usb charger for Toshiba e570

[jasper500]

After constantly getting caught out by my e570's battery dying on me I thought I would look at a way to charge it from the USB socket on my notebook.

It's very easy to do if you get the correct power plug for the e570 (available from Maplins in the UK) and a USB lead. Simply solder the Red wire of the cable to the centre contact of the plug and the Black wire to the outer contact. Because the USB cable has a tough outer sheath, you can push it up over the plugs terminals and then use three layers of heatshrink to hold things firm.

I have been using this method of charging my e570 for 6 months or so now, with no damage to my notebooks USB ports. All for nearly FREE!!

[Deadmaninc]

How did u do it? Did you modify the Toshiba charger or did you modify some other charger?

[jasper500]

You don't use a charger at all, just the usb socket of any PC or laptop, providing that its powered from the mains. Make up the cable as I've described ( perhaps including a .25ohm 1/5watt resistor in the +5V lead to limit the current drawn from the usb port and you have a very efficient charger.

[midiman]

Hi Jasper

I just bought a Tosh e570 amd was wondering about wiring up a usb cable to supply power to it. I was using a compaq 3630 with a USB sync/power cable which was small and light to carry. Worked great.

2 questions. The Tosh describes its DC in port as being a 5v 3.0A in. My understanding is that USB is only capable of supplying 500ma. My main concern was that USB wouldnt be capable of supplying enough power. You suggest using a resistor to limit the power. Is it really nesseccary ?

Secondly as the USB cradle is USB, is their anyway of rewiring it so it supplys power as well ? ( might be a stupid question as I have not had a chance to connect it up yet so may already do so )

[lpret]

Here in the U.S., Belkin (http://www.belkin.com) makes a USB cable (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=1979&pcount=&Product_Id=129364&Section.Section_Path=%2F%2FRoot%2FMobileSolutions% 2FPDAAccessories%2FPower%2F) that can not only sync, but just pull power. Also, it has a car charger plug that fits onto the usb. Very hard to explain, go to the link, and yes, it works very well. I use it exclusively on the road and at home, while my cradle sits at work.:D

[midiman]

That was exactly what I had for my old compaq. The one your referinfg to is only for the e740 & the e310 (?). I dont think it will work with the e570.

[rblackma]

Thought I might pass this along for the Hackers in us.

Found this Mod on a forum. He's got several others for the e740 as well.

www.pc-counselor.8m.com/toshcradle.htm