BlackBerry® PlayBook™

[John_Clark]

The BlackBerry device internally regulates the rate of charge so that's why the PlayBook charger is OK to use on the BlackBerry phone.

@Azhrei I think you need to contact RIM. Something is wrong and it doesn't look like software is going to fix it. When the device battery depletes completely you're going to have real problems.

[JSanders Resident Expert]

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jerryg50 wrote:
Read carefully what I said. The Playbook charger is too strong for the phone. The phone charger is not strong enough for the Playbook.

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See. that's just not true. The power is regualted as John said above, on the handheld device.

Sorry to disagree, Jerry, I have researched it. However, I'll read any official RIM technical bulletin on the matter.

[John_Clark]

Jerry, you are correct, though, that the Blackberry phone charger is not sufficient for the Playbook.

[JSanders Resident Expert]

I think we're all right on that point. 

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JSanders wrote:

... .  Handheld chargers will not charge the PlayBook, or they do at a such a low voltage that the totally drained PlayBook can't recover with just that low trickle charge.

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[jerryg50]

With greater current source going in to the device, the harder the charger current regulator has to work to keep the charge current regulated. This makes more heat and thus reduces lifespan and reliability. The current controller in the phone was designed to handle a max average of 700 ma. The Playbook charger is in the 1600 may range. It is a bit more than double the recommended charge rate for the phone. 

Part of my engineering background is in industrial and consumer powersupply and charging circuit design. I also worked.In design research for video and audio circuit design. 

Jerry G. 

[JSanders Resident Expert]

Thanks!

Confirms that it will work...

I agree it might not be "ideal", but it works for me on my 9850 since April of 2011... no negative effects yet.

At two of RIM's BlackBerry World Conferences (2011 & 2012), I inquired of a couple of RIM techs who I trust on the matter, on just this issue. They confirmed they work, and wouldn't damage my 9850.

If it does, I'll report back.

Meanwhile, I guess we're off-topic on the discussion points of this thread.

[jerryg50]

The problem is the source current more than the voltage, but you have a valic point where the phone charger, or most universal chargers can acutally allow the Playbook battery to discharge rather than charge.

Lithium and NiCad type cells are charged by current source at an open end voltage spec. This is a bit complicated, but in basic terms the battery has to have the proper current source rate of charge.

It is most important that the proper rate of charger is used for the battery type intended.

Jerry G.

[JSanders Resident Expert]

It's all above my pay grade for a country boy raised in the woods of L.A. (lower Alabama).

I can only learn from all of you.

Thanks!

[Azhrei]

To reiterate, I am using the supplied charger that was in the Playbook box to charge the Playbook.

I have used the Playbook charger on my phone several times without incident. 

That aside, I am still not seeing any appreciable charging on the PB.  By swapping between the charging cord and the USB cord to my computer it has climbed to 3%, but nothing in the last couple of hours.

[jerryg50]

When you used the Playbook charger on the phone, did you get the full charge symbol almost right away?  Did the bottom of the phone begin to feel sort of hot after about 20 minutes?  These are two basic signes of the charger being over-rated for the phone. Not all the phone models may exhibit this even if some damage is being done.

Jerry G.