IPod Charging: computer vs. wall outlet

Today I was buying a 3rd Gen nano at a big box electronics store, and the guy there said I should really buy the AC wall charger (power brick, I think) because charging with my computer results in distorted pixillation. I asked him why this was and he said "The computer uses really dirty energy to charge. The wall outlet uses much better energy."
I've been using iPods for several years (I also have a iPod touch and a 5th Gen), and reading hundreds of articles and forums; this is the first I've heard of this. I also have not noticed any picture distortion in my iPods. Is there any difference - other than perhaps charging time - between charging with the computer and charging with the wall outlet?

mattwolfmatt wrote:
Today I was buying a 3rd Gen nano at a big box electronics store, and the guy there said I should really buy the AC wall charger (power brick, I think) because charging with my computer results in distorted pixillation. I asked him why this was and he said "The computer uses really dirty energy to charge. The wall outlet uses much better energy."
Okay, that's funny! I have a 3rd gen Nano that I purchased right after they came out. Once or twice, I've charged it using an old firewire cable and AC charger from many iPods ago. Other than that, it's always been charged using my computer. Perhaps my computer has a special energy cleaning program but my Nano still performs flawlessly. I never would have thought I'd use it for video but I do and it works well.
Something niggles at the back of my brain about line conditioning. I can't remember very well but something about residential power having spikes and dips making it "dirty"? Haven't heard of any such problems with USB.

Similar Messages

Why is my iPhone 5 not charging From the wall outlet ?

WHy is my iPhone 5 won't charge from the wall outlet , what do I need to do ?

Is the Wall Outlet Turned On...

My iPad will not charge from the wall outlet or the USB. I also used three different chargers, as well as rebooting my iPad several times.

My iPad will not charge from the wall outlet or the USB. I also used three different chargers, as well as rebooting my iPad several times.

Then it's time to make an appointment at your Apple Genius Bar at your Apple Store. Apple will check it out and if it's defective and still in waranty (you don't say which model you have), it will be replaced.

HT1476 Charging an iPhone is there any difference from charging in a car and charging from a wall outlet?

Charging an iPhone is there any difference from charging in a car and charging from a wall outlet?

As long as both chargers meet the required specs, no.

Cannot charge iPhone on computer or wall outlet

my phone is not recognized via the USB charger on my computer or on a wall outlet using the adapter. Any tips? thanks

Clean your dock connector.

My iPod will charge through the wall outlet, but not PC. PC won't recognize it when plugged in.

I bought a used iPod nano that is giving me some grief. It works fine other than the battery not holding a charge. I have ordered a battery to replace the old one and am hoping this might be the problem. Anyway I am having problems getting my PC to recognize it when I plug it in. I keep getting errors from windows that the PNP devices is having problems. I have tried all the troubleshooting tips on the Internet and still can't get it to recognize the iPod. I have 3 other 4th generation iPods that I have no problems with. Could the battery be the problem? I have changed cords to see if that was the problem, I have tried different computers and it gives me the same problem. Just curious if anyone knows what the deal might be.

The following links may be helpful.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61711
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93716

Ipod wont work in wall outlet?

I have a Ipod 4 gen and it has stopped working plugged into the wall but works in the computer. I have tried the cords to see if they work and they work with others. What do I do?

Hi Carlover22, Have you inspected the port for foreign debris; lint, dirt, corrosion? If you find anything there that shouldn't be, try blowing it out or use an artist paint brush, like the kind you would find in a child's water color paint set, to carefully remove the object which may be interrupting connection. Some have used a toothpick to remove debris, BUT be careful!! you run the risk of damaging or breaking the contact pins in the port if not careful. If not the problem try a Reset, press and hold the power and home buttons together about 15 seconds until the Apple logo appears, then release both buttons, if that does not work, go into Settings>General>Reset>Reset All Settings. If still not working try a Restore from backup or Restore to new. Just remember to make backup copies of all you stuff, pictures, music, contact lists, etc. before Restoring or that info may be permanently erased. If still not working Contact Apple Genius Bar and have your iPod evaluated.

4th Gen. ipod. No longer charges from wall socket. Still can charge from computer. Wall power adapter and cord both work fine on other devices. Wall Why?

4th Generation ipod. Used to charge fine from wall socket (cord and USB adapter) and could also charge on the computer. Suddenly stopped charging from the wall. The same cord and adapter still work for my iphone, so there is not problem with either of them. What has changed? Why won't the ipod charge from the wall anymore? Is there anything I can do about it?

Thanks! It didn't actually work with the one I was using to charge the computer either. We had tried the computer cable with the power adapter, and it didn't work to charge the ipod, though it does charge my iphone. Following your idea further, I waited for my husband to get home from a trip and tried one of his extra cables he keeps in his backpack. That cable worked in with the USB power adaptor. I had thought that because the cable I use on my computer charges my iphone through the USB power adapter or the computer, and that it charged the ipod through the computer that it was fully functional. Apparantly not. Thanks again.

I have had my ipad for 6 months. We had a power failure and ever since my ipad will not charge with the wall adapter that came with it. It will SLOWLY charge when plugged into computer port. Can anyone help me resolve this?

I have had my iPad for 6 months. We recently had a power outage and my iPad was plugged in with the adapter that came with it. Since then I can not charge iPad with adapter, however I can charge it SLOWLY on my computer. Do you think the adapter got fried? Also do you HAVE to have iTunes with an iPad, they were charging me alot of fees for games I did not download NOR give my password to have them downloaded so I cancelled iTunes because fo too many fees. Could this have anyting to do with the battery not charging?

