#1: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: pAvax, Location: EssexPosted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:45 am ---- Hey all,
Car:
2001, 2.0, 206cc.
Are there any known problems with the cigarette lighters, to charge USB devices?
Given:
- The cigarette lighter itself works
- The USB charger works in another car
But when I try to charge my phone, it simply doesn't work... which is annoying as Google Maps tends to run your phone down quite rapidly. Benefit is that my wife cannot contact me, downside is that getting lost is quite easy...
Could it be contacts? Or does it not output enough power to charge anything? I am not opposed to changing the lighter into a mounted/permanent USB hub. As long I can charge 2 or 3 devices with it.
#2: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: mtempsch, Location: Gothenburg, SwedenPosted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 12:32 pm ----
pAvax wrote:
Hey all,
Car:
2001, 2.0, 206cc.
Are there any known problems with the cigarette lighters, to charge USB devices?
Given:
- The cigarette lighter itself works
- The USB charger works in another car
But when I try to charge my phone, it simply doesn't work...
Could it be contacts? Or does it not output enough power to charge anything? I am not opposed to changing the lighter into a mounted/permanent USB hub. As long I can charge 2 or 3 devices with it.
No problem for my socket to power my single 2,1A USB adapter.
Given that your lighter is working, there's definitely power to the socket. Your charger working in other sockets means it's working.
The fusing for the socket is enough to power a bunch of USB chargers (getting the lighter glowing takes much more than a charger, so power shouldn't be an issue. Also remember that the current rating/fuse is at 12-14V and a switchmode power supply dropping the voltage makes in a way so that the current available on the output is about the same ratio higher that the voltage is lower (the difference is lost in conversion inefficiencies) so a 2.1A charger probably draws less than 1A on the supply side.
So I'd say most likely connection issues.
My charger/adapter is not a very tight fit in the socket and occasionally it requires a bit of pressure and twisting to connect - and still sometimes vibrates loose during driving. It has a LED that lights up when powered, so I just glance down once in a while and if out give it another twist.
But I'd imagine you've tried pushing and twisting
I'm also considering hardwiring, via a switch, a 2-USB socket step-down power module (they have similar 1- and 4-socket ones as well) on the side of the console, possibly in the hollow phone holder adapter I've got. in parallel with the cig lighter socket (never use with the lighter, so will never draw the designed for urrent out of the lighter socket anyway)
#3: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: pAvax, Location: EssexPosted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 12:36 pm ---- Awesome.
Know what, I am going to test various adapters and see what happens... also going to twist and turn it a bit more... as I have learned now that it -should- work!
That said, perhaps the best option is to just take out the lighter (which looks very 90's) and to put something more permanent in there.
Will keep you lot posted, should be an easy fix/swap.
#4: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: pAvax, Location: EssexPosted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 12:42 pm ---- This looks easy enough: www.amazon.co.uk/Charg...0132MOCI8/
#5: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: SmithySmith, Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 9:41 am ---- Sounds like either a bad connection or there's not enough current from the socket to drive the charger. The lighter might work but do you have any other devices you could try with it to see if they also don't work? From what I recall the lighter doesn't take much current to heat up so it may just be the socket not giving enough grunt.
#6: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: pAvax, Location: EssexPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 11:14 am ----
SmithySmith wrote:
Sounds like either a bad connection or there's not enough current from the socket to drive the charger. The lighter might work but do you have any other devices you could try with it to see if they also don't work? From what I recall the lighter doesn't take much current to heat up so it may just be the socket not giving enough grunt.
What I was thinking indeed.
May have another charger around and can check it.
Else will rip the thing out and the I the power through the plug and see what it reads.
#7: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: Dekzion, Location: Pewsey WiltshirePosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 5:40 am ---- My lighter socket blew my satnav. plugged in the adaptor that I always used, and it lit up for about 10 seconds as though it was firing up, and then went dead.
Pulled the satnav apart but can't see anything popped so it must be something internal to the components.
#8: Re: Cigarette lighter doesn't charge USB devices Author: pAvax, Location: EssexPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 5:53 am ---- Ugh yeah, figured would be best to change the socket into a decent USB one...
Edit: which I am going to do, will see how easy it is and document it.
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