How to use a frog charger. We are learning to use the “frog” to charge the battery - connecting the terminals. Reviews of the frog charger

What is a frog for charging batteries, types, characteristics

The universal charger for charging lithium batteries is popularly called the frog. The standard charger may fail or get lost. Then the frog will come to the rescue. Most universal chargers are used to restore the charge of phone batteries, but they can also be used to charge the batteries of cameras, players and other gadgets that run on lithium batteries. In this article we will look at the types, design, use and some models of “frogs”.

In the classic version, the frog consists of a plastic case, a plug for connecting to a 220-volt household power supply, a clamp and contact terminals for connecting the battery, as well as indicators and a controller board. Due to the fact that the terminals can be installed at a certain distance, the frog can be adapted to charge batteries with different contact pads.

Somewhat earlier, when phone manufacturers released their models with individual charging connectors, if the charger was lost or broken, the owner actually lost the ability to use the gadget. It was necessary to repair the charger or purchase a new one. In such a situation, the universal frog was an indispensable device that could charge almost all commercially available cell phone batteries.

Here, for example, is a charger for an old Siemens cell phone.

Or for an ancient “flip phone” Sony Ericsson Z550i.

As a result, memories from phones from different manufacturers were incompatible.

In this case, the frog came to the rescue. You just had to take the battery out of the phone, set the required distance on the frog terminals, insert the battery and connect the device to the network.

This allows you to charge batteries without any problems. different sizes and with different contact pads. Here is the Nokia BL-5C.

Or this Samsung EB-L1F2HVU.

It was not possible to connect the phone directly to charge or transfer data via the USB port. It was necessary to use special adapters. Examples of such cables are shown below.

Subsequently, manufacturers unified their models and chargers for the USB interface. Standard chargers now have a plug for connecting to the network and a USB output.

And frogs also began to evolve. Almost everyone has a USB interface. The contact terminals were retained, since the population still has many old cell phones in use.

Although more and more models are appearing equipped only USB ports. Third-party manufacturers add additional features to their devices in the form of various indicators and displays. Below you can see such a modern frog with two USB ports and a display showing the current voltage and charging current.

IN lately Frogs with a USB 3.0 interface are becoming increasingly common. Among them there are models that provide a charging current of up to 3.1 amperes.

Some manufacturers have developed real multifunctional combines based on frogs, which allow you to charge various batteries with customizable parameters. As a rule, they have a liquid crystal display and additional controls.

Varieties

Based on their design, frogs can be divided into three broad categories.

• Network models. They receive power through a plug inserted into a household electrical outlet. In Russia and Europe, 220 volt models are used. It can also be found in 110 volt versions, which are used in the USA.
• Automotive devices. Here, instead of a power plug, there is a connector for a car cigarette lighter socket. The charger receives power from the vehicle's on-board network.
• These chargers receive power from the USB port. Such models have almost disappeared from sale. They can be useful in cases where the phone does not have a USB interface, and you charge the battery directly in the frog. And the charging itself is connected via USB, for example, to a computer or laptop. If the cell phone has a USB port, then such charging loses all meaning. In this case, it is easier to connect the gadget directly to the computer.

At the output, network and car frogs have a USB interface or adjustable terminals for charging batteries directly.

To charge phone batteries directly, frogs can have terminals in the form of two elongated antennae (classic version), as well as short terminals in a special recess in the case. Width of terminals depending on contact pads The battery can be adjusted in both cases.

The main characteristics and their meanings are given below.

• Input voltage from 100 to 240 volts, 50/60 Hz (if it is a mains charger).
• Output voltage. From 2 to 9 volts. This allows you to charge almost any lithium battery in modern mobile devices Oh. Although if charging is carried out via the USB interface, then the device may contain another type of battery. The main thing is that the declared electrical characteristics are suitable for them.
• Output current. From 1 to 5.4 amperes (in most cases up to 3 amperes). This allows you to quickly charge the batteries of smartphones and tablets. They are not designed to charge larger batteries, such as those from laptops.
• Dimensions. Here everything can be individual. But the vast majority of devices have a length of no more than 20 cm. The length is indicated because this is the largest dimension of such devices.
• Additional features. To stand out from others, manufacturers equip their models with battery charge indicators, as well as information displays. In most cases, such chips are not necessary, and they should be chosen depending on desire and financial capabilities.

