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.
General information about the device
The frog is a simple device designed to charge the batteries of mobile phones of various models and manufacturers.
In addition, cameras and other small equipment can be used as a toad.
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 charging 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 a universal device? Its algorithm Application is simple and the same for everyone. Can charge a lithium phone battery with a frog , camera, camera, navigator, 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 the 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 two outer ones 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 the green indicator lights up, 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.
If you lose your original mobile phone or smartphone charger, inexpensive universal chargers for 3.7 volt lithium batteries, the so-called frogs(or toads). They have adjustable contacts to which the battery, previously removed from the phone, is directly connected. Of course, this creates some inconvenience (you need to constantly remove the cover, time is lost), but sometimes this is the only way out when the charger from a rare Chinese phone is lost.
Instructions for using the charger
The frog charger is designed for charging Li-Ion batteries that are used in cell phones, GPS receivers and cameras. It operates from a 110-220 V network. Output voltage is 4.2 volts, current is 200 mA. The charge occurs automatically and is controlled by the microcircuit, and it automatically turns off when the required level is reached. Standard charging time is 1.5 hours.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
As for a completely non-functional charger, just look for a burnt part. But sometimes you come across low-quality chargers, when when you connect the battery to the frog, the charge current is less than specified. Not 200 ± 50 mA, but several times less. Thus, the battery is simply undercharged. As the charging current at the output decreases, the final voltage on a “fully charged” battery also decreases. Hence the short battery life when installed in a phone. When the charger light signaled the end of the charge, the battery voltage was only 3.9V. Why is this happening? Most likely it's a matter of variation in parameters. A slight deviation in resistor values will result in a change in the overall characteristics of the device.Schematic diagram of the frog charger
By replacing the fixed resistors R14 and R15 (the numbering of parts on the diagram corresponds to the numbering of parts on the printed circuit board) with 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. Download the full version of the instructions on 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 NOKIA charger itself, the output from the transformer is almost 7V, which should be enough for a 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 microswitch. 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
The simplest solution to the situation when the battery of your favorite gadget is low and the charger is out of order is to buy a “frog” (toad) at the nearest electronics store, which will successfully replace a standard charger (charger).
What is a "frog"
“Frog” belongs to the category of universal chargers. A universal battery charger capable of charging a range of models with removable power supplies: from mobile phones and cameras to navigators and tablet computers. Before use, please read a number of restrictions:
- The battery being charged must be lithium type(the device will not cope with other varieties and may even fail);
- volume should not exceed 2000 mAh;
- nominal voltage from 3.5 V to 4.8 V;
- voltage online from 110 V to 220 V;
- day off voltage 4.25 V, current - 200 mAh;
- charging time no more than 1.5 hours.
It is difficult to say specifically how much a “frog” costs for charging the battery of phones, tablets and other equipment. Depending on the model, prices can vary from 100 to 600 rubles.
What is the advantage of the device
Universal multi charger (English name for “frogs”) enjoys customer loyalty for a reason. Let us briefly list the main “advantages” of the device:
- used for charging voltage sources for various small-sized equipment;
- saves significantly user funds, eliminating the need to purchase a separate charger for each device;
- small sizes provide portability (ease of movement) of the device;
- technically easy to use.
How the device works
Externally, the device actually looks a bit like the amphibian of the same name: the body, made of plastic, has a characteristic rounded-elongated shape. At the top of the device there is a battery holder equipped with a contact group responsible for recharging the battery. Depending on the model, the device may be equipped with electronic screen, which will display technical parameters. LED indicators with corresponding inscriptions can play the same role.
Types of device
Depending on the type of connection, the following types of universal chargers are distinguished:
- Classical network version, operating from a standard 220 V outlet.
- memory for auto from 12 to 24 V. Equipped with an adapter for a cigarette lighter.
- Device with the ability charge via USB port, connected to a computer. Input voltage 5 Volts.
All of the above modifications are successfully used to replenish power for a wide range of electronic devices with Li-Ion batteries. Unable to charge“frog” are only those gadgets in which batteries are an integral part of the design (Apple iPhone and some Android, Windows Phone, Symbian models).
How to decipher the markings
The presence of LCD screens, which display all the information about the battery charging process, greatly facilitates the operation of the device. However, these devices are significantly more expensive than their budget “brothers”, which use a simple display system to alert the user:
- Indicator nutritionPW– constant green light. Signals that the device is connected to the network.
