charging nano 3g from USB wall adapter

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Level 2

166 points

charging nano 3g from USB wall adapter

Hi,
I have an AC-to-USB power adapter. All of my previous iPods charged successfully using it (mini 2g, video 5g, shuffle 1g and 2g). I just got a 3g nano. It won't charge at all off the wall charger. When I plug it in with my iPod cable nothing happens. It will only charge if connected to my computer and actually "mounted". Is this a "feature" or a bug? Running the latest firmware.
F

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.5.3)

Posted on May 29, 2008 11:04 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 13, 2008 8:31 PM in response to Flint Million

I think I've just run into the same core issue from a different direction.

Recently bought a cheap solar charger w/integrated battery for my iPods and cell phone. It charges a 2g Nano and an iPod Video just fine, but my 3g Nano and latest model Shuffle don't respond to it at all. It didn't matter what cables I used, including the Apple stock ones. Results were the same. Charger in question is this one: http://www.GoldenGadgets.com/productinfo.php?cPath=10&productsid=395

Meanwhile, my dad has a Sonnet-branded USB wall charger, and it seems to charge all the 'Pods in question without trouble. My guess is that there was some subtle change in the connector in the latest generation of iPods that impacted some older third-party charging systems.

What brand is your wall charger and how old is it?

Message was edited by: Leigh L Pang

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Answer 2

Jun 15, 2008 5:14 PM in response to Flint Million

I have two new iPod nanos, both the same size. One charges fine all the time, the other has problems. The reference to the connector seemed like it could explain the problem. So I picked up the iPod that has trouble charging and has been connected to the computer all day and gently flexed the connector...it began to charge, then quit, flexed it again and it began to charge, gently laid it down and it is still charging. Think it is a bad connector.

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Answer 3

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jun 15, 2008 9:08 PM in response to Flint Million

A standard USB connection has two power pins (+5V and the Ground) and then two data pins (Data+ & Data-). So four lines total.
In previous versions of the iPod, all you needed was power and it would charge so many older and generic USB chargers only hook up the power pins and leave the data pins unconnected. For devices that only need power, these work fine.
With newer USB devices, many manufacturers are designing their products to not only require the power pins, but also to have the two data pins configured in a certain way to identify the charger to the device. Newer iPods seem to be this way and so older chargers without the data pins hooked up no longer work.
So you can either buy updated chargers that state they will work with the 3rd generation iPod specifically or if you know what the data lines need to be set up like, if one knew enough about electronics, you could hack up a cable to configure the data lines and make older and generic chargers work with the newer iPod.
You will find that this use of the data lines is now pretty common on other USB connective and charging devices like mobile phones, blackberry devices, GPS units, etc. If you already have a newer USB charging cell phone, GPS, blackberry, etc. I bet that charger will work fine on your iPod.
Regards,
Patrick

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Answer 4

Jun 4, 2008 10:40 PM in response to Flint Million

I have this same problem

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Answer 5

Apheria

Level 1

10 points

Jun 14, 2008 10:44 PM in response to Flint Million

I am currently charging my 3G nano from the wall charger, it's working fine. Do you have a 4GB or a 8GB?

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