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Old Chargers and Cables
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Nov 26, 2022 07:32:39   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
I don't throw out old chargers and cables if they're still working. When I need a charger, I look in the box and find one that's appropriate. I've never had one fail, but I had had lots of cables go bad because the plug-in stops working.

Reading the daily online article from The Family Handyman, I found suggestions for how to dispose of those old things without throwing them into the garbage.

1. Bring it to Best Buy. Let them throw it into garbage.
2. Give it to relatives. Let them throw it into garbage.
3. Donate it to a school. Let them throw it into garbage.

The best one -
Disassemble the item and bring all the copper and other metal to a recycling center.

Let's face it, when a charger or any electronic device has reached the end of its life, there is no good way to dispose of it. Even China doesn't want our garbage anymore.

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Nov 26, 2022 07:39:58   #
Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.
 
Well, I reckon you can always build a fire in the back yard and burn it. (:

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Nov 26, 2022 07:41:53   #
Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio
 
I keep them because I build new ones the charger on my Marine radio went bad. It had an odd plug. And a semi odd voltage and amperage. I found a charger that had the correct amperage and voltage requirement and cut the plug off the old marine radio charger. Been working well for 3 years now. A new charger was 59.00 plus shipping and tax.

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Nov 26, 2022 08:01:38   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Bigmike1 wrote:
Well, I reckon you can always build a fire in the back yard and burn it. (:

Burning plastic creates deadly fumes.

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Nov 26, 2022 08:35:17   #
Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio
 
You used to be able to burn wire to remove the insulation and turn the copper in for cash. The scrap yards no longer accept wire that shows signs of being cleaned that way.

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Nov 26, 2022 08:36:29   #
BebuLamar
 
jerryc41 wrote:
I don't throw out old chargers and cables if they're still working. When I need a charger, I look in the box and find one that's appropriate. I've never had one fail, but I had had lots of cables go bad because the plug-in stops working.

Reading the daily online article from The Family Handyman, I found suggestions for how to dispose of those old things without throwing them into the garbage.

1. Bring it to Best Buy. Let them throw it into garbage.
2. Give it to relatives. Let them throw it into garbage.
3. Donate it to a school. Let them throw it into garbage.

The best one -
Disassemble the item and bring all the copper and other metal to a recycling center.

Let's face it, when a charger or any electronic device has reached the end of its life, there is no good way to dispose of it. Even China doesn't want our garbage anymore.
I don't throw out old chargers and cables if they'... (show quote)


You can give it to me, I fix the cable and use them.

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Nov 26, 2022 08:54:18   #
Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio
 
BebuLamar wrote:
You can give it to me, I fix the cable and use them.


I do the same and for old stuff sometimes make Frankenstein chargers.

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Nov 26, 2022 08:56:59   #
jinx
 
I wish you had posted it earlier. I just threw out three cables, because sometimes they worked and sometimes they did not work. Bought a new cable and it did not work. I thought I needed a new phone. Then it dawned on me to try a new plug. Yup, it was the plug that was defective. It would work sometimes as I sometimes plug it into the computer and that does not require the plug.

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Nov 26, 2022 09:42:22   #
BebuLamar
 
Drbobcameraguy wrote:
I do the same and for old stuff sometimes make Frankenstein chargers.


I use them to power stuff but I don't use them to charge batteries. If the charger and batteries don't match it's not good for the batteries. Chargers are quite different from a power supply.

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Nov 26, 2022 09:50:46   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
BebuLamar wrote:
I use them to power stuff but I don't use them to charge batteries. If the charger and batteries don't match it's not good for the batteries. Chargers are quite different from a power supply.


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Nov 26, 2022 10:14:31   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Drbobcameraguy wrote:
I keep them because I build new ones the charger on my Marine radio went bad. It had an odd plug. And a semi odd voltage and amperage. I found a charger that had the correct amperage and voltage requirement and cut the plug off the old marine radio charger. Been working well for 3 years now. A new charger was 59.00 plus shipping and tax.


I think I have a versatile charger that lets me put different plugs on the end of the wire - maybe switch polarity, too. Most chargers put out 12v, and most things I have require 12v - perfect fit.

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Nov 26, 2022 10:39:11   #
BebuLamar
 
jerryc41 wrote:
I think I have a versatile charger that lets me put different plugs on the end of the wire - maybe switch polarity, too. Most chargers put out 12v, and most things I have require 12v - perfect fit.


To charge a 12V battery you don't simply use a 12V power supply. Depending on what kind of battery it is you have to charge them in different way even if the voltages are the same.
NiCad and NiMH are the most difficult ones to charge correctly. You charge them with a constant current (not constant voltage like a power supply would do) and stop charging or switch to a very low charging rate when the battery voltage started to drop rather than rise.
Li-Ion you would charge them with a constant current and then switch to constant voltage then stop charging when the charging current drop to about 5% of the battery AH rating.

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Nov 26, 2022 11:25:15   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
BebuLamar wrote:
To charge a 12V battery you don't simply use a 12V power supply. Depending on what kind of battery it is you have to charge them in different way even if the voltages are the same.
NiCad and NiMH are the most difficult ones to charge correctly. You charge them with a constant current (not constant voltage like a power supply would do) and stop charging or switch to a very low charging rate when the battery voltage started to drop rather than rise.
Li-Ion you would charge them with a constant current and then switch to constant voltage then stop charging when the charging current drop to about 5% of the battery AH rating.
To charge a 12V battery you don't simply use a 12V... (show quote)



Chargers are designed to work with specific batteries. They control charge rate and duration for THAT battery type or series.
Too much charging current, NOT GOOD.
Not enough charging current, poor performance.
They are <usually> not interchangeable, unless the charging specs are the same.....
That's why different batteries for the same manufacturer may use different chargers.

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Nov 26, 2022 11:28:46   #
Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio
 
All the charger specs are listed on the charger. It's not rocket science if you are familiar and a retired electrical engineer. Lol.

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Nov 26, 2022 11:31:16   #
BebuLamar
 
Drbobcameraguy wrote:
All the charger specs are listed on the charger. It's not rocket science if you are familiar and a retired electrical engineer. Lol.


Really?

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