Thinkpads Forum

I want an output of 5V in pin 1 and 4 to charge my cellphone, just like a charger.


I imagine that there should be a driver to do this. (my phone does not have it).

So a driver to force the USB A plug from the computer to output that voltage, Has anybody heard of something like that?

The yellow USB port supplies enough voltage to charge most devices while the computer is turned off. There are options in the BIOS and Thinkpad power manager to enable the system.

Thanks man.

But it seems that pin 2 and pin 3 should be opened. How to do that with software?

Do you mean that your device will not charge if plugged into a computer because it recognizes the USB data connection? What exactly is the device?

When plugging, windows alert: USB not recognized, therefore it doesn't charges correctly. Because I think it needs to cut pin 3 and 4 cables.

It's an LG P500 one.

crised wrote:When plugging, windows alert: USB not recognized, therefore it doesn't charges correctly. Because I think it needs to cut pin 3 and 4 cables.

It's an LG P500 one.

Even though Windows does not recognize the device, the USB port should still be powered. Are you sure the phone is not charging?

It is getting energy, but not charging properly. I believe this is because pin 2 and 3 should be open.

crised wrote:It is getting energy, but not charging properly. I believe this is because pin 2 and 3 should be open.

It is not charging because it is not getting enough current. Some devices, e.g., Blackberries, need circa 700ma, but one USB port supplies only 450ma. You need a cable which "combines" the current from two USB ports, such as:

These cables are useless - modern USB ports in computer can deliver uasily 1.5A but you have to tell your device to draw more current. For example HTC cellphones detects AC charger by shorting data pins. From PC it charges only 400mA, from AC charger 700mA. I made myself two USB ports (male+female) connected together and on female side it has those data pins shorted - so now the cell phone thinks it charges from AC

czatlantis wrote:These cables are useless - modern USB ports in computer can deliver uasily 1.5A but you have to tell your device to draw more current. For example HTC cellphones detects AC charger by shorting data pins. From PC it charges only 400mA, from AC charger 700mA. I made myself two USB ports (male+female) connected together and on female side it has those data pins shorted - so now the cell phone thinks it charges from AC

Pin 2 and Pin 3 should be shorted? or opened?

It really depends on what your device needs. Mine needs 2+3 shorted. Apple products need some resistor divider and maybe yours need those pins open. Check your original charger

czatlantis wrote:It really depends on what your device needs. Mine needs 2+3 shorted. Apple products need some resistor divider and maybe yours need those pins open. Check your original charger

My original charger has only 2 pins. So means others should be opened right?

Also, Why micro usb has 5 pins instead of 4?!

Actually I think software driver "can" open pin 2 and 3.

Try to connect you USB cable only half way in your notebook. Power pins are connected earlier because they are longer (take a look on USB cable) so pins 2+3 remain unconnected(open)

czatlantis wrote:Try to connect you USB cable only half way in your notebook. Power pins are connected earlier because they are longer (take a look on USB cable) so pins 2+3 remain unconnected(open)

how smart you are man...

czatlantis wrote:Try to connect you USB cable only half way in your notebook. Power pins are connected earlier because they are longer (take a look on USB cable) so pins 2+3 remain unconnected(open)

did that, still doesn't charge ok. I believe it's drawing little current from the PC.

crised wrote:I believe it's drawing little current from the PC.

You are correct. Use two USB ports to delivery power, and the issue will be solved.

IFF (if and only if) using power from two USB ports does not charge the phone, then you can experiment with cutting the wires in the cable that go to pins 2/3, etc. ... but first, use a cable that takes power from two USB ports.

Note: An X220 USB port is unlikely to deliver anything like the 1.5A mentioned by somebody above, so "playing" with pins 2/3 of he cable is unlikely to help your cause ... but still, check the specs on the X220's USB ports ... perhaps they can deliver more than 450ma ...

Most smartphones and mine for sure need those bridged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LZt4pW97P8

Trust me, X220 (at least my tablet version) can deliver 1.5A

czatlantis wrote:Trust me, X220 (at least my tablet version) can deliver 1.5A

Yes, but let's clarify -- 1.5A on the one optional USB 3 port; not on any USB 2 port.

We don't know that the OP in this thread has that blue USB 3.0 port, and chances are that he does not ... because he would have tried it if he had it, and would have been pleased to discover that it delivered the current he needed.

czatlantis wrote:These cables are useless - modern USB ports in computer can deliver uasily 1.5A....

Perhaps on desktop systems, but that remains quite unusual on laptops.

The latest generation of laptops with USB 3.0 ports can usually supply up to 900mA per port.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Come on, I have my x220i WITH USB2!!!! And I was drawing 1.5A from it. Even my older x200 can deliver 1.5A from USB port. I have powerbank (external battery for my cell phone) which draws 1.5A and it charges fine.
Trust me, I measured it.
(of course drawing 1.5A from all three ports at the same time doesn't look like a good idea because it could overload 5V power rail in laptop but 1.5A draw is fine.)
I might make some video if you don't believe me