ThunderThighs


quality posts: 318 Private Messages ThunderThighs

Staff


ABOUT THE "SQUEALING" NOISE

Our buyer contacted Kodak and got the following reply about the noise some of you are hearing:

The KP1000 and KP1850 each contain a switching DC/DC voltage converter that takes the 3.7 V li-Ion voltage up to the 5 volts output voltage. The switching frequency is apparently within the audible range. All the units will make this kind of high pitch low volume noise, but I've noticed some are louder than others. On the other hand, some units are so quiet that you can't hear the sound at all.

There is nothing to worry about-this noise may start to fade after time and does NOT affect how the units work at all-they are completely worry-free!



If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to email service@woot.com.

Kingu


quality posts: 34 Private Messages Kingu
ThunderThighs wrote: ABOUT THE "SQUEALING" NOISE



Thanks for being on top of this, ThunderThighs.

RobertB


quality posts: 10 Private Messages RobertB

"Completely worry free*"

* Unless you are worried by high-pitched squeals. It sets my son's teeth on edge, but he adjusted pretty quickly -- he gets to play Rage of Baha Men (or whatever) longer between trips to the outlet, so he's willing to make the sacrifice.

As for me, I'm happy because this charger, though small, does what the Energizer versions don't: pass-thru charging. I can plug the power pack into a USB port, and plug my phone into the power pack, and the power pack remains charged while the phone charges. That lets me leave the whole assembly on my nightstand charging, then take the phone and backup with me into the urban jungle for all-day power. (Maybe... I haven't actually tried this scenario, but it *should* work.)

There's one very interesting side-effect of this capability. It means that the power pack doesn't "pay attention" to which way the juice is flowing. If something wants power, it gives it. If something gives power, it takes it. Even another charger. Even...

... well, the first thing my son did was plug the unit INTO ITSELF. Sure enough, the light came on as the unit charged itself from... itself. Visions of perpetual motion danced in his head until I brought him down to thermodynamic reality. I felt like I'd told a 3-year-old the awful truth about the Man in Red.

Cr@p-free no more as of 5/26/2010!
(Previous B-to-the-OC: 11/17/2006)
i can haz quality post? zomg!

collin1000


quality posts: 2 Private Messages collin1000
ThunderThighs wrote: ABOUT THE "SQUEALING" NOISE



Came here to check on the noise - mine is really loud - but glad that it's not broken. I'll live with it. Seven bucks. :P