USB Power Adapter in Car

JLee · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject: USB Power Adapter in Car

Since the XL Live IQ Routes has a USB power connection does it follow that it's safe to connect it to standard USB car charger rather than the one that came with the unit?

I ask because the one that came with it is wired behind the dash in my car but I ocasionally want to take my unit and use it in another vehicle so would like to use the USB car charger I use with my Blackberry.

I presume that USB powered devices all use the same power rating?

MrT · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:43 pm Post subject:

USB chargers all have the same voltage of 5 volts however they do vary in the power they can output. The worst that is likely to happen is that they do not charge the TT if the power rating is too low. The car chargers I have from TomTom vary between 1.2A & 2A.
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Drivelux

Darren · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:15 pm Post subject:

No issues at all, as long as the charge can supply 1.2A then it will be enough to power AND charge your device.
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Darren Griffin

Andy_P · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject:

The only other thing to watch for is the angle of the USB plug.
TomTom themselves have altered this on different models more than once, so if you pick up the wrong charger, the plug might not physically fit into the device (or it's mount).

(Been there, done that! Mad

)

JoolsTwo · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject:

you could always get a tomtom compatible car charger from ebay, I'm sure you could get one from china really cheap.
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TomTom ONE Series 30 (v8) & TMC traffic
App 8.010, UK & ROI Map v860.3126, TT Home 2.7.6.2056

MARViN2003 · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject:

Watch out for USB adapters supplying too much power. I popped the charging circuit on my 520 by using one. I would probably suggest getting an extra tomtom car charger and mount.

Darren · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject:

JLee · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I used a generic car charger with USB input and a standard USB cable and it worked a treat. It's refreshing to see a device use such an industry standard charging system meaning you don't have to pay the earth for a second charger.

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:

As Darren mentioned though, check the current rating on the cigarette lighter adapter.
If you use a cheap USB supply, it's uncertain how much power it will be capable of supplying as a "computer standard" USB device is only allowed to request a maximum of 500mA from a USB supply.

In this respect, most sat-navs are non standard as they can draw a lot more than that to charge their batteries which is why they use higher specification chargers.

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