Instructions for using the charger

It is necessary to clamp the battery into the frog so that the contacts of the charger are on the + and – terminals of the battery. If the battery has 3 or 4 contacts, you usually need to use the outer 2. If the connection polarity is correct, then when you press the button T.E.(left) the first green LED will light up CON. If it is not lit, press the right button CO(reversal) and press the first button again. On some frogs CON may light up when connected without pressing the button - also the correct polarity. There are also models that will automatically determine the polarity. Accordingly, there is no right polarity reversal button.

If everything is fine - CON lights up green, plug into a 220V socket. Lights up PW and starts to light up or flash CH(charge - charge). When charging is complete, the right LED lights up FUL(full - complete). If CON Doesn't light up at all, maybe the battery is dead. Then connect randomly in any polarity and plug it into the network for 5 minutes (not for long - it’s not scary). If CH will blink, then the charge is on and everything is correct, otherwise change the polarity with the right button and see how it behaves then CH. If it lights up immediately PW And FUL then most likely the battery in the frog is not connecting (so the LED lights up without the battery at all) - move it towards the contacts.

Repair instructions for the frog charger

Schematic diagram of the frog charger

Replacing fixed resistors R14 and R15 (the numbering of parts on the diagram corresponds to the numbering of parts on the printed circuit board) to a multi-turn trimmer resistor of the SP3-39A brand with a nominal value of 10 Kom, it becomes possible to accurately set the output current. After the replacement, I set the current to 250 mA, which approximately corresponds to the specified parameter on the charger body. You can, of course, set the charging current using the trimmer at will and another. When the device's light alarm turns on, indicating the end of the charge, the charging current is reduced to 70 mA, and the voltage on the battery is set within 4.15V. The full charging process lasts about two hours, that is, the same as when charging in the device with its original charger. Full version Download instructions from the forum.

Homemade toad

After analyzing several Frog memory schemes, I settled on one of them. I decided to make it as an attachment for charging NOKIA (I think many people have them, and I have a few of them lying around) to charge a Li-ion battery 18650 . In the most charging from NOKIA outlet from the transformer is almost 7V, which should be enough for the set-top box.

For the battery itself, you will need a battery compartment to mount it on the side of the case. On the lid there is an output of four LEDs and a micro-toggle switch. In the meantime, a signet on CMD and simple radio elements has been developed for the circuit, installed on top of the board. Download it.

The enclosed signet has already been mirrored; please send it for printing immediately. The photo simply shows the arrangement of the elements as it should be.

Next, I soldered a separate memory card and tested it - it works great! With the specified details, the charger output is 4.2V. I put a used battery on charge - the charge rises. The LM358 chip was installed soldered, taken from God knows where. I used a power supply with a 6V 0.45A output.

I drew and checked the circuit diagram - Igoran.

Discuss the article CHARGER FROG

For cases when charging a phone is not possible using standard methods, a device was purchased, colloquially referred to as a “frog”. It is distinguished by its omnivorousness and versatility.
Details are under the cut.

So, let's get down to business.

Specifications from the seller

* Input: AC 110-240 V 50/60 Hz
* Battery output: DC 4.2V DC 300 mA max
* Charges batteries up to 3000 mAh
* LED display with backlight showing charge level
* Availability of a USB port for charging MP3 players and other devices
* USB output: DC 5V 500 mA Max

The electronic “amphibian” arrived in a standard bubble bag within 30 days. For such a “creature” the speed of movement through the mother is commendable.

The device is distinguished by the presence of an LCD display displaying the charge level, and a USB port, which will be discussed below.

The device itself:

USB port:


Characteristics declared by the manufacturer:


Giblets - in the 1st image you can see that the protective film has not been removed from the internal display, which can be removed after disassembly (China was not without surprises).




