# USB Powered battery chargers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395 "2012-01-04T17:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/1 "2012-01-04T17:43:24Z")
I recently purchased some rechargeable batteries and a charger for my Wii remotes (Energizer brand, if that’s relevant), and was surprised to find that the charger is powered not by plugging into a 120v outlet, but by a USB connector. Since I don’t have a computer near the entertainment center where I use my Wii, I would prefer to be able to plug it into a wall outlet. I know I can purchase a 120v to USB adapter, but then I realized that I already have a powered USB hub that I’m not using, the kind with 4 ports and a power supply that plugs into a 120v power source. If I plug this hub in and don’t connect it to a computer, and plug the charger into one of the ports on the hub, will it: [LIST=a] [li]Charge the batteries[/li][li]Do nothing[/li][li]Damage the batteries and perhaps the charger[/li][/LIST] Thanks for your input ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/2 "2012-01-04T17:49:48Z")
a. Charge the batteries ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/3 "2012-01-04T17:52:40Z")
OK, I know this doesn’t answer your question, but are you aware that the Wii has two USB ports in the back? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/4 "2012-01-04T18:00:05Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > OK, I know this doesn’t answer your question, but are you aware that the Wii has two USB ports in the back? Yes, but the way things are configured, I’d have to get a long USB Extension cable to put the charger anywhere useful. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/5 "2012-01-04T19:44:08Z")
My powered hubs will charge a device whether they’re connected to a computer or not. Usually, this is only relevant when the computer is off; the computer’s USB ports don’t charge a device, but the hub will. You might also be interested in electrical outlets with a built-in USB port, like [these here](http://fastmac.com/usocket.php). ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/6 "2012-01-05T22:51:22Z")
Yeah, I use a powered hub to charge stuff all the time. Including that Energizer two-Wii-batteries device, as of last week. Neat! ---
**Author:** ![Fat\_Marrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@Fat\_Marrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fat_Marrow)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/7 "2012-01-06T00:08:46Z")
You can also get [mains plug adapters](http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/22257496/August-UMC502-American-2-Pin-Mains-To-USB-500mA-Power-Plug-US-Plug-USB-Charger/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518%7Ccat:22257496%7Cprd:22257496) for USB leads. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-powered-battery-chargers/608395/8 "2012-01-07T08:47:55Z")
USB ports all provide 5VDC but their amperage ratings vary. I have two seemingly identical 12VDC (i.e. cigarette lighter) to USB adapters, one provides one amp but the other only 500 milliamps (i.e. ½ an amp). Drove me crazy in that it couldn’t provide stable power for an iPhone car cradle (seemed to work, then it didn’t, then it did etc.) So find out the amperage draw the Wii chargers pull and make sure your USB bus puts out at least that (ratings for the USB bus will be on the back of it, not sure about the Wii things…)