USB applicance charging speed

I have a Nokia mobile phone (model not printed anywhere but bog standard phone) with an 830mAH 3.7V battery. It has a mini-usb connector which is used either for charging directly from the mains outlet or connecting via USB to a PC.

When connected to a PC, it is trickle charged and takes perhaps 40 hours to fully charge. Can anybody explain to me why this is the case? I’m not sure about the capacity of my iPOD battery, but that fully charges via USB connection in a few hours.

What am I missing? What’s the difference?

Thanks all

Could a mod change “applicance” to “appliance”?

Thanks :slight_smile:

Most likely you’re using a USB port only supplying 100 milliamps of current at 5 volts. And running the phone at the same time.

So why does an ipod touch charge so quickly in comparison? Does it really require so much less power than a phone?

Your phone is transmitting and receiving data over long distances. Your iPod is not. In fact, your iPod uses almost no battery at all unless you’re playing it.

The answer is yes. An iPod uses much less battery than a phone.

Sounds like your phone isn’t asking for more power from the USB port:

Actually, if I use my ipod while charging it it still charges fine. It has a wireless connection which I doubt uses a lot less than the mobile GSM connection.

Seems like Squink hit the nail on the head and it’s due to bad design of the phone. Thanks a lot!