Charge the battery directly.

The seller's website notes that in this mode the maximum current is 300mA. In practice it turned out to be 0.24 A.


In this mode, charging a regular modern phone battery from scratch with a capacity of 1 Ah will last a little more than 4 hours, which is acceptable for such a device due to its versatility.
I noticed the value of the maximum current indicated on the device’s label is 1.4 A, which can be likened to a “sport” sticker on Chinese shoes and clearly hints at its roots.

Charging process

USB port operation.
From the description on the website it is clear that this port is used to charge devices from the mains, and not from the battery, which would be very useful. But is it possible to imagine that this will not be confirmed experimentally? Of course not, not in our case.
When trying to power the port from a connected battery, the voltage turned out to be 3.3 V.

The phone politely refuses to charge.


When connected to the network, the output voltage is 6 V.


Charge phone is coming, but the voltage drops to ~4.7 V. The output current is ~0.3 A with a stated maximum of 0.5 A. This is to be expected, since the USB output operates from the same hardware as the battery charging output, with the same current strength. In this mode, the device heats up, but not critically. Here the seller apparently simply copied the power settings from the standard one USB port A.

Conclusion: A foreigner from the habitat of “China”, the “frog” family, the species “advanced with an LCD display and a USB port” has the right to exist in the niche of backup power sources in the absence of the ability to charge the phone in the usual way. And this happens, from practice I remember dead charge ports and failed chargers.

Pros:
- Versatility;
- Availability of charge level indicator;
- USB port for charging anything that can be charged in this way;

Cons:
- Cheap assembly, originally from the basement (unwashed flux, cracked tracks, crooked soldering and even the presence protective film on the internal display, the entire range);
- Long charge of capacious batteries, low output current (but this is a conditional drawback, it will do for a phone).

If your mobile phone is dead and you don’t have a charger at hand, don’t despair. In such a situation, a “frog” for charging batteries will be a real godsend. Its main advantage is its versatility, ease of operation, prevalence and low cost. It is suitable for batteries with different connectors. Let's consider the principle of operation and rules for using the frog.

A frog is a simple device designed to charge mobile phone batteries. various models and manufacturers. Read more about how to charge your phone battery without a phone →

In addition, the “toad” can charge a lithium battery from cameras and other small equipment.

Outwardly, it looks simple and is a plastic box with a plug on one side and a special clamp for contact with the battery on the other side. The “toad” design allows it to be used for batteries with connectors of different sizes thanks to movable contact terminals.

The universal device does not require any special technical knowledge or skills. To use the frog, there is no need to think about how to correctly insert the battery into it. She herself will determine its polarity.

Types of universal chargers

Today, you can find several types of devices of this type on sale, designed for lithium batteries of mobile phones and other small-sized equipment that differ in power source:

• from car cigarette lighter;
• from USB port;
• from an electrical outlet.

Also universal charger can be automatic or semi-automatic. The main difference is the number of indicator lights. Automatic machines have three, and semi-automatic machines have four. An automatic “toad” will automatically determine the correct polarity, while a semi-automatic one will require additional control of the correct connection using buttons.

How to use the frog?

How to use the universal device? The algorithm for its application is simple and the same for everyone. You can charge a lithium battery of a phone, camera, camera, or navigator with a frog, provided that it has the following characteristics:

• capacity no more than 2000 mAh;
• current 200 mA;
• output voltage 3.5-4.6 V.

It will not be possible to charge a battery with a frog if it does not meet these characteristics.

First, you need to disconnect the battery from technical device. Then it is installed in the “toad” so that the terminals (+ and -) coincide with the contacts of the device. Most chargers of this type have up to 4 terminals, but, as a rule, the outer two are used.

The next step is to check the polarity if the model is semi-automatic. To do this, click on the Te button (located on the left). If it catches fire green indicator, then the battery is connected correctly. If the connection is incorrect, use the CO polarity change button (located on the right), and then TE again. In the automatic model, you do not need to determine the polarity yourself.

