Author Topic: Can't recharge my socks (Read 3835 times)

Gamer · « **on:** March 26, 2019, 04:25:50 PM »

Help, I recently bought these black socks online, the toe area is heated by rechargeable batteries but the initial factory charge has run out and I don't know how to recharge them.
The two small white cylinders are the batteries and say on them- "OUTPUT 3.7V / 1.5A, INPUT 5V / 0.52A".
I've plugged the recharging leads into the batteries but as you can see, there's nowhere to insert the USB plug (circled) to draw mains power from.
There were no instructions whatsoever, so am I supposed to buy some kind of mains socket adapter from an electrical shop to plug the USB into, or am I supposed to plug it into my computer to recharge from there?
Any advice would be appreciated.

armymars · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2019, 05:18:14 PM »

I bet you could do it from the computer like so many other things.

iam4liberty · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2019, 07:51:26 PM »

Yep, you got it. You need to plug it into a usb outlet (which is 5 volt). That can be a computer, a cell phone backup battery, a usb wall charger, etc. It is 0.5 Amps input which is a slow charge rate so almost anything would work. For $10 you can even buy a small solar panel.

Gamer · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2019, 08:58:25 PM »

Thanks guys, shall I try using one of my two tablet rechargers?

Both have got a USB port on the back,
one reads- "OUTPUT 5.2V / 1.0A"
and the other reads- "OUTPUT 5V / 2A"

Do they sound ok to you and if so, which one shall I use for the best recharging efficiency?

PS- Apparently there'll be no way of knowing when the sock batteries are fully charged, so shall I leave them on recharge for about 12 hours to be sure, or is there a danger of harming them if overcharged?

armymars · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2019, 09:16:32 AM »

If the battery starts to get a little more then warm, then it's probably time to stop. Go with a 1/2 amp charger first.

Gamer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2019, 11:12:10 AM »

Quote from: armymars on March 27, 2019, 09:16:32 AM

If the battery starts to get a little more then warm, then it's probably time to stop. Go with a 1/2 amp charger first.

Thanks, does 1/2 mean "half" an amp?
Or are you saying either of my 1 and 2 amp chargers will do?

Stwood · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2019, 02:00:25 PM »

Have you checked the toe jam level?

Gamer · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2019, 02:59:26 PM »

Quote from: Stwood on March 27, 2019, 02:00:25 PM

Have you checked the toe jam level?

Never heard of it mate, I know as much about electric things as I do about women, namely zilch.

Stwood · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2019, 03:01:48 PM »

Quote from: Gamer on March 27, 2019, 02:59:26 PM

Never heard of it mate, I know as much about electric things as I do about women, namely zilch.

Ok...

Mate........ Where are you from Gamer?

Gamer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2019, 03:35:00 PM »

Quote from: Stwood on March 27, 2019, 03:01:48 PM

Ok...
Mate........ Where are you from Gamer?

I'm in England mate, we're the people who invented America..

Stwood · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2019, 03:36:22 PM »

Quote from: Gamer on March 27, 2019, 03:35:00 PM

I'm in England mate, we're the people who invented America..

Thanks!

armymars · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2019, 03:52:36 PM »

Half an Amp.

Gamer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2019, 05:13:59 PM »

Quote from: armymars on March 27, 2019, 03:52:36 PM

Half an Amp.

I haven't got a half amp charger, the only two I've got are-
"OUTPUT 5.2V / 1.0 A"
and "OUTPUT 5V / 2A"
Will one of them do instead, or must I hobble into town on my poor cold feet to buy a half amp job?

iam4liberty · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2019, 05:17:15 PM »

Quote from: Gamer on March 27, 2019, 05:13:59 PM

I haven't got a half amp charger, the only two I've got are-
"OUTPUT 5.2V / 1.0 A"
and "OUTPUT 5V / 2A"
Will one of them do instead, or must I hobble into town on my poor cold feet to buy a half amp job?

They should still work fine.

Gamer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2019, 05:42:19 PM »

Quote from: iam4liberty on March 27, 2019, 05:17:15 PM

They should still work fine.

Okay, I'll try the "OUTPUT 5.2V / 1.0 A" one and hope it doesn't explode or something..

Stwood · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2019, 06:06:45 PM »

Exploding toe jam.......

Gamer · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2019, 11:34:16 AM »

Quote from: Stwood on March 27, 2019, 06:06:45 PM

Exploding toe jam.......