- Indicator charging the battery CH– flashing green light. Notifies you about the start of the power replenishment process.
- Light bulb with markedFULL warns that the battery is fully charged.
How to use the Frog to charge the battery
Using the “frog” to charge batteries is not difficult; you just need to follow a few simple steps:
- Disable device you plan to charge and carefully remove the battery from it.
- Open the memory by pressing the “clothespin” lever.
- Place battery under clamp, combining its contacts with the “frog” terminals. If the battery has more than two contacts, use the pair located closer to the edge.
- Connect device to an appropriate power source.
- After charging is complete install the battery to the right place. Check the power level on the screen.
Checking functionality
On the side surface of the classic “frog” type there is a button marked inscription TE, i.e. "testing". It is used to check the polarity of the connected battery. Pressing this button once turns on the CON diode to turn green, confirming that everything was done correctly.
If the light bulb CONdoesn't light up− press the button on the right, which changes the polarity.
If no buttons are found on the side panels of the device, most likely the model tests polarity automatically.
Also, the indicators may not light up if the battery has moved to the side and its contacts no longer interact with the charger terminals. 
DIY "frog"
It’s quite possible to make a primitive universal “frog” type charger for a phone on your own; for this you will need:
We perform the following manipulations in turn:
- Bite off with pliers the heads of the pins and drive the points into the plank base.
- Loose ends of pins fold up.
- Expose the wires charger. Clean the contacts from braid residues.
- Solder the wires A charger with the “frames” of pins sticking out of the plywood.
- Fill the resulting structure with glue
- Flush with contact pad fix with glue clothespin.
- Unclench the clothespin and insert the phone battery into it, attaching the ends of the pins to the battery contacts.
We charge for a couple of hours, after which we check the battery for fullness.
Also, you can solder such a device yourself, focusing on the frog circuit for charging the battery below, but this requires specialized knowledge. 
Malfunctions and solutions
Here are several typical malfunctions typical of universal chargers, and we will offer solutions to the problem:
- Indicator CON is off, although everything was done correctly. Most likely, the battery is completely discharged. In this case, you can try to boost it using a laboratory power supply.
- Doesn't light up bulbPW– the fuse may have blown and should be replaced.
- Absent output voltage– there is a high probability that the capacitors in the device microcircuit are “broken.”
- The device turns on normally, but after a few seconds " goes out"- a device is activated that protects the frog from overload. The load circuit needs to be tested.
If used carefully, this useful device will last a long time. Put it in your backpack or handbag and be sure that it will certainly be useful at the right time.
Content:
Recently, manufacturers of various electronic gadgets have almost all come to a common connector for charging and transferring data to a computer or other device. But just recently, each brand, and sometimes model of phone or digital camera had its own special plugs. Such devices still work successfully for almost half of the population.
And then the moment comes when the charger has become unusable, or where the person is there is no necessary connector, but the phone needs to be charged. Just for such a case, there is a universal charger, popularly called a “frog”.
Now let’s try to understand what kind of battery charger this is, how it can charge various batteries, what advantages, or perhaps, on the contrary, disadvantages it has over conventional switching power supplies and in what cases it can be used.
What is charging?
In appearance, the “frog” charger is a small box, on one side of which there is a plug for an outlet, and on the other side there are two contacts under transparent plastic on a spring.
This universal charger is intended for mobile phone batteries, and indeed for any lithium batteries whose capacity does not exceed 2000 mAh, current strength - 200 mA, and the voltage at which the battery is charged should be in the range from 3.5 to 4.8 V.
The most interesting thing is that when purchasing a frog, several adapters are included with it. Therefore, among them there may be the necessary plug. If this does not happen, then to charge the battery you will have to remove it from the device.
Moreover, the undoubted advantage of such a device is the presence of its own battery, which will allow you to recharge the battery where there is no electricity. Maybe not completely, but still...
So how does it happen that the contacts of a “frog” telephone charger are suitable for any batteries, and now we’ll try to figure out how to use such a device.
How to use the device?
The battery is connected using two contact plates on springs, which are adjustable in width. That is why you can choose the required size between the contacts. Regardless of how many terminals there are on the battery, the last two usually work when charging. Just in case, you can look at the battery itself - opposite the necessary contacts there are always “+” and “-” icons.