During operation, the PW and CH network indicator will be active, and upon completion of the process - FUL, indicating that the battery can be used further. 2.5-5 hours after placing the battery in the device (the time depends on the battery model), it can be removed. It is fully charged and ready for use.

Important! The frog is only suitable for charging lithium batteries. Batteries of another type will become unsuitable for further use after an attempt to restore them with a “toad”.

What to do in an unusual situation

When using a universal charger, atypical situations may arise, for example, the battery is charged too quickly or the indicators are not backlit.

How to charge the battery of cellular terminals if no indicator of the working device lights up? In such a situation, it is recommended to press the CO button.

If no changes occur after this, most likely:

• there is an error with the contacts, you need to change the polarity;
• Battery is inoperative;
• "toad" is broken.

The device will help in a situation where the phone’s battery is completely dead and has not been used for a long time. In this case, it must be placed in the frog for 10 minutes, and then charged with the terminal’s native device.

If during operation the device signals that it is fully charged 10-15 minutes after connection, then it has failed. And the FUL indicator active when connected to the network indicates that the battery is unusable.

If the FUL and PW indicators light up at the same time, then there is no contact between the charger and the battery.

“Zhabka” can be easily bought in online stores, it is inexpensive. This makes it even more attractive to users. It is extremely simple, so if necessary, you can make it yourself from scrap materials. To make it, you will need a clothespin, an unnecessary charger from any phone, several pins, a wooden block, pliers, a glue gun and a soldering iron.

A clothespin is attached to the block using superglue or a glue gun. Place two pins side by side at a distance of 0.5 cm from each other. The ears of the pins need to be removed and the point driven into the piece of wood half a centimeter. The end of the pin where the eye was located is bent forward slightly. The plug cut off from the charging is attached to the pins, having previously determined the plus and minus. It is advisable to mark the polarity on the board so that there are no difficulties with this later. The fastening of pins and wires should also be strengthened with glue so that they do not become loose during operation. When using such a frog, the battery is connected to pins (homemade contacts) and secured with a clothespin.

There are a lot of descriptions of this process and video tutorials on the Internet; making it will not be difficult. It will really help out in situations where it is impossible to use “native” charging for small equipment for some reason.

A recently introduced charger, popularly called the “frog”, thanks to versatility, has become very popular. It can charge the batteries of almost all mobile devices: phones, tablets, pocket computers, cameras, video cameras. The main condition is that the batteries must be lithium, others will be damaged.

Advantages of frog charging

These include:

Species

Standard models are designed for connections to household outlets with a voltage of 220 V. 12-volt varieties are available for use in cars. To operate a charger equipped with a cord with USB connector to connect to a PC, 5 V is enough. In addition, they are divided into automatic, which independently establishes the correct polarity of the connection, and semi-automatic, in which this is done manually with the TE button.

The charging process is monitored using indicators located on the case:

• FULL lights up when the battery is fully charged;
• CHARGE signals that the process has started and is proceeding normally;
• POWER indicates a connection to a power source;
• When CON is green, it indicates that the battery is connected correctly; when it is red, you need to change the polarity using the TE button.

Charging rules

Using a frog to charge batteries is easy. To do this, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

If the CON does not light up when you connect the battery, the battery is likely low and needs a boost. To do this, connect the device to a power outlet and wait a few minutes. With correct polarity CHARGE will light up, if not, then you should change the poles and start charging. It happens that when connected to an outlet, POWER and FULL light up at the same time. This occurs due to poor contact between the terminals of the device and the battery. You just need to reinstall the battery. If, when connected to a power outlet, the FULL indicator immediately lights up, it means that the battery has worked as long as it is supposed to. You'll have to buy a replacement. Fast charging(5 - 10 minutes) means that the phone's battery will not be used for long.

Making your own charging frog

Make a full-fledged universal frog charger from scratch with your own hands it will be difficult for a non-professional. If you can’t buy it, then remake an old charger from mobile phone Many people can play a frog. All you need to do the job is a piece of sheet plastic, a spring from a clothespin, 2 paper clips, and some wire.