# 2.1 A vs. 1A wall chargers. Will I fry my Kindle? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 7, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629 "2014-10-07T06:12:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629/1 "2014-10-07T06:12:35Z")
Okay, I am a complete buffoon when it comes to these issues hence I am appealing for assistance and explanation. I’m thinking about getting a [Kindle Voyage.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IOYAM4I/ref=s9_wish_gw_d6_g349_i5?ie=UTF8&colid=1KW3WJ7U5FF86&coliid=IBHTJSHGDV7XW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=04KZ7753RG82VBMYTV5H&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846) Amazon recommends [this charger.](http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-USB-Power-Adapter/dp/B00BGIQS1A/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_2) But I already have [a Wall Charger.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KY6D3DQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) Can I plug the Kindle into the 2.1A port of the Wall Charger without frying the Kindle? Will it charge quicker? I’m assuming the Kindle sucks juice at X rate rather than the Wall Charger pushing juice at a rate \> X. Is this assumption correct? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629/2 "2014-10-07T06:21:52Z")
If they made things so that the wall wart controlled the charging rate, then there’s be too many dead appliances… lots of warranty returns. And it violates the princeiple of U in USB standing for UNIVERSAL. So they put the regulator in the device AS WELL as in the wall wart. It is U for universal… You can plug any device into any USB socket with no damage done. The 2 AMP socket just has the capability of supplying 2 AMPS, if you had a device which will accept a 2amp charge rate and plug it into the 1 AMP socket, then it will just take twice as long to charge. … The 1 AMP device will charge at the same rate in any 1 AMP or above socket. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629/3 "2014-10-07T06:36:33Z")
I can’t tell if the Kindle mentioned above is a 2A or 1 A device. If a 1A, what happens if it is plugged into a 2A charger (I’m guessing nothing because of the U in Universal). ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629/4 "2014-10-07T07:20:18Z")
The devices you’re considering aren’t chargers - they’re power adapters. They convert 110 volts AC to 5 volts DC. The current rating is the maximum number of amps the device is capable of putting out. The charging circuit is actually inside the Kindle. It’s designed to run on 5 volts, which is what both power adapters put out. The charger in the Kindle will draw whatever current it needs to draw at that voltage to do its job. The power adapter can’t force the Kindle to draw more current than it needs. Again, the current rating of the adapter is the maximum number of amps it can deliver, not the number of amps it will deliver regardless of the load that’s put on it. You could use a 5 volt/million amp power supply to charge your Kindle without doing any harm - it would just draw whatever current it needed. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629/5 "2014-10-07T15:26:35Z")
Thank you for your answers. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-1-a-vs-1a-wall-chargers-will-i-fry-my-kindle/700629/6 "2014-10-07T16:03:45Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > The charger in the Kindle will draw whatever current it needs to draw at that voltage to do its job. The power adapter can’t force the Kindle to draw more current than it needs. Again, the current rating of the adapter is the maximum number of amps it can deliver, not the number of amps it will deliver regardless of the load that’s put on it. You could use a 5 volt/million amp power supply to charge your Kindle without doing any harm - it would just draw whatever current it needed. Just posting to say that this agrees both with what I’ve read and with my personal experience. Well, not about the “million amp power supply”; I don’t have any personal experience with one of those. 🙂 But I have plugged e-ink Kindles into 2.1A power suuplies with no ill effects.