Hi all, I've posted threads about this before, but as I'm sure many of you find these days, having reliable phone charging is pretty important if you're using it as a satnav on a long trip. GPS will likely flatten my phone battery in 3-4 hours. I'm currently using a USB adapter for the Hella socket on the dashboard. I've been getting error messages on my iPhone; "This accessory may not be supported" - and it works sporadically at best. It might be that I just need to buy myself an expensive official Apple cable - although I've been using non-genuine charger cables in the car and at home for years, without any issues. It's annoying, because this particular cable wasn't cheap, as it's got a 90 degree lightning connector, in order that it fits inside my waterproof phone pouch on the bars. So I'm just wondering if anyone else has had issues with the Hella socket on the dash - whether perhaps it might be a slightly poor connection due to bumps or vibration, shaking the connector around. I think that's unlikely, due to the amount of contact area though (I used to design connectors for a living - someone has to!). In the meantime I may just run a USB extension lead from the socket under the pillion seat, as that might prove to be more reliable. Not sure if that charges at a high enough current to keep it charged while using GPS though - does anyone know? Any anecdotes, advice, observations, etc are welcome. Thanks, Nik
I found iPhone lightning cables hate any moisture and the first sign of them giving up is the aforementioned message. When I still had the iPhone, I started using magnetic charging cables as the connector stays in the phone and therefore no moisture gets in. Downside is replacing all your cables with magnetic ones. On android now and no such issues with a normal USB C cable
Thanks - ironically I've never come across magnetic charging cables, other than on my prehistoric macbook. Off to google to investigate...
I have an older Multi without the Hella socket on the dash so I run a wire from the Hella underseat cable. It works fine in terms of voltage but as JH says above, the lightning cables do succumb to moisture eventually and you start to get that message. Flipping them 180 degrees sometimes helps. Look for corrosion or signs of burnout on the lightning pins on the cable.
Thanks mate, that's likely it then - the pouch sometimes gets condensation in it, so the end of the cable likely gets some small amount of moisture on it. Good to know. I'll give it a clean, and if it's still the same I'll swap it out.
If it's going in a pouch, is it an iPhone 8 or above? If so, you can stick a wireless charging pad in the back of the pouch and be done
It's a 6, but I must admit I'm really tempted to upgrade it. Do you happen to know which models are waterproof? That would then mean I wouldn't necessarily have to use the pouch.
7 and above I believe. My wife left her 7 plus at the bottom of our garden pond for about 5 hours. Her home button played up for a bit but it did sort itself out and she still uses it. The 8 adds the wireless charging though
I guess it'll never get stolen at the bottom of the garden pond! That's impressive. A lot to be said for having a waterproof phone, that's for sure.
A lot to be said for not keeping your phone in a hoody front pocket that's looser than a porn star's arse hole, whilst tending to the pond
I’m using the XS Max with a Quadlock case/mount & a cheap Amazon USB power supply, which also powers my dash cam. It’s working really well and, as the phone is IP68 rated (3m immersion for 30 minutes), I don’t usually bother with the screen cover that comes with the quadlock.
1m. Issue. Issue was that wifi and all signal are blocked by water so find my iPhone wasn't working. It was also face down, in a black quad lock case. Lucky to even spot it
My Grantourismo doesnt have the dash socket so i use the underseat Hella socket and ran a cheap cable off ebay under the bodywork to the bars where the Iphone6 is mounted in a twistyride case. Found these to be really good and kept the phone perfectly dry on a 300 mile torrential downpour trip and mate had used it for a couple of years blatting round the country in the pissing rain before he upgraded his phone The cheapo cable was enough to power the navigation all the way from Denmark to Calais when my old Tom Tom packed in and wouldnt charge
I would love to replace that dash Hella socket with a higher voltage USB. Perhaps I'm missing something but what do you use the Hella for other than to plug a USB adapter?
Always hated Hela sockets. Just another bulky adapter you need. I always unscrew the socket and use the wires and hole to fit a USB one.
Not sure if one's available for your phone but an Ultimate Addons waterproof case will support the cable as well as keep moisture at bay. Or is your issues with the cable at the hella socket end? I run a Samsung Galaxy S9 and charge it in my tank bag off of the Givi USB hub. Butchered the cable to add a right angled hella plug. Works well and allows charging of three devices should I need to. Blew the accessory fuse once plugging it in with ignition on, hasn't happened since though.