Since then I can not charge iPad with adapter, however I can charge it SLOWLY on my computer.
Well, something's definitely wrong if it won't charge from a wall outlet. Make an appointment at a Genius Bar or take it to an Apple certified repair provider.
As for iTunes charges, according to Apple iTunes Store: All Sales Are Final
You can try contacting iTunes Billing:
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/
Click: iTunes Store Account & Billing / Billing Inquiries / Email Us

My iPad will not charge in wall outlet and is not recognized by iTunes

Hello, recently my ipad stopped charging with the wall outlet and it is not recognized by itunes. I have ipad 1

Pick the appropriate one of these for advice:
Windows - http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1538
Mac - http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1591

My iPod 4th-gen charges just fine in any wall outlet, but when connected to my brand new ASUS Windows-8 laptop's USB 3.0 port the charging process just keeps "blinking" on both the iPod and the laptop and will not connect to Itunes...

Hi, I HATE to ask for help with this, but I HAVE looked everywhere and Google searched different wordings and have not found anything similar nor a solution to my problem! My good old iPod 4th-gen charges just fine in any wall outlet, in any house, but when I connect it to my brand new ASUS laptop that has Windows-8 and 3.0 USB ports using the charging/data cable, the charging process just keeps "blinking" BOTH the iPod and the laptop and it will not connect to ITunes and I get "A Device is Detected" message that keeps popping up and going away over and over right above the Windows desktop toolbar. When I go to control panel and select "Devices" it does show the iPod, but for only a split second and than it disappears, but than it comes back again for a split second and than it disappears again and just keeps doing that over and over and over! I have tried resetting the iPod while it is plugged into the laptop by holding the power and menu buttons, that did no good. I also tried uninstalling iTunes and any other Apple stuff listed and reinstalling it all, that did NOT work! The iPod, the laptop and iTunes ARE all fully updated! I AM using a brand new charging/data cable that I just opened up an hour ago (I've learned to keep a few brand new ones around at all times since these piece of garbage rip-off cables hardly last a week, even when you baby them!). I also tried a few old cables, they all do the same thing! I would like to get this piece of junk to connect to my new laptop, even if only once, so that I can change/delete some songs and transfer a few dozen photos,since I haven't been able to do any of that stuff since my old laptop (that NEVER had any problems connecting) died way back in May! lol. I hope somebody knows a fix or solution! Thank You!

Try on another computer to help determine if iPod or computer problem.
- Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

When I try starting my iPod touch, it won't start; the Apple logo comes up for a few seconds, and then, it just shuts off. I tried to charge it through an outlet; the iPod didn't even charge, so I tried to restore my settings on my computer. iTunes won't

when i try starting my IPod it won't start, the Apple logo comes up for a few seconds,and then. it just shut off . I tried to charged it through an outlet, the IPod didn't eve charger so I tried to restore my setting in my computer, i tunes won't

But that requires the computer to see the ipod. I am having the same problem and I keep being told to restore it, but you have to either get the ipod to turn on or have the computer see it in order to so that. Right now I have a pretty useless 32GB ipod touch cos I cant get the thing to turn on! I can only get the apple logo for like maybe 20 seconds and it goes away. Ive charged it for days on a wall charger, on the computer usb charger, and on a speaker charger. Nothing works.

Why does my ipod not charge with usb hub in wall outlet?

why does my ipod charge on my computer
not charge with usb hub in wall outlet?

Because the hub is not compatible with the iPod.
Just use your computer or purchase a wall charger.

HT1384 iPod Classic will not charge from wall outlet

My iPod Classic 80G will charge from my computers and my iHome dock, but not from the wall outlet. The cord, outlet, and adapter all work. We know the regular adapter works, it's an Apple universal USB to wall adapter that charges our iPad. We tried other cords (have two), other outlets, and even my kindle 2-prong adapter. Nothing worked. Suggestions?

Hello there, Anhaja.
First off, great job in your isolating steps performed already. One step that wasn't mentioned is found in the following Knowledge Base article:
How to reset iPod
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1320
For your particular model:
How to reset an iPod with a Click Wheel
1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
2. Press and hold the Menu and Center (Select) buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 8 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.
Tip: If you are having difficulty resetting your iPod, set it on a flat surface. Make sure the finger pressing the Select button is not touching any part of the click wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Menu button toward the outside of the click wheel, and not near the center.
If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn't set to go to sleep. Try resetting the iPod while it is connected to power.
Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Pedro.

My iPod Touch will no longer charge from a wall socket, only my computer. HELP!

My 4th generation iPod Touch will no longer charge from a wall socket, only my computer. I tried buying a new cable and USB charging socket (and I bought one made by Apple), but that did not fix the problem. I restored it from iTunes, hoping that would work as well, but that failed. I am at my wit's end. Can anybody here help me? I've bought new equipment, tried rebooting, restoring, etc. but nothing so far has proven successful. If anyone's got a solution, please help!
Thanks!
Signed, a very frustrated iPod user in Ohio!
<Edited By Host>

All I can suggest is the standared fixes. It seems very strange
- Reset the iOS device. Nothing will be lost
Reset iOS device: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Reset all settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
All your preferences and settings are reset. Information (such as contacts and calendars) and media (such as songs and videos) aren’t affected.
- Restore from backup. See:
iOS: How to back up
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.
If still problem, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store since it appears you have a hardware problem. Bring the cable and Apple wall charger too.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

IPod Charging: computer vs. wall outlet

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for