How to charge your Kindle Paperwhite without computer and without blowing it up?

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Kindle Paperwhite E-reader - Black, 6

[Updated January 2019] When you’re unboxing the Kindle Paperwhite, you’ll notice that there are only 3 things that are included in the box: Kindle Paperwhite, USB 2.0 charging cable and Quick Start Guide. The power adaptor for charging your Kindle Paperwhite (without a computer) is not included, which is absolutely fine because the only thing to do is plugging the Kindle Paperwhite to your computer using the USB charging cable.

However, it is also not exactly the most practical way of charging your Kindle Paperwhite, especially if and when your computer is not ON 24/7 or if you do not travel with your computer. So, how do you charge your Kindle Paperwhite without your computer and most importantly – without blowing it up? There are basically 2 ways of charging your Kindle Paperwhite:


1. Using the Amazon Kindle power adaptor: The following Amazon Kindle US, UK, EU, AU, and international charging kit power adaptors are compatible with all of your Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers.

 

Amazon 9W Official OEM USB Charger and Power Adapter for Fire Tablets, Kindle eReaders, and Echo Dot
1.1.1. Amazon 9W Official USB Charger for Fire tablets, Kindle e-readers & Echo Dot (US Power Adapter) from Amazon.com (US).

 

Amazon 5W USB Official OEM Charger and Power Adapter for Fire Tablets and Kindle eReaders
1.1.2. Amazon 5W USB Official USB Charger for Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers (US Power Adapter) from Amazon.com (US).


Amazon 9W PowerFast Original OEM USB Charger and Power Adaptor for Kindle E-readers, Fire Tablets and Echo Dot
1.2.1. Amazon 9W PowerFast Original USB Charger for Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets & Echo Dot (Type G – UK Power Adapter) from Amazon UK.

 

Amazon 5W USB Original Charger and Power Adapter (compatible with most devices including tablets, E-readers, smartphones and more)
1.2.2. Amazon 5W USB Original USB Charger for Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets (Type G – UK Power Adapter) from Amazon UK.


Offizielles Amazon PowerFast 9 W-USB-Ladegerät und Netzteil für Kindle eReader, Fire-Tablets und Echo Dot
1.3. Amazon 9W Official USB Charger for Fire tablets, Kindle e-readers & Echo Dot (EU Power Adapter) from Amazon DE (Germany).

 

Kindle PowerFast Charger for Accelerated Charging for Australia (for Kindle Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers)
1.4. Kindle PowerFast USB Charger for Kindle Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers (Type I – AU Power Adapter) from Amazon.com (US).

 

Kindle PowerFast International Charging Kit (for accelerated charging in over 200 countries)
1.5. Kindle PowerFast International Charging Kit (charging in over 200 countries) from Amazon.com (US).


2. Using another power adaptor that you might already have at home. It cost you neither extra money nor extra time ordering a Kindle Power Adapter. There is, however, one important thing that you should always check before plugging your Kindle Paperwhite to another power adaptor.

Kindle Paperwhite, High Resolution Display with Next-Gen Built-in Light, Wi-Fi

On the backside of your Kindle Paperwhite you see: Input 5,25V – max 500mA. It means that your Kindle Paperwhite is capable of receiving power of 5,25 voltage or lower. It also means that you can charge your Kindle Paperwhite with any other USB compatible power adaptor with power output of 5,25V or lower.

The followings are USB compatible power adaptors with power output lower than 5.1V, which is lower than the Kindle Paperwhite can actually receive (Input 5,25 V – max 500mA):

  1. Apple iPhone 7 Plus 128 GB Unlocked US Version (Amazon US). The iPhone power adaptor is compatible with (some of) iPhones, iPads and iPods and has power output of 5.0V – 1.0A.
  2. Nikon Charging AC Adapter EH-70P (Amazon US). The Nikon power adaptor is compatible with (some of) Nokia Coolpix S-series cameras and has power output of 5.0V – 0.55A.
  3. Duracell Portable Phone Charger (Amazon UK). This power adaptor is compatible with iPhone, iPod, most MP3 players and other smartphones. It has power output of 5.0V – 1.0A.

 

Please note that there are other power adaptors with a power output of 5.25V or lower. Just remember to check its power output value first before using it to charge your Kindle Paperwhite with.

 

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11 Responses

  1. Yaser
    | Reply

    I am still confused about using a higher amperage adapter, what abut using 5.0 V – 2.0 A adapter to charge my kindle voyage?

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  7. R. Moreno
    | Reply

    Thank you for the info, but are not taking into account the amperage (mA)! The paperwhite could eventually “burn” with too low mA, apart from chargin more slowly.

    Even using valid Voltage and Amperage values for the kindle, tried to charge my Paperwhite with a 5V, 1A charger and the touchscreen became crazy, acting as if I was pressing the screen somewhere. I bought the adapter from China for around $2, so the problem was probably fluctuations in power (too cheap, no good electronic safety controls).

    You have to use always at least the same amperage a device demands. Otherwise it will take longer to charge and may eventually burn the circuits.

    The kindle charger output specifications are 5V and 850mA, not 500mA, so it charges faster and with no risk.

    I think you could use any GOOD charger (with safety electronic controls) with an output of 5V and between 500mA and 1000mA = 1A., but I’m not an expert. I learnt reading posts of experts on electronics.

    • Lia Belle
      | Reply

      Thanks for your comment.

      As you said that the power output of the Kindle Power Adaptor is 5,0V – 850mA but the power input is 5,25V – max 500mA (you can see it at the backside of your Kindle Paperwhite).

      The Amperage refers to the flow rate at which the device uses up electric power. When the voltage is similar or lower than what the device is capable of receiving then it won’t burn the delecate circuits inside the device (Kindle Paperwhite). The only downside is, however, that it is going to charge slower.

      Another example: I have been using the Duracell Portable adaptor to charge both my iPad and iPhone for years. It takes a “normal speed” to charge my iPhone and it takes longer to fully charge my iPad. Other than that, both my iPad and iPhone are just fine.

      PS: Don’t use fake/cheap/unknown electronic parts and components from China 🙂

      • R. Moreno
        | Reply

        Thank you for your answer.

        Just in case, I’ve read a considerably lower voltage (<4.5V) could damage the device (Kindle in this case), but I'm not sure of that.
        BTW, I hope I didn't sound at all as if I meant all of China components are bad quality :). There are good factories there now and lots of R&D (one just have to take a look at the quantity of tech patents each year).

        Summarising, for safe use of adapters/chargers:

        – Output Voltage (V): same voltage as demanded.

        – Output Amperage (mA): equal or superior to demanded. (if the max output of the adapter/charger is superior, the device will take just what it needs). Anyway, I wouldn't dare to use much higher amperages…

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