Does there exist a way to connect the Acer Switch to an external battery?

mill
mill Member Posts: 6 New User
in 2015 Archives

Although very happy with my Acer Switch 10 with Windows 8,1. I have two complaints:

1. I cannot charge the battery through a USB/Power charger.

2. I cannot find an external battery to temporarily keep the tablet charged enough for operation.

 

Those are two very important things for people who want to take the Acer Switch on the road. It seems that there is a car charger, but that solves only part of the problem.

Answers

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    I have found that my Windows tabs that charge through USB require at least a 2A charger. Many are not. Does the Switch 10 require shorted data lines ?

     

    On one of my Tabs I can use a Y cable to maintain power (neither charge nor discharge) but still takes at least a 2A source.

     

    BatteryInfoView is a great tool for telling what the charging system is doing.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    The Switch 10 uses a normal power plug, not USB, for charging. The supply is 18W, 12V 1.5A and any battery pack that gives those specs and has the same size plug should work.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • mill
    mill Member Posts: 6 New User

    Billsey,   you hit the nail on the head. But I have not found a powerpack that has acable with a  USB plug on the side of the powerpack and the special round plug for the Acer Switch 10.  Charging through the micro usb port on the Switch is not efficient, because that only let 5V through in stead of the necessary 12 Volt.

    mill.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    You don't want a power pack that has USB on it, that will only be 5.35V. You want a 12V power pack that has the right plug, it won't have USB. You'll want to measure your plug (both outside and inside diameter) or find one that spoecifically says it'll work with yours. Contact the vendors and ask...

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • mill
    mill Member Posts: 6 New User

    Billsey,   Of course you are correct noticing that a usb port on a powerpack can never give me the necessary voltage/amperage, but some powerpacks give you also other ports.. The powerpack I have can also provide 12 Volt. So it is more a matter of finding a cable with the correct plugs on both sides

    mill

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    Radio Shack has a large selection of barrel plug adapters is that is what you have, is where I bought one for my W3 and is the same connector as my Switch 12. (Which is really a PBI since the W3 is 12v and the Sw12 is 19v like my Aspire 1 which has a larger barrel connector...)

  • mill
    mill Member Posts: 6 New User

    Thanks for the tip. I will definitely visit Radio Shack with my power brick and Acer Switch 10 and see what they have.

    mill.

  • dmullet778
    dmullet778 Member Posts: 2 New User

    Hey mill, I was curious if you ever found a solution to this? I just bought a switch 11 and am also curious. 

  • unvaluablespace
    unvaluablespace Member Posts: 4 New User

    Only Intel Atom based processors provide low enough power to charge via a usb port. I previously had a asus transformer t100. The battery life on that thing rocked! But charging via its micro usb port sucked because it always felt like it took forever to charge. 

     

    The issue here is that Acer decided to use a different source for charging their Switch laptops. I do miss charging via micro usb. Its a nice standard that plenty of devices use and therefore make finding an available cable and charger much easier. But, having said that. The included power adapter charges alot faster. 

     

    I'm using a Aspire switch 11 core i% version, which requires much more power than a micro usb cable lol

  • dmullet778
    dmullet778 Member Posts: 2 New User

    yeah I just ordered the same one. although i know it won't actually charge it up fast, will a usb to barrel plug from a power pack keep it alive any longer? like an extra hour or so?

  • padgett
    padgett ACE Posts: 4,532 Pathfinder

    Since my Switch 12 has a 19v supply, I doubt that 5v (USB) would do anything.

  • unvaluablespace
    unvaluablespace Member Posts: 4 New User

    Probably not. If you have an Atom variant, its possible, but anything faster (i3 or i5) would draw too much power for it to charge. itd probably still go down lol

  • mcfly
    mcfly Member Posts: 2 New User

    Has anyone been successful in finding a power connector that fits the Switch 10? I have an external battery pack that will supply the correct voltage, but I don't yet have a way to plug it into the tablet.

  • mcfly
    mcfly Member Posts: 2 New User

    I ended up getting the parts I needed at Radioshack. I can now charge my Switch 10 off of my external battery pack. On the tablet side, the connector you need is:

     

    Enercell Adaptaplug Tip G, part number 273-0324

     

    Also got the configurable cable that allows you to add the appropriate tip on each end:

     

    Enercell Adaptaplug Power Cord, part number 273-348

     

    The other end (tip) will be dependent on your battery pack. I brought my battery pack and Switch 10 into the store to get the correct parts.

Categories