[Update] Satechi releases uCharger. a High Speed USB charging adapter for Android and iOS Devices

Satechi is an accessory manufacturer that we have grown very fond of. They consistently produce various accessory items that work great, sound great and are inexpensive. The latest product to come from Satechi is a rather unique USB adapter called the uCharger.

It is a small, compact USB adapter that you plug into the side of your laptop or PC. It has three different modes that are all indicated by a colored LED on the top. The user toggles the device for various needs. A Blue light is for iOS devices and Red light is for Android tablets. No light will need to be selected for data transferring. So what is the big deal about the uCharger that makes this a must have accessory? The fact that it will help you charge your device up to 4 times faster than you will normally gain while charging from a PC or from a USB plug found in many newer vehicles. Instead of it taking 4 hours to charge up the tablet, it will take roughly an hour. That is fast power when you need it.

The new Satechi uCharger is already available for ordering via Amazon.com for just $9.99. It would make a great stocking stuff for the gadget member of the family. Check em out and get an order placed below.

Order – Satechi uCharger Hi-Speed USB Charging Adaptor

 

UPDATE – So we had a few questions roll in about this product on our Google+ page that we felt needed to be addressed. We copied the questions and the answers we received back from Satechi in hopes that i clarifies some thoughts and fears about it.

Quesion: So does this work properly with the Nexus7?  I know I have a 2A ipad port in my car but I cant use it… I would assume this would fix that issue but I try not to assume…

Answer:  Yes, it works with the Nexus 7 on the Blue LED light mode.

Question: Can this be used instead with a multi port usb wall charger?

Answer:  Satechi does not recommend you use the product with a multi-port USB wall charger. The uCharger supports a variety of different devices and can be used as a charging boost for any device trying to be charged on a computer’s USB hub.

Question: now that i think about this won’t this damage your computer usb ports by pulling too much power from a non powered device

Answer:

uCharger exchanges the protocol with the recharging portable device and controls it to set the current limit as the charging current is supplied by AC line charging adapter so that the current limit in the recharging portable device set at 1.0[A] (Constant) ~ 2.5[A] ( Peak ).

 

As a result, uCharger works within the current limits, so it provides a safe and effective solution.

Longer explanation below:

Most PC and Notebooks support the current limit values:

-  In case normal USB plug connected; 500[mA] max.

–  In case USB Host connected; 1.0[A] (Constant) ~ 1.6[A] ( Peak )- It is dependent on the load of recharging

The circuitry in the uCharger exchanges the USB plug protocol to USB host connection, thus receives 1.0[A] (Constant) ~ 1.6[A] ( Peak ) from the computer USB port.

On the other end, most of portable devices who have an USB recharging port have the current limit inner side of USB recharging circuit as follows:

– In case charging current is supplied by normal USB port; 500[mA] max.

– In case charging current is supplied by AC line charging adapter; 1.0[A] (Constant) ~ 2.5[A] ( Peak )- It is dependent on the load of recharging device.

uCharger also exchanges the protocol with recharging portable device and control it to set the current limit as the charging current is supplied by AC line charging adapter so that the current limit in the recharging portable device set at 1.0[A] (Constant) ~ 2.5[A] ( Peak ).

As a result, uCharger works within the current limits, so it provides a safe and effective solution.