Hi all, I've fitted a cig socket so I can use a USB adapter to charge my phone while I'm riding. I'm looking for USB adapter that will charge at a high rate, so that it keeps up with the battery draining from using GPS. Can anyone recommend one, please? I have one that usually does the job, but I've found today that while using Google Maps the battery would drain (while on charge) at a rate of about 10% of battery life per hour. So it's not an all-day solution. Recommendations gratefully received!
This very much depends on the phone. My iPhone 7 was much the same, but wouldn't accept the newer charging standards that would allow better charging. I ran it on a QC 3.0 and it would charge very slowly 80% of the time and slowly drop the rest My new one (Huawei Supercharger) is so good, it charges no matter what... and damn quick too. That said, I did have to pay £30 just for the ciggie but to do it.
iPhone 6. Finding a higher current adapter definitely seems to be an issue. That said, I have some 12v to USB converters at work, so I might see if I can adapt one to charge at a higher rate. Failing that, I'll look for a Hella to USB adapter. Kind of annoying that GPS usage is just so hard on the battery.
Your phone itself is the limiting factor then. iPhone 6 maxes out at 2.1a regardless of the charger. You may struggle unless you upgrade your phone as the satnav can drain faster than this (especially if your phone battery is past its best and even worse in cold weather)
That makes sense - I'm certain the adapter I'm using is 2.1a, and the battery isn't great on my phone. So you're saying I need to upgrade to a shiny new phone... Thank you for your replies!
That's OK, went through the same myself. The 6 is getting on a bit now, and tiny. I don't know how you manage. It's got to be at least 7 inches for me now or I'm not satisfied
I have one of these in the car: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Q2GFP4M/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and one of these hardwired to the bike: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GXXFBC0/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Both do fine when using GPS on an iPhone X. iPhone 6 Plus was fine before that too. As JH says, cold weather is the only issue.
Thanks Gary. That adapter looks decent - I think I'll try one of those. I have one of those USB converters on my Monster - worked ok for a while, but the USB connectors were a bit rubbish, and unsurprisingly not very weather-proof, so they got pretty corroded. Did you hard-wire that to the battery? I'm wondering if there might be a case of mounting the USBs into the panel next to the existing Hella outlet. Would make far more sense to be able to just plug straight into a USB. Although the weatherproofing issue would remain. Appreciate your input, thanks!
For weather proofing when not in use, look up USB dust caps. I use them and they seem to work pretty well at keeping the worst out.
Yes, it's hard-wired to the battery, and lives behind a panel, so no weather issue. I then have a cable permanently connected to the bike and running to my Quad Lock mount. Up to recently I've used heavy duty lightning cables, but the weak-point is the connector itself as it doesn't like moisture. I now have a micro-usb cable with a rubber cap, which I swap for a lightning converter when I want to charge the phone. Sounds a bit Heath Robinson, but works well in practice.
Also worth checking out magnetic charging cables so the lightning bit stays in the phone and is therefore protected from moisture.
Indeed - I have something similar on the ebay watch list: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultimate...-3-3amp-Charger-Dual-USB-Sockets/332981854883 However, it says it's rated to 3.3a, which I'm suspecting means 1.65a per USB, so not enough.
I never had a problem using it on my GS to do exactly what you're wanting it to do. Are you using Apple Maps or Google Maps on your phone BTW? I find Apple Maps drains the power much slower (I originally wrote faster - meant slower, long day) than Google Maps.
That's worth noting, thank you. I've never used Apple Maps, so maybe I'll have a play with it. I also have maps.me, or whatever it's called - I don't know how that compares. It seems to have been a perennial problem to find a mapping solution that works well for bikes, where you can quickly and easily upload multiple waypoints, in order that you can create a fun route that doesn't just automatically guide you onto the motorway.
Here's another flea bay item - says 2*2.4A in the description. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-24V-...988086?hash=item1cbf1635b6:g:ecAAAOSwXHxb2~FI
My 996 touring buddy used Copilot with his older iPhone. Ran all day off USB without issue. He now runs the same but with a Samsung Galaxy on Android. Just a Maplins cig lighter plug hard wired to a switched feed with a USB adapter, probably an older cheaper one knowing him. The iPhone setup did destroy the charging port at one stage however.
