USB Charging on Board

[RobLL]

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2015/dec ... _art3_1115

When I use the cigarette lighter 12 volt my Windows phone says 'slow charging, use an appropriate charger', or words to that effect. And my phone gives the same message when I hook it up to my backup recharging battery, either 1 or 2 amp USB socket.

Is the above article what I should do?

 

[williwaw]

You need a higher amperage USB charger. I've had good luck with these: USB Car Charger

 

[AstoriaDave]

rob,

Another choice. I have not used this one, but Belkin has always served me well.
http://www.target.com/p/belkin-2-1-amp- ... A-14511470

The item you linked would be my preference, but demands some installation. I would install two, at their low amperage you could run them both off the same fuse Like the low profile compared to most chargers that plug into the cigarette lighter fixture. At any electronics store should be a couple choices of the latter.

 

[hardee]

I just found one of these at Costco:

Lithium Jump Starter and Portable Power Bank

Features: High Output Jump Starter
2 USB Ports for Fast Charging of Mobile Devices
8000mAh High Capacity Power Bank
3 Mode Flashlight

Item #750766

Your Price$59.99
Shipping & Handling: $5.99 *

It weighs 1.1 pound and is about 3” x 5’ x 1”. It is replacing the jump start pack that I have been carrying for 9 years that weighed 12 pounds and was the size of a basket ball.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[thataway]

I prefer to install a cigarette lighter socket rather than the dedicated USB socket. Then you can use any appliance, which plugs into the Cig lighter socket. This includes various amperage, USB phone chargers, lights of all types, including spot lights, fans, inflators for the dinghy, or even small cup type of water heaters. (Also the small inverters)

I use at least #10 wiring and fuse it for 30 amps. I have all of my fuses in the Blue Seas fuse panels, it makes it much neater than separate fuses in line. You also want a switch if you are going to put in a dedicated USB charger. Often the deliated are not enough amperage for the i pad or other tablets.

Blue seas panel, available in 6 or 12 fuse. I changed out the single six which came with the boat to two 12 fuse panels, and labeled each fuse and circuit.

 

[hardee]

I agree with Bob's advice and installed several Cig plug receptacles and