the USB port on Efest Luc V2...?

[AndriaD]

I just got this Efest Luc V2 a couple days ago, and I really like it, but I'm really puzzled about that USB port on it. I can't find any info about it at all at the Efest site; one vendor that has it has something about being able to plug your phone into it, but I don't have a portable phone, so what I really need to know is if I can plug a regular USB charging cable into it and use it to charge my iTaste vv3? I guess it's an output port, since you can charge a phone there, but I dunno if it's safe to charge something else there -- like my vv3.

thx!
Andria

 

[Ryedan]

Here is a review of what I think is the V2 from lygte-info.dk. If you scroll down to 'USB output' you'll see the following:

"USB output is disabled when the charger is powered.
Only one slot can be used for usb output.
The usb output is disabled when the battery drops below 3.1 volt."

There are more lines, but these are the ones I noticed as interesting. Under the next chart he says the USB port shuts down at 1.05A, so it just makes a 1A capability. You can plug anything into a USB port that draws less than the max amps it can safely provide.

'USB output is disabled when the charger is powered'. Just like with my xtar WP2, the USB port shuts off when the AC power cable is plugged in. When the cable is not attached and I have a charged battery in slot #1 (slot #2 does not work) and do not have the output set to 1A, my plugged in eGo charger lights up and does charge. The eGo charger draws 420 mA.

'Only one slot can be used for usb output'. I think that refers to what I said about only slot 1 powering the USB port.

'The usb output is disabled when the battery drops below 3.1 volt'. Makes sense. You don't want the powering battery to be drained too low.

HTH

 

[AndriaD]

Ok, so for instance if I'm out in the car... I can only charge a vv3 with it, if a) I put a battery in one of the battery slots, and b) I don't plug it in via the car charger, and c) I set it to .5 amp rather than 1 amp?

I guess at this point I need to know which is slot 1...? the left?

thx!!
Andria

 

[Ryedan]

Correct Andria. I found this video on it. He looks at the USB port starting at 5:20 and he shows which bay needs a battery in it.

As you can see from what he does in the video, you can't hurt it or damage a battery so if you get it wrong, just change it. The only thing I would be mindful of is not to plug in anything that takes more than 1 amp from the charger and even that is very close to the maximum output. eGo type chargers typically draw 420 mA for the 400 - 1300 mAh batteries and the smaller charger for stick batts are even lower. Cell phones are OK too. For anything bigger than a cell phone, like a tablet, I would check the power input on its charger. The Luc will shut down the USB port if you try to draw more than 1A, but it's better to know the limitation is there and accommodate it.

 

[AndriaD]

Correct Andria. I found this video on it. He looks at the USB port starting at 5:20 and he shows which bay needs a battery in it.

As you can see from what he does in the video, you can't hurt it or damage a battery so if you get it wrong, just change it. The only thing I would be mindful of is not to plug in anything that takes more than 1 amp from the charger and even that is very close to the maximum output. eGo type chargers typically draw 420 mA for the 400 - 1300 mAh batteries and the smaller charger for stick batts are even lower. Cell phones are OK too. For anything bigger than a cell phone, like a tablet, I would check the power input on its charger. The Luc will shut down the USB port if you try to draw more than 1A, but it's better to know the limitation is there and accommodate it.

Nah the vv3's specify 500mA, so that should be fine. I'll have to look at the video sometime when I have absolutely NOTHING else open on the computer except that one single tab in Chrome, it's the only way I can view videos at all on this old win XP Pro machine. But it is the left-most bay in the charger?

Andria

 

[Ryedan]

Nah the vv3's specify 500mA, so that should be fine. I'll have to look at the video sometime when I have absolutely NOTHING else open on the computer except that one single tab in Chrome, it's the only way I can view videos at all on this old win XP Pro machine. But it is the left-most bay in the charger?

Didn't know that or I would have posted the answer in my last post . With the screen up, it's the right bay.

 

[AndriaD]

Didn't know that or I would have posted the answer in my last post . With the screen up, it's the right bay.

Ok, thanks! Good thing I didn't try it today in the truck! But I made sure all my batteries and vv3's were charged up, before we had to spend the whole day at my folks' house. Finally home, dinner at 10:30pm...

thx!
Andria