Garmin nuvi 310D GTM12 TMC problems

[swing]

[mikealder]

[mabsey]

Ok,

I've contact tech support via e-mail about this issue, and I've included a link to this thread and asked them to comment.

Will post the reply.

Mabsey

[parbrook]

Chatting to one of our technical gurus at work, he told me that we experienced what might be similar problems with a rechargeable device that we sell.
This device was supplied with a euro connector AC charger and we needed to provide a UK 3-pin charger. This is when we found that we had to take a range of measurements to map the charging profile in order to find the correct charger.

Modern batteries require tight control of their charging profile (current, voltage, time, overheating protection, etc) to prevent damage.
This means that the charger adapters (AC or 12V) are more than simple voltage & current regulators.

The likelyhood is that the TMC start-up current requirement is exceeding the charger circuit's capabilities when the nuvi is also being charged.

The fact that it works OK with my mobile phone car charger lead is an indication that my phone's battery has a different charging profile (no surprise, really).
What this also means is that some of car mini-USB leads might work and some might not, depending on the charging profile of the device that they are designed for and the charged state of the nuvi.

[wilburforce]

Guys does anyone know the

mA voltage settings.

I have sourced a 5.5 v charger instead of garmins 5.25.

[RDS]

As this is all now well above my very basic knowledge does this mean that given what you say about modern batteries requring tight control of the charging profile using a 12v power lead or USB and 12v adaptor not supplied by Garmin may cause damage ?

If so, this would probably infringe the terms and conditions of the warranty provided by Garmin thereby making it null and void.

[wilburforce]

I have one of these babies now and I can now confirm that it indeed it worksn better, where all previous attempts failed.

Still testing….

Link
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=EXP_USB-CLA

[mwfox]

Could it be the power from the Garmin cigarette adaptor is not smoothing the power as well as the USB from a laptop or other types of adaptors? Could be electrical noise on the supply.

Has anyone tried the AC adaptor to power the GPS whilst in the car? I did on my Nuvi 360 and GTM 12 and it didn't have better reception than the cigarette adaptor. Going to try a laptop to power it via USB tonight.

[parbrook]

[swing]

[banjo12]

I have found that if the nuvi battery is not fully charged when I use it via the car charger lead I get no traffic information, if the unit is left on charge in the car for 24hrs or more the traffic info icon becomes live after about 6 seconds.

The only problem with this is if the internal battery is left on charge all the time then it could shorten the life of the re-chargeable battery as it will not go through it's charge/discharge cycle.

I feel that this is definitely a power issue as when the battery is fully charged it does not matter where I put the "aerial" I get good reception, low charge = no traffic info.

[wilburforce]

“I guess this means I'll continue to use the Garmin USB cable, which is also the best cable “ swing

I agree I first used another cable and had limited joy the Garmin cable is a lot better.
I would point that the thicker the cable the better my signal. I how have a signal indoors and within the car.

This will explain why I had a signal when I first got the product.
I charged it for many hours and then went driving. It acquired a signal and did its job. Later that day the return journey I never managed to get a signal. (charger connected)

What I noticed - holding the end of the aerial tightly ensured a signal. Uncharged journeyed battery.

So unless the battery is outputting its maximum voltage the receiver cant function properly, thus less power the more I had to earth / support the aerial in acquiring a signal.

The Garmin charger can power the unit but with the GTM connected at best it’s intermittent.
The charger is obviously just not powering the combined products to enable a signal.

My Garmin charger never shows green with both connected.

My new charger for whatever reason supplies the power to both and maintains a signal.

[mabsey]

Yep, confirmed. With a fully charged battery, I get a traffic signal in my Car now using the standard cables and it locks on in around 12 seconds. This makes sense now why the Nuvi worked in Germany. In fact I remember now that the first few days the Traffic worked and on the last day the traffic stopped working. The night before the last day I did not charge the Nuvi in the Room.

Mabsey

[mabsey]

UPDATE :D

I let the unit Run down for the last 30 minutes or so on battery power. I went out to the car and tried traffic again and nothing. Sat there and no traffic at all.

I came indoors and remembered I used to have a bluetooth GPS device that had a Cigarette lighter with the USB connection. What I did was used the USB cable that came with my NUVI and plugged it into the adaptor that came with my bluetooth GPS and Voila, Traffic signal in around 10 seconds from plugging in. I took the same cable from Garmin and swapped the cables and no traffic lock at all. Swapped back to the Bluetooth GPS USB charger and bang, traffic again. My device dont seem to get hot and I'm very happy now. I dont even need the wires stuck on the windscreen which is nice.

Mabsey

[banjo12]

So the bottom line is Garmin owe us all a fit for use decent car charging lead. ASAP.

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