Quick and Dirty Multi-USB Charging Station

Tired of using a 600 Watt computer just to charge your mobile phone? This is simple and there's no need for you to go anywhere near the computer just for charging.

Step 1 What You'll Need:

1. An old non-powered USB 1.1 hub (like you have any other use for it, right?) *
2. A wall-wart 5V USB charger.
3. The appropriate cables for your equipment.

*Being 1.1 is not really necessary but, if you have one laying around why waste a 2.0?

Comments

[__-_-_-__]

Actually this is very stupid (being nice and constructive). Since you are using a 5v usb source to power the hub and 4 usb ports you will not have enough power to charge all the devices.
Just buy a powered usb hub. There are dirty cheap 7 port powered hubs that can handle the charging of several devices.
Also some devices are hard to charge because they require really 5v to charge and not 4.999v and will not start the recharging process, this can be easily fixed with a dirty cheap 5v to 6v usb converter.

[Treknology]

I addressed the issues you raise inside the instructions.

A powered hub won't charge anything unless it's activated by a computer on the input side. I have tried several powered hubs for the reason you cite, but they achieve nothing without there being a computer input.

While my photo demonstrates three out of four devices connected that is only to illustrate variety. In real use there is usually only one, maybe two, devices connected at any one time. The benefit for me is that the relevant cables are all together.

None of the devices in the photo, Phone, Palm Pilot, GPS, has failed to charge.

This is a cheap solution using bits that would otherwise be thrown out--who connects 1.1 hubs to their computer any more?

[l1q1d]

Does it work also with i-devices?

[Treknology]

As I understand it, most i-devices have custom docks. Provided that it's a USB plug that comes out to plug into the hub then it should be able to charge.

NB: I've seen some i-pod nanos that use the headphone socket as the USB dock. For the safety of your i-device make sure it is plugged into the dock BEFORE you connect the cable to the hub.

[l1q1d]

I wrote it because i tried this method few month ago with different i-devices (iphone 4,3gs and ipad) and it doesn't work, so i'm only courius, if you test it with an i-device. :-)

[Treknology]

It would be quite a while before I got to testing an i-device. The only Apple equipment I have is a couple of Apple 2 Es, a Mac Plus, an SE20 and a Quadra(?) 650.

I suggest reading primal51's response below.

[primal51]

iDevices typically require a loop back on the data pin to think they are connected to an Apple approved charging doc or a computer. This link has the details
http://inventorspot.com/articles/how_to_make_your_very_own_iphone_charger_16429

[Treknology]

@l1q1d: The only i-device that has passed through my hands is the abovementioned i-pod nano and it was known to be faulty.

@primal51: If the i-device requires connection to a computer before it recognise the presence of a charging voltage, the I see that one has little choice but to perform the analogous act of using a nuclear reactor to boil and egg.

Mic

[Lyron]

I tried it with my iPod, but it needs some kind of resistance or something to charge, more about that is on LadyAda's Mintyboost website: http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html

[Treknology]

Refer to primal51's comment above.