the previous posts, if the charge capability is dependent on the USB power output, and the cables are equivalent, I could understand why Dell may be reluctant to to call it a power+sync cable if it doesn't work under all circumstances.

Lot's of "if's", I know....

Can you tell I have too much time on my hands if I am wondering about the merits of a $10 cable?
:) :) :)

Synth · 03-14-03, 05:09 PM

I suppose that this way Dell sell more power supplies

nize · 04-23-04, 01:59 PM

i just got the zip-linq retractable usb sync+charge cable made by this company;
http://www.ziplinq.com/retractable-cable-pda.html

when i initially plugged it in, the 'power' light on my axim x5 briefly lit up, and then went out.

after over 24hours of 'charging' connected to the usb port, the battery is still dead. the axim does turn on (and can stay on) while plugged in to the usb port, so there is at least enough power to allow it to run while connected.

when i check the power settings on the axim, it shows the battery as 'charging', but the power meter never increases and stays at completely empty.

i'm wondering if the 'power' light on the front-top of the axim always lights up when charging, or if it can be charging even when the light is not lit? this light has never turned on except for that brief time when i connected the cable for the very first time.

jrfuller · 04-25-04, 10:52 AM

Just a thought, but with the low price of USB hubs, it might be worth buying a self powered one, and trying that again. I suspect that you would get charging from some HUBs.

musicman5150 · 04-25-04, 01:30 PM

I have the Belkin Sync cable that I purchased from Dell in the travel kit. The first time I plugged it in to sync it up to my PC it charged my Axim. I rarely use the cable as I usually sync up at my office but occassionally I will sync up at home too.

A few weeks later I was syncing up again and my battery was nearly at 0%. For some reason the light didn't come on showing it was charging, yet... my battery bar shows it as charging. I then plugged in my AXIM X5 to the wall outlet and charged it about 40%, enough so I could do the work I needed to do. I then synced it to my PC again and this time... the charge light came on and it finished charging fully within about 1 hour.

Curious I called Dells "excellent" tech support who wouldn't even listen to me when I told them it charged once and was acting strangely now. All the guy would say was... "the cable doesn't charge". Don't get me started on Dells #%@#%^ tech support.

So I called Belkin support who told me yes, the cable will charge through your PC, in fact they sent me a new cable as they thought mine might have a problem due to this intermittent charging. It still doesn't solve the problem but it seems as if possibly the USB can't charge if your battery is extremely low. Sorry, I'm sure this hasn't helped at all but I thought you might want to know what had been told to me straight from the cable makers mouth.