USB Charger

[big tom]

Can anyone recommend a Cigarette lighter USB charger? I am getting to many failures.

 

[silverweed]

I use a Belkin double socket with both charging at 2.4 amps. It’s been very good. Having said that I also have a cheap one I picked up for £2 and had it a few years with constant use, I only purchased the second so that I could utilise another socket at a higher charging rate

 

[Wooie1958]

We have 2 of these, they work well :dance: Sainsbury's - Please enable cookies or JavaScript

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I've tried them all, for the van I now fit proper twin USB 1a & 2a sockets and they just keep working, for the car, I keep buying broken ones somehow

 

[delicagirl]

DONT use Halfords 4 socket charger..... they melt and i had smoke in my van as the upholstery started to burn cos the charger was sat in my loung seating - even though i only had a phone and my laptop on charge simultaneously.

 

[winks]

Used one of these for over five years now with no problems. Only used for charging phones/tablet.

Griffin PowerJolt: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Cheers

H

 

[delicagirl]

We have 2 of these, they work well :dance: Sainsbury's - Please enable cookies or JavaScript

i have one similar to this which also has a digital-display multi-meter function - so i plug it into the 12v socket and take a meter reading very quickly. it is suprisingly accurate when i do a multi meter reading at the same time.

 

[wildebus]

Can anyone recommend a Cigarette lighter USB charger? I am getting to many failures.

If you find the only purpose the cigarette lighter has is to fit a USB chager adapter then it would probably be worthwhile to replace it with a dedicated USB Outlet. Usually very simple to do. I replaced the Cigarette Socket in my LT with a combined Twin USB and Voltmeter so I can keep a little eye on the Starter Battery while in the drivers seat.
If of interest, WC Full Members get a 10% discount off my Online Shop where these are available

 

[mossypossy]

I got a cheapo USB, voltmeter and cigar lighter combo. About £3
All good except the cigar lighter bit......started to smoke. Karma I suppose.

 

[colinm]

After a couple of failures of cheapo USB chargers I started using my TomTom charger for phones, but last year got a Tronsmart.

 

[trevskoda]

These,proper job

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I've been buying these for ages, I just leave them fitted if I sell the van, cheap and cheerful, not had a failure yet, the rectangular mounting plate is removable.
12v 24v car caravan motorhome lorry motorbike boat lorry usb socket DIY | eBay

I also bought a plug in one about 4 years ago so nit in my purchase list, a 2xUSB with a Volt/Temperature/Amp readout tells the LB volt, cam temp and the amps the USB device is pulling, this too has just worked, I can post a picture if requested.

 

[harrow]

DONT use Halfords 4 socket charger..... they melt and i had smoke in my van as the upholstery started to burn cos the charger was sat in my loung seating - even though i only had a phone and my laptop on charge simultaneously.

I expect it was the laptop charger that killed your halfruards adaptor as the phone charger only uses a tiny bit of current.

The laptop charger would be hungry for power.

 

[big tom]

Thanks all I have purchased this one
Anker PowerDrive 5 50W 10A 5 Port USB Car Charging Hub For IPhone 6 6 Air New 848061091311 | eBay

 

[wildebus]

This is how to do it properly. I've used these for years, none have ever given a problem ( though possibly not from this seller)
eBay

I have the same unit to drive my Raspberry Pi (needed 3A and most sockets are 2.1A max) and working well

PS. just read the details on the one in the link ....
Says:
"Note:
It can't be used for iPhone, iPod, Tablet GPS navigation, Tachograph, USB speakers"
Seems strange but worth noting.

 

[jagmanx]

TomTom adapter supplying a powerpack

My TomTom came with a USB lead and a 12V cigar lighter socket
These to be used together to power the Satnav

I only have 1 12V cigar lighter socket so have tried using

1 a device with 12V power in socket and 2 x 12V outputs and 2x USB outlets
a) the 2 usb sockets do not seem to work siumutaneosly
b) if i use one to power my TomTom it exhibits "irrational behaviour"

c) I can simply plug my TomTom 12V cigar lighter unit and TomTom USB lead THIS works fine
d) I can charge my phone off one the usb sockets

This is all a bit Clumsy

I recently bought a "lidl USB Powerpack" for £9

I assume it is designed to charge up and then supply up to 2 USB devices
Thus I have tried it as follows...
TomTom 12V plug with single USB outlet
Plug the power pack into the usb out of TomTom 12v to USB
Then plug
a) my Phone's USB into the power pack
b) my TomTom USB into the powerpack

SO FAR all seems good with the TomTom 12V to USB charging the powerpack
AND the powerpach charrging both my Phone and the TomTom unit

2 comments
1 the power out from the powerpack sometimes ceases if both "slave" units are fully charged
The battery icon appears on my TomTom
This is easily resolved by pushing a small button/swith on the powerpack

2 Although the TomTom GPS has behaved perfectly it does seem to display the "Charging now" alert a bit more than one might expect !

I believe

1 The TomTom 12V to USB is good quality and so delivers a reliable and powerful enough 5V

2 The power pack also seems to deliver a reliable and sufficiently powered feed to both devices

Having written this I will monitor the situation ..It may be that the charging now alert on TomTom is less frequent once the phone is charged

At the moment this is my preferred solution in that
a) it powers both my phone and TomTom
b) It chargers the powerpack at the same time

Thus all 3 items (Phone TomTom & Powerpack) are fully charged even after only a short drive

Ps obviously the Cigar lighter socket is off the Engine battery/alternator

I have a second available 12V socket which used the LB and can be used when stood.
Again I have multiple connection arrangements which include a 12V to twin USB plug (chinese output 5V 2.3amps)

 

[delicagirl]

I expect it was the laptop charger that killed your halfruards adaptor as the phone charger only uses a tiny bit of current.

The laptop charger would be hungry for power.

i opened the Halfrauds charger afterwards . Inside the charger box the two cables you would normally expect to find in any plug and you would expect to be separately sheathed were not sheathed at all. I think that was the problem. i charged my laptop many times directly into the 12v inbuilt socket many times and everything was fine.

 

[jagmanx]

Thanks

I've been buying these for ages, I just leave them fitted if I sell the van, cheap and cheerful, not had a failure yet, the rectangular mounting plate is removable.
12v 24v car caravan motorhome lorry motorbike boat lorry usb socket DIY | eBay

I also bought a plug in one about 4 years ago so nit in my purchase list, a 2xUSB with a Volt/Temperature/Amp readout tells the LB volt, cam temp and the amps the USB device is pulling, this too has just worked, I can post a picture if requested.

Looks useful I just have to workout where/how to fix it
Just looked I have a redundant ashtray next to the existing cigarette lighter which looks about the right size
I think it might also help with the pathway fro the wiring !

Link is here
12V USB Charger Voltmeter Cigarette Lighter Power Plug Socket Car Boat Motorbike 6263943453010 | eBay