Slow charging usb strip

[Ellipsis69]

So i work at a courier business in quite a hot area. We don't use specialised phones that cost upwards of AUD$1800 to do our work like other companies, but rather use cheaper AUD$200-300 range of phones.

Out of the 14 odd phones out of the past year, we've have to replace 4 of them. Not an insignificant amount but enough to say, hey maybe there is some room for improvement.

One of the biggest problems is definitely the heat during the day, as our drivers would have their phones sitting on the dash in a phone holder, which can easily reach ambient temps of 38 degrees science (100 degrees frankenstein). But sitting in direct sun on a dash next to a window will easily reach 45 science(113 frankenstein).

I under stand that this would be the major contributor to 4 out of 14 phones per year swelling up their batteries and needing to be replaced.

There is a solution i believe. After the days work people just put their 30-40% charged phone (while still hot) onto the 2.5amp on the wall socket, and it quick charges it and keeps it fully charged for the next 10+ hours when absolutely no-one is using it.

So i tried searching for a usb power strip to deliver a trickle 0.5amp, but i can't seem to find anything. All i get is:

"provide the fastest possible charge up to 2.4 amps per port"

"2.4A max output for each USB port for super-fast charging"

"charge devices at up to 1.5A from each port"

"Auto regulated 0-2.4A per port"

 

I can't seem to find the right keywords to type into google to seem to get a 500mA usb power strip. Basically because they want you to fry your batteries and buy a new device.

I don't need the phones charged in 2-3 hours to 100%. I want a bit of longevity i understand the phones are already in a harsh environment, but they just go from the hot dash of a car straight into a fast wall charger gets straight back up to 100% within a couple of hours and sit there with 100% battery for the next 10 hours.

 

TLDR: I want a usb power strip with a maximum charging capacity of 500mA. I can only seem to find 'fast charging stations'.

[mariushm]

I doubt the phones are still hot when your employees come home in the afternoon.

 

The maximum charge current and voltage are set through the data pins.... the charger communicates the voltages and currents it can do and the phone negotiates the power it wants. 

 

You can resort to older charge standards to trick the phone into thinking it's a dumber charger.. for example shorting the two data pins together is standard way of telling the phone it's a 1A charger   so you could just get a usb extension cable, cut one end and tie the data wires together.

 

A simpler solution would probably be to have a dedicated charging station at the office where everyone brings the phones to charge over night. Have the base bottom with lots of small holes, basically a mesh, and install some 120mm fans under the mesh to blow some air under the phones or have fans on the side so that air blows over the phones 

 

You can still buy chargers that are limited to 1A of current or even less... but you're in australia ... so wouldn't help if I give you locally available chargers.

[OhioYJ]

So I actually slow charge all my devices. Your best bet on this if you need a device that can charge multiple devices is generally a powered USB hub. Many USB hubs will supply power even when they are not hooked to a PC. That is what I've used for years actually for this exact purpose. Im not aware of anything else made today that would do what you are looking for easily.

 

I've also found my devices last longer on each charge charging them like this. Since I have devices that are now up to 9 years old and still going strong it seems to work for me. The only thing I will mention is I've found a few devices mainly iPhones that won't actually charge on currents that low. 

 

Anker also makes dedicated charger hubs that are more along the lines of an 1 amp. I have a couple of these at home I can measure actual current too if you want.