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Help In car charging

Just wanted to throw in my 5cents.

I bought a cheap USB socket car charger (one that doesnt come with a cable, just a USB socket) and it reported AC charging (and 1A on its label), but when using Navigation, the battery would slowly die. Would completely kill a fully charged battery within 5-6 hours of navigation.

I've recently replaced it with a Belkin Tunecast (a FM transmitter without a built in battery) which powers from the Car Charger and also has a USB socket, so I can charge the phone while it plays music, and navigates.

It reports USB charging, BUT it actually charges the battery during Navigation (and now music playing at the same time). How shocked was I when I left home with 80% battery, and after a 2 hour journey, with navigation, I arrived with 100% battery.

Belkin FM Transmitter - Tunecast Auto 6 Universal with: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
 
An other aspect is phone's heating.
Image the phone is running with its full processor power (navigation) ...
and the phone is sitting in the car behind the wind shield with a little sunshine on it ... :)

Li-Ion batteries shouldn't charged with temperatures over 60C.
So the phone stops charging before its battery's temperature reachs this limit.
And some phones stops charging when its battery's temperature reachs 45C. And some at 55C.

Because of that item my phone is mounted in front of the car's air vent :)

Harry
 
Harry2 said:
An other aspect is phone's heating.
Image the phone is running with its full processor power (navigation) ...
and the phone is sitting in the car behind the wind shield with a little sunshine on it ... :)

Li-Ion batteries shouldn't charged with temperatures over 60C.
So the phone stops charging before its battery's temperature reachs this limit.
And some phones stops charging when its battery's temperature reachs 45C. And some at 55C.

Because of that item my phone is mounted in front of the car's air vent :)

Harry
Click to expand...

I can absolutely guarantee there is no danger of that ever happening in northern England!!! :)
 
Having read this topic and it seems my in car twin USB charger reads USB not AC charging

Twin USB 12V Charger : InCar Power Adaptors : Maplin
  • Rated at 500mA per USB socket
  • Ideal for charging your phone and sat-nav at the same time
  • Angle adjustable mechanism
  • Red power LED
  • Fitted with a replaceable 1.5A 20mm fuse
Click to expand...
The only reason i got this was to use when driving with the satnav on so after reading that USB charging will not keep up I'm disappointed.

What spec should I then look for to indicate a unit delivers AC charging on the phone?
 
It isn't news: Chargers have to have coded their USB outputs to indicate the phone that it can charge with double USB current (1000mA ="AC").
Most phone manifacturer do this with their branded charger accessories.
But Apple does that coding in an other way as HTC does it ;)

A common method is shortening (bridging) the data pins. And so HTC does the coding at its chargers.

Only a few generic USB chargers have shortened data pins. But which have it???

I use an original HTC car charger and I know it charges my HTC phones with "AC".
And I know its USB pin layout :)

Harry
 
Yeah, that looks like it will do the job. Pretty pricey for what it is though.
 
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