Test/Review of Nillkin AC Adapter 2.0A

Nillkin AC Adapter 2.0A



This is a 5V 2A rated usb power supply/charger.

Official specifications:

  • Input: 100-240V ~50/60Hz Max0.6A
  • Output: 5.0V-2.0A
  • Nillkin 2A top speed charger has passed FCC , CE, UL, 3C authorized certifications, quality assurance which is preferred.
  • Use standard USB interface
  • Plug and use
  • Use imported environmental materials
  • Delicate and tiny outlook, easy to carry
  • Automatically identification, fast charge with high compatibility
  • Built in multiple circuit protection, safe and reliable.
  • Output short-circuit protection
  • Output over-current protection
  • Temperature protection


The charger was bought on http://www.aliexpress.com/





The retail package has transparent plastic around the charger, this makes it possible to see the size of the charger, but not really the look of it. The QR code on the back is just a link to the Nillkin website.









Not much design in this adapter, it is just a box with a power plug and a usb socket.


Measurements

  • Idle power 0.13 watt
  • Output is coded as USB charger (DCP).





Output voltage is very stable and the efficiency is around 75%, but I am missing the promised overload protection (It might be at a higher current).



One hour with 2A load is not problem.
The temperature photos below is taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the 1 hour test.



M1: 57,1°C, M2: 51,9°C, M3: 72,1°C, HS1: 77,5°C
There is one part that get rather hot in the power supply. Comparing this thermo photo to the tear down photos, it looks like it is the diode D3.



M1: 64,6°C, M2: 52,6°C, HS1: 80,0°C
I am not complete sure what component HS1 is, probably D1 or D2.



HS1: 79,9°C



HS1: 58,5°C



There is not much noise, 12mV rms and 114mVpp. at 2A.



At 0.5A the noise is slightly lower with 9mV rms and 64mVpp.


Tear down





This power supply uses optical feedback to keep a stable output voltage. To keep a good isolation between mains and low voltage side, there is a slit in the circuit board below the opto coupler.



The blue capacitor looks like it is a proper safety capacitor.



The capacitors, where I can see the temperature rating, says 105°C, this looks good.




The mains input is bridge rectified with BD1. I wonder if the red stuff below the components are just glue or if it also is used to improve isolation.



It looks like the isolation distance between mains and low volt side is good and I did not find any problems in my test.


Testing the mains input with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

When running at 2A the power supply gets hot, but it might be designed for it.
I do not like the missing over current protection, but except from that it looks good.



Notes

The power supply was supplied by Erik from Finland for review.

Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

I wonder how hot the parts would get at 120v in and if it might have over current protection then.

I’m just wondering, what’s the larger 8-leg controller at U1? Some sort of mcu but anyone know the type or anything.

Good work as always on the testing.

I did not test it.

That is a the controller, it is not a mcu, but a IC dedicated to switching mains voltage down.

In the better types of power supplies you will usual use this kind of IC.

I’ve been looking for an adapter that will charge my ipad. I just sent a message to an Aliexpress dealer to make sure they have a US plug. I think I’ll grab five.

I thought these would be the ipad chargers I've been looking for. The Nillkin site lists them as ipad compatible. I ordered five Nillkin 2.0A AC adapters, and they were a big waste of money. They won't charge an ipad over 1.A.

Nillkin 2A Adapter with ipad.

Ipad with apple adapter

These adapters may work in the lab, but not in real life.

It may not be coded for 2A apple.
A device will limit its own current draw if it doesn’t see the coding it wants. You can make an adapter that will always show your idevice an apple coded port.

Can’t wait to get my DCP in to test it out…I don’t have an iPad to see if it pushed 2A or not though :frowning:

The IC on my design will auto range to the right level up to 10W or 2A

I brought some to work today and tried them on co-workers various types of tablets.
It doesn’t seem to work on any 2A tablet. The HP tablet wouldn’t even recognize it. The only one it worked on was a small Nexus7, but it’s only a 1.3A tablet.

It will charge phones and such, but it doesn’t work on any 2A tablets. What’s the point of a 2A charger that can’t charge the things that need 2A? Like I said, it may perform in the lab, but not in real life. Don’t waste your money.

This table may explain a bit:

This charger identifies itself as line 4 in the chart, i.e. it uses the standardized way to signal a high current charger. All the other methods are proprietary.

You can sometimes get cables/adapters that includes this coding and will allow high current charging with any charger that can deliver enough current.

I hear what you’re saying, but Nillkin states compatibility with “apple ipad” right on their site…including pictures.
I love and read all your reviews HKJ, but perhaps your summaries should include an asterisk that points out that these products have not actually been tested on the devises they are advertized to be compatible with.

I do not have a pile of different phones and pad and do not know how flexible the different brands are with chargers, this makes it a bit difficult to say anything about how well a specific product will use a specific charger. I can only say what standard the charger follows, it must be the responsibility of the manufacturer (or reviewer) of the phones/pads to specify what standard they work with.

Hmm, I probably didn’t understand something, but why charger is rated at 2A if the specification allows for max 1,5A, according to table?

Not all devices uses that coding, some just draw current until the voltage drops or they get what they want.

Ok, thank You. I will have that charger in two weeks together with xiaomi power bank, that according to specs should draw 2A when being charged. I will check how does the Nillkin work with the power bank as well as with my Nexus 5 (rated at 1,5A I guess, some sources mention it draws up to 1,7A). I will post results here.

BTW - great website and forum, thanks a lot for Your work and deep reviews !