Luckily nothing's exploded yet mate, I've just had the socks on test, they take 9 hours to recharge (the flashing light goes out when fully charged), then they give about 3 hours heat on the maximum heat setting, though of course that 3 hours can be extended if using only medium or minimum heat settings.
But overall I'm a bit disappointed with them because they're far too tight even though I've got average size feet, so any heat they give is offset somewhat by the warm blood being squeezed out of my tootsies..

Stwood · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2019, 05:57:38 PM »

Oh man. Tight socks. Yea............
So you need some sock stretchers.

Gamer · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2019, 03:18:36 PM »

Quote from: Stwood on March 29, 2019, 05:57:38 PM

Oh man. Tight socks. Yea............
So you need some sock stretchers.

I chickened out of that idea because I don't want to risk stretching and breaking the electric wiring mesh in there or it'd be a case of "Houston we have a problem".
No sweat though, what I'm doing now is not wearing the socks, I'm simply inserting them flat into my slippers to act as a heated insole and everythings okay..

PS- I'm 70 years old and in excellent health but over the past few months I've been getting cold feet (even indoors) no matter how many pairs of thick socks I put on, it must be an age-related thing and I sometimes feel generally cold and sluggish like a reptile; I'm looking forward to summer when I can bask on warm rocks along the seafront.

PS again- I wasn't looking forward to hitting 70, but when I did I felt surprisingly good about it and arrogantly think "Wow, not everybody makes it to 70, I must be a born survivor, and even Bear Grylls is playing catchup"..

Stwood · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2019, 03:28:47 PM »

<------that's all I got.....for now.

Gamer · « **Reply #20 on:** April 01, 2019, 07:20:32 PM »

Yeah that's the trouble with buying online like I did with the socks, you don't know if the items are going to shape up until you've got them in your hands, that's why I've never ordered myself a Russian or Thai bride from the net, because no matter how good she looks and sounds on the website you won't really know if she shapes up until you've got her in your hands to give her a good checking out to see how she performs.

Stwood · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2019, 09:02:34 AM »

I once thought I'd try the Russian bride thing, but strangely, got a distinct no from the boss.

Gamer · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2019, 02:53:15 PM »

I've given up on the socks because they were too tight, and bought myself this electric foot warmer for £40 (53 US dollars) which is much better, it's too bulky to use in bed, but if I give my feet a good toasting with it last thing at night they'll stay warm for a few hours at least..

Prepper456 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 15, 2019, 03:20:29 PM »

Did it come with a cord? I suspect a USB cord. But mine gas a 12v battery.

Stwood · « **Reply #24 on:** April 15, 2019, 09:08:13 PM »

Quote from: Gamer on April 15, 2019, 02:53:15 PM

I've given up on the socks because they were too tight, and bought myself this electric foot warmer for £40 (53 US dollars) which is much better, it's too bulky to use in bed, but if I give my feet a good toasting with it last thing at night they'll stay warm for a few hours at least..

Hinge that thing and then bolt it to the bed. You could lay down or stand up to sleep.....

Gamer · « **Reply #25 on:** April 16, 2019, 01:38:44 PM »

Quote from: Prepper456 on April 15, 2019, 03:20:29 PM

Did it come with a cord? I suspect a USB cord. But mine has a 12v battery.

Quote from: Stwood on April 15, 2019, 09:08:13 PM

Hinge that thing and then bolt it to the bed. You could lay down or stand up to sleep.....

The foot warmer plugs straight into the live mains so no worries about having to recharge it..

The small oval box in the pic is its controller, you can set it to Low/Med/High heat.
The only thing I don't like is that the bloody thing switches itself off after about 90 minutes as a "safety feature" (whatever that's supposed to mean) according to the instruction leaflet.
There's not even a ping to tell you its switched off, so you could be sitting there with your feet toasting nicely in it as you watch The Waltons on TV, then after about 90 mins your feet begin getting cold because it's switched itself off, and you have to bend down to switch it back on, grrr..
Speaking of the Waltons, I see the blurb for tonights forthcoming episode is "Granma feels she is being edged out of her position as church organist, so the family rally round to give her moral support."
Hmm sounds good..

creuzerm · « **Reply #26 on:** June 01, 2020, 08:12:08 AM »

Gamer, look into getting a heated dog bed mat. It's basically a miniature heated blanked that you could put in your bed to keep your feet warm.

I got one for my computer desk to keep my feet warm sitting at the desk working all day.

News:

Author Topic: Can't recharge my socks (Read 3835 times)