I have tried a couple of devices that fit the cigar lighter 12V supply, step the voltage down to 5V, then provide an output via a USB socket. The purpose is to charge devices such as mobile phones and ipods using the cable provided with them that that is used to connect to a PC.
Neither my phone nor my ipod will charge from these devices.
I suspect that these devices require a fairly precise voltage that the car battery and step down transformer is unable to match. Has anyone else tried these devices and had more luck than me?
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Doc why not just get a straight USB adaptor that plugs straight into the cigarette lighter?
I have one and it charges the ipod.
Think they are available for a couple of pounds.
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Think they are available for a couple of pounds.
Yep. Saw them on the car accessories shelf in Tesco the other day.
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That's what I'm trying to describe but the device doesn't work on either my Panda or my wife's Jazz.
I'll try it on some other makes of car before I write it off, however.
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Doc why not just get a straight USB adaptor that plugs straight into the cigarette lighter?
I use one of these to run and charge a Tomtom, using the computer lead. You may have a duff one.
Edited by Old Navy on 28/02/2009 at 12:48
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I suspect that these devices require a fairly precise voltage
Not really, and being DC there is no transformer. It will be done via a semiconductor regulator, or equivalent (and maybe cheaper?) regulation circuit.
You could build one yourself with a bit of old cable and something like an ST L78M05.
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I got one off ebay for my iPhone and it did give an output as a USB flash drive would light up, but the iPhone did not recognise being plugged in. I emailed the seller who sent me another and it was a different design (uglier) but works fine. It looks like this one....
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2503...1
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I bought a similar kit, mainly wanted a mains charger as I left mine in a hostel in Madrid!
The in-car charger was a bit of bonus, except it doesn't work.
I might try phoning my supplier as you did, Hamsafar.
BTW, you got yours for about half what I paid, so one up to you!
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You could try a "step up" inverter and use your standard mains charger.
Might be too expensive and you would have more kit to carry though.
screwtape
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Iphone and Ipods are a bit of a pain. They only work with some of these devices. There is no reason why I can see - for example
My iphone wont work with the mains usb charger that power my tomtom and charges my blackberry pearl, nor will it work with the usb car chargers that power the same devices. I bought a USB car charger (kensington) that is specifically for the IPhone and that happily charges my Tomtom or Blackberry
Its weird. USB ports only have 4 wires, +power - power and two data wires. All usb should work with all usb for power and data.
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Hi Screwtape, I thought I might fit a towbar, tow a small trailer with a Honda mains generator running on it, then run a cable through an open window to power my mobile's mains charger!!
Does this win the "most complicated solution to a simple problem" award?
No offence meant nor, I hope, taken.
Chris
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It would save fuel on the generator, but probably not the car engine, if you bolted a wind generator to your roof with a change over switch and remote start for the honda generator for when you are stationary in no wind conditions. :-)
Edited by Old Navy on 28/02/2009 at 15:11
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Funnily enough I had this issue at work this week with someone's Motorola V190 phone; if I just connected the phone to my PC's USB port it didn't start charging, I had to download and install the drivers for the phone first:-/. I suspect there are other devices around that have implemented this highly annoying feature.
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There is something about the iPod/iPhone when charging. I don't have an iPhone but do have an iPod touch.
On a port on my PC when powered down (but not switched off) I can charge things but not my iPod. The PC needs to be turned on.... which reminds me there are USB ports on the back of the V+ box which can charge things... I wonder if the V+ will charge an iPod?
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>>.... which remindsme there are USB ports on the back of the V+ box which can charge things... I wonder if the V+ will charge an iPod?
I'll bet a virtual pint it won't, same as the phone I mentioned above.
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I have only read about people using these ports to charge things like phones. Never tried (yet). But they do not support (due to disabling) what they could - external USB disks!
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My iphone will charge on a usb port with no drivers loaed. yet still wont charge on some other usb type power supplies
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Just tested... it will not charge my iPod Touch. It does charge my TomTom Go.
So I will be getting a USB phone charge lead for a Nokia... this box is on anyway being a V+ box ;-)
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