External Battery for Omnia II

[Guest damienloh]

Is anyone using external battery pack? Please recommend a good one for Omnia II.

I have bought a Sanyo Eneloop Mobile Booster KBC-L2S (lithium ion 5000mAh).

However even the original Samsung USB to microUSB cable cannot charge up!

However it is able to charge up an iPhone 3GS and SE W800.

Isn't USB port all standard? I fail to understand why with the right cable/ adaptor, Mobile Booster can charge up iPhone but not Omnia II.

http://www.eneloop.info/products/mobile-bo...on-battery.html

Edited February 23, 2010 by damienloh

[Guest bluhound]

This is a classic charging problem. The USB port and cable pinout is standard BUT the charging protocol is not, different for all devices.

As for the Omnia II, the MicroUSB port has two states.

If the phone detects data on pin 2 and 3, it negotiates with the host, standard USB protocol.

If pins 2 and 3 are shorted, the MicroUSB port becomes a charger port.

Samsung original cable does not work for plain charging as it meant for data usage (none of the internal wires are shorted).

The original charger works as pins 2 and 3 are shorted.

So, technically you don't have the right cable/adapter. In order for you phone to work with your Sanyo Eneloop, you need to create a custom cable with pins 2 and 3shorted across. Make sure it does not touch pins 1 and 4, it will permanently damage both your charger AND phone.

Do at your own risk though.

Edited February 23, 2010 by bluhound

[Guest elementalfusion]

The standard USB cable for Omnia 2 does both charging and data, however it will only charge if plugged into a computer. For charging via other sources, you can try Mckal's retractable usb charge only cable. Its around $12 at funan :(

[Guest damienloh]

Thanks all. Bought a McKal microUSB "charge-only" cable for Nokia phones and it works!

http://www.mckal.com/adapters_chargers/MM8...a-micro-usb.php

[Guest jesusgatos]

I found out that if you plug the phone into a regular USB charger while the phone is on, and then turn the phone off, it charges. Kinda stupid, but that's the only way I've been able to get it to work.

[Guest zzzzzz54321]

That is also correct. At first, the PC USB only gives out 1/5 of its rated power (100mA). Once phone is plugged into PC's USB port, a 'digital negotiation' happens. Once successful, the PC will give full power (500mA) to the phone. Phone detects this and then proceeds with other functions, including charging it.

how to confirm that the usb is giving the 500mA power to the phone ?

i have a cable that i short the 2 pins. and now its able to charge. but it seem tat it is charging at a very slow rate.

[Guest conocelo]

how to confirm that the usb is giving the 500mA power to the phone ?

i have a cable that i short the 2 pins. and now its able to charge. but it seem tat it is charging at a very slow rate.

i have a spare microusb cable. i see 5 pins. i know i have to short 2 and 3..... but. how i can identify 2 and 3?? i am afraid to short 3 and 4.....