USB cords

[Bav32]

Apologies if this is a little out of context for this forum but it all came about from trying to charge my phone on the boat.
So, loose my spare 12 volt charging cord. Take another from my pile of spares to discover that it does not charge the phone. Repeat process several time and come to the conclusion that all the wires in a USB to USB mini cord are not terminated, ie you get the data but not the power.
Went to a well known high street retailer , explained problem and bought two cords 9 USD - USD and USB - USB mini) on the basis that all four wires were connected.
Turns out that the 2 metre USB- USB has all wires connected, USB to mini - no power wires.

I have established the contacts 1 & 4 are for power and 2 & 3 are data.

So how can you tell?
Are there cords that are power only?
Is there any way of telling without buzzing the cable?
Surely I am not the first to have come across this.
Phone is a Samsung but I'm sure that there must be worldwide standards for connections.

 

[yoda]

samsung can be fussy about the USB socket, mine won't work on the Blue Sea usb socket I have fitted but works fine on a lighter socket plug in usb converter. I found the Blue Sea socket to be .5v higher than other outlets which seems to cause the samsung to not charge (internal protection I guess).

Yoda

 

[[70521]]

Phone is a Samsung

If you can get a mini USB in there I'd be very, very surprised! My Samsung has different port very like the mini USB, but not quite. Blackberry was the same.

 

[Bilgediver]

Apologies if this is a little out of context for this forum but it all came about from trying to charge my phone on the boat.
So, loose my spare 12 volt charging cord. Take another from my pile of spares to discover that it does not charge the phone. Repeat process several time and come to the conclusion that all the wires in a USB to USB mini cord are not terminated, ie you get the data but not the power.
Went to a well known high street retailer , explained problem and bought two cords 9 USD - USD and USB - USB mini) on the basis that all four wires were connected.
Turns out that the 2 metre USB- USB has all wires connected, USB to mini - no power wires.

I have established the contacts 1 & 4 are for power and 2 & 3 are data.

So how can you tell?
Are there cords that are power only?
Is there any way of telling without buzzing the cable?
Surely I am not the first to have come across this.
Phone is a Samsung but I'm sure that there must be worldwide standards for connections.

I have used all my usb normal to USB mini for charging or power and all 4 wires are configured. This is required for powering some devices such as external sound cards and hard drives. I think the problem may be the micro to mini adaptors . I have a Tesco package that included a mains plug and 12 volt cigar plug that have standard USB ... an expandable coiled cable with coax one end and standard USB other end and full set of adaptors which are just connected to 2 conductors as they receive power from the coax. Very handy for visitors as it covers Samsungs and Apple.

 

[ctva]

Get one of these... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BM6ET6W/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A8OEDVIOR0DUB

I've never had a problem using USB, Mini USB, Micro USB for charging on the boat. The only ones that you need to be aware of are the ones (iPad etc) that need 2A power as most adapter sockets will only be 1A.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I purchased a 'cheap' iPhone 12V cigarette lighter charger for my phone - it worked in the car, but NOT on the boat. A better quality one, however, did!

 

[Bav32]

Thanks to al for the replies so far. However I've spent some time in the car swapping out cords that work and those that don't. Same on the boat.
The outcome is that those that work on the car , work on the boat; so it's not voltage / fittings.

 

[nigelmercier]

all the wires in a USB to USB mini cord are not terminated...

Yes they are.

The problem is either that the original was non-standard, or in the 12V to USB device. I've got a pair of Motorola Razr phones on the boat. Mini USB, but they will not charge from a USB-mUSB lead, only the Motorola 12V - mUSB.