After installing the battery in the frog charger, you need to press the “TE” (test) button. If the green indicator (“CON”) lights up, this indicates the correct polarity of the connection. If this does not happen, you need to change the polarity by simply pressing the “CO” key. There are models without a polarity change button. In such devices it changes automatically as needed.
After this, you can plug the universal charger into a power outlet. At the same time, the “PW” lamp (network presence) should light up on the panel, and the “CH” LED should blink. After about an hour and a half (some batteries can take up to 5 hours to charge), the “FUL” indicator lights up, indicating that the battery is fully charged.
Although the instructions state that you don’t have to unplug the charger from the outlet after charging the battery, it’s still worth doing. After all, all the “frogs” are made in China, which means the quality of such devices leaves much to be desired.
Some features
Sometimes there are situations in which you cannot do without such a universal charger. For example, after the battery was completely discharged, the phone remained unused for some time. In this case, if the battery charge drops below the level specified in the gadget’s program, the device simply will not perceive the battery as a power supply. In this case, it will not be possible to charge it with a standard device. That’s when a similar “frog” for your phone comes in handy. Moreover, if the battery is completely discharged, the “CON” light will not light up during testing.
The way out of such a situation is this. Ignoring the polarity, since it’s impossible to check it anyway, the “frog” with the battery is plugged into the network for 5 minutes. And after 5 minutes of such charging, the polarity is checked again with the “test” button.
Varieties of "frogs"
In general, such battery charging devices are not recommended to be used very often, because... in their essence they are shock, i.e. The battery is charged from them in an emergency, accelerated manner, which means that with constant use it will quickly become unusable.
There are 3 types of “frogs” (they are also called “toads” and “clothespins”), namely:
- For use in the car. This device has a cord with a plug that fits into the cigarette lighter socket. A convenient option for emergency phone discharge on the road.
- Phone battery charger, powered by 220 V. The standard and most common type of “clothespin”.
- Frog for charging at 5 V. A charger that has a USB plug instead of a 220 V plug. These “toads” have the smallest size of all in this line. They can be worn on keys instead of a key fob.
Some nuances
It happens that such a charger for a phone battery does not behave as expected. And there are reasons for this. It has already been written about the complete discharge of the battery, but what should you do if the full charge light on a discharged battery immediately lights up? In this case, you can throw away the battery, because this indicates that it has fallen into disrepair. A quick, full charge within 10–15 minutes can also indicate problems with the battery.
If the “FUL” and “PW” indicators light up at the same time, this indicates poor contact between the device and the battery.
That's probably all that can be said about this universal charger.
Instructions on how to use a frog - clothespin.
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 polarity of the connection is correct, then when you press the TE (left) button, the first green CON LED will light up. If it is not lit, press the right CO button (polarity reversal) and repeat pressing the first button. On some frogs, CON may light up when connected without pressing the button - also the correct polarity. There are also models that DETERMINE THE POLARITY THEMSELVES. Accordingly, there is no right polarity reversal button.
If everything is fine - CON lights up green - plug it into the outlet. PW (power - network) lights up and CH (charge - charge) starts to light or flash. When charging is complete, the right FUL LED lights up.
If CON does not light up at all, the battery is probably 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 (charge) blinks, then the charge is in progress and everything is correct, otherwise, change the polarity with the right button and see how CH behaves then.
If PW (mains) and FUL (fully charged) light up immediately, then most likely the battery in the frog is not in contact (it lights up without a battery at all) - move it towards the contacts.
Sometimes, with a faulty battery (if one cell dies), the frog can show a full FUL charge even if it is far from normal voltage. The charging current just doesn't flow anymore - that's all.
If a cell phone with a dead battery does not turn on for charging or shows no signs of life at all, then read below.
It must be said that if a battery with a nominal voltage of 3.6 volts drops below 3.2 volts, then the mobile phone may not show signs of life at all, even when a standard charger is connected. That is, the controller sees that there is no battery at all and does not turn on the charge. In this case, the frog is an irreplaceable thing - by turning on the battery for 5 minutes through the frog, you give a boost to the battery, after which it can already be charged in the phone itself.
An additional 3rd contact on the battery is usually a signal from a controller chip (or simply a thermistor), which are located inside the battery itself and prevent overcharging and overheating - they give a signal to the charger (cell phone) to limit the current or turn off the charge altogether. There is no such control in a frog and charging it is considered worse than the charger that came with your device. I would not recommend leaving the frog unattended for a long time, especially if your battery gets hot when charging, etc.
Loading...
