Only limited suitability for devices with automatic USB / AC adapter detection.

Only limited suitability for devices with automatic USB / AC adapter detection.

Kensington PowerBolt Duo: Dual USB car charger for iPhone, iPad, iPod and other USB devices, 2.1A 1x, 1x 1A (Electronics)

Customer Review

Although this product is sold primarily for use with Apple devices, it is but, apart from the cable to a universal 12V / 5V adapter. Therefore, here is a note for potential buyers who do not only have Apple device and want other smartphones load it.

Many devices detect whether they are connected to a USB port or a power adapter. 230V power supply units for example connect to the USB data lines to each other. In the PowerBolt Duo is the case neither in the 1A still in the 2.1A port.

As a result, the connected devices are loaded only with much less power than would be possible.
My HTC HD2 example loads only with 200 mA (according displaying Spoon batch at about 50% battery charge). After I had tinkered myself an intermediate adapter that connects the data lines to each other, the charge current increased with the same battery level to more than 800 mA.
Samsung Galaxy devices to behave similarly.

In principle, the battery is of course at some point fully even with the lower charging current, but it takes much longer and if you not only loads the device, but might also be used for navigation, it can happen that you still with discharged instead charged battery on target arrives.

In the case of Windows Mobile, the charge current ranges with me just so to preserve the battery charge level of, but when I use Android, then it's not likely.

Yet complicate matters to the dependence of the charging current from the charging status and temperature of the batteries. With increasing load and temperature of the charge current is reduced. This of course makes the PowerBolt but not the load Logic in the connected device (smartphone). It can happen in spite of short-circuited USB data lines that the phone is hardly loaded, because it gets too hot through use and possibly direct sunshine. But, of course the PowerBolt nothing ...

Tip 1:
Android 4 is described in "Settings -> Battery" on what has been recognized for a connection. The status is either "Loading (USB)" or "Loading (AC)" or something similar appears. Probably there is also a corresponding display option for other versions of Android.
There are also apps that indicate the battery state, even also with an indication of the power consumption / charging current.

Tip 2:
For Windows Mobile users, there is the free software "Spoon Charge". This indicates the current charge current. It also shows the connection status "USB" or "AC" on, this ad was wrong with my HD2. It was also displayed when connected to the USB port of my PC "AC".

Tip 3:
There are other providers of special micro-USB charging cable, in which the data lines are connected. This saves the tinkering. These cables are of course then only for charging and not for connecting to a USB port!

Mechanically makes the thing a good impression. It fits perfectly into the socket (Skoda), does not wobble and has always Contact.

Addendum [16.9.2012]
I now also own a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 and can therefore report that the same is true for successful store, as for my HD2.
Without shorted USB data lines is not loaded. In the battery level icon is a red cross (quasi as strikethrough) appears. Only with the short-circuit adapter the same charge icon is shown when connected to 230V AC adapter and Tablet invites (at 2.1A port).
I use here the supplied original cable.
My Tab runs on the original Samsung Android 4:04.

Without guarantee the following tip:
The article "adapter (USB) for Samsung Galaxy Tab" here at Amazon seems to me after reading the reviews the universal solution for all non-hobbyist and non-Samsung-Tab-owners to be. However, I have not tried it. Presumably there are still dozens of similar adapter, but this is the first one I've found.

Mobiles storybook Rank: 4/5
March 4
Top product 58 Rank: 5/5
March 14
Accurate but expensive Rank: 5/5
May 23
Effective, but small natural Rank: 4/5
October 27
great product 181 1 Rank: 2/5
November 5
value for money in 1280 Rank: 4/5
September 21

Related Reviews


Not suitable for devices with high power demandPremium Alkaline Camelion AG12 / LR43 / 386 10 blisters [electronics] (Electronics) Only limited suitability for the stated purposeInternal PC Power Cable; CAK S-17 FAN ADAP CABLE 4P> 3P (Electronics) The phone to which I have been waiting for Apple as transfer passengers. However, only limited suitability for LTE in everyday life.Samsung Galaxy S4 mini Smartphone (10.85 cm (4.27 inches) AMOLED touch screen, micro-Sim, 8 GB of internal memory, 8 megapixel camera, LTE, NFC, Android 4.2) Black (Wireless Phone Accessory) Price / performance tip - only limited suitable for pet ownersDirt Devil M607 robotic vacuum Spider (17 watts, 0,27l dust container volume, 3 programs) black (household goods) only partially suitable for men with some upper arm circumferenceiGadgitz Black Reflective Anti-Slip Neoprene Sports Armband arm bag protection Skin Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 III Mini I8190 Android Smartphone (NOT FOR GALAXY S3 i9300 appropriate) (Accessories) Only limited suitability for Zoom H2NKEEP Drum Head windshield WS-BK Windshield for Zoom H1, H2n, H4n, H5, H6 Digital Rekoder and Stereo VideoMic Pro Camera Microphone (Electronics) For devices with widths from 60mm to 85mmyayago Universal Design car holder -vibrationsfrei- Car Mount 360 degrees rotatable and pivotable for Samsung Galaxy Core (i8260 / i8262) (Electronics) Universal charger to charge up to 4 devices with a USB port simultaneouslyAukey® AIPowerTM 4-Port USB Travel Charger Adapter multiport adapter Wall Charger for iPad Air; iPad mini; iPhone 6 Plus / 6 / 5S / 5 / 4S; Samsung Galaxy S4 / S3 / Note 3 / Note 2; Smartphones, tablets, and other USB devices loaded - EU Plug 34W 5V / 6.8A (White) (Electronics) Not suitable for playing with children10 pieces kicker balls made of PE, color: orange, hard and roughened, foosball kicker balls Ball (Misc.) Suitable for tubes with G5 base T5 or T4 G5Vossloh surface mount G5 (household goods) not suitable for trips with glasses,GORE BIKE WEAR Balaclava Universal Windstopper, Black, One size, ABALAS990001 (equipment) suitable for people with lactose intoleranceBeltane biofix broccoli gratin - 2 servings, 2-pack (2 x 22.6 g pack) - Organic (Food & Beverage) Has partnered with a USB-SATA adapter works fine.Delock Converter SATA 22 pin> mSATA full size (Personal Computers) Really only suitable for people with allergies !!!Thomas Anti Allergy 786 521 vacuum cleaner with water filtering (household goods) Good, but not for devices with rounded edgesMicrosoft Universal Mobile Keyboard (Accessories) Only partially suitable for my purposesAssistance for PST 700 E; PST 800 PEL; PST 900 PEL (tool) E-M10 only partially suitable for OlympusCamera bag DSLR / SLR Bag for Canon PowerShot SX610 HS / Fujifilm XQ2 / Nikon D5500 & more cameras, USA Gear S4, Black (Electronics) Good product, Spartan documentation, suitable for frames with paragraphHomeMatic wireless door / window contact optical HM-Sec-Sco, 130297 (tool)