3DS Unofficial Charger

[Someguy 24]

I live in the UK and bought an unofficial 3DS charger as they don't come with a charger here for some reason. I have been using it for a few months now but I am worried that it could be damaging my 3DS.

It is this charger: http://direct.asda.com/Venom---Universal-Nintendo-DS-Power-Supply---Nintendo-DS-/-3DS-/-3DS-XL-/-Dsi-/-Dsi-XL/003754134,default,pd.html

The input is AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz 0.2A

The output is DC 5V. 0.5A


The official charger says this on the plug:
WAP-002(UKV) PRI. : 220V-240V~50/60Hz 90mA SEC.:4.6V (weird symbol here) 900mA


From this information can anyone tell if the unofficial charger is safe to use and if it might have damaged my 3DS already. Thanks.

 

[renegade7]

Well, first question: does it seem as though your 3DS has been damaged?

Realistically though, probably not.

Voltage * Current = Power so for the official charger 5v * .5A = 2.5 watts and for the official charger and for the unofficial charger it's 4.6v * .9A = 4.14 watts. Since your 3DS can't draw that much power (It can run while having power to spare to charge the battery when plugged in with the official charger so even the 2.5 watts is an excess) I see no inherent risk. More power than necessary (within reason of course, obviously if you greatly exceed the power input limits you will exceed the physical limits of the device but there is no way that could happen with these numbers) will not damage an electronic device.

 

[Someguy 24]

Thanks a lot. It isn't visibly damaged but I thought the battery life might have been shortened.