Test/review of Sony USB charger 5V 1500mA EP880

Sony USB charger 5V 1500mA EP880







Official specifications:

  • Input voltage: 100-240 V 50-60Hz

  • Output: 5.0V 1500mA










Measurements
  • Power consumption when idle is 0.04 watt

  • USB output is coded as USB charger (DCP)

  • Weight: 36.2g

  • Size: 71.8 x 40.0 x 20.6mm




The charger do not live up to the rated 5.0V, but is slightly below, it can deliver 1.7A, that is fine for a 1.5A rated charger.



At 120VAC the output voltage is slightly lower that at 230VAC and maximum current is slightly lower.



The charger can deliver 1.5A for one hour.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.



M1: 55.9°C, HS1: 61.4°C
HS1 is the transformer.



M1: 54.0°C, HS1: 62.7°C
HS1 is the circuit board near the switcher transistor.



M1: 55.8°C, M2: 40.9°C, HS1: 60.3°C
HS1 is the rectifier diode.



HS1: 64.3°C
And here the circuit board near the rectifier diode.



M1: 50.9°C, M2: 41.3°C, HS1: 60.5°C



At 0.5A the noise is 10mV rms and 185mVpp.



At 1A the noise is 137mV rms and 406mVpp.




Tear down



The lid could be removed, but the glue was fairly solid.



On this side is a fusible resistor (R1) at the mains input and a inductor (L1) between the two mains smoothing capacitors (C1 & C2), the switcher transistor (T2) do not need a heatsink for this fairly low power charger. Between mains and low volt side is a safety capacitor (CY1). Next to the USB connector is a small heatsink, it is for the rectifier diode on the other side of the circuit board.



A closer look at the small circuit board for the USB connector and the heatsink.







On this side is the bridge rectifier (D1), the mains switcher controller (IC1). On the low volt side is the rectifier diode (D51).
The white plastic between D53/D54 and the pins of the mains transformer is used to increase the creepage distance.





With a slot in the circuit board the distance must be 4mm or more and it is.



Without a slot the distance must be above 6mm, here it is slightly low.


Testing with 2830 volt and 4242 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

I am not sure where I got this charger from and if it is the real deal or a copy, but it looks well constructed and fairly safe, i wonder if it is a real Sony.



Notes

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger
How does a usb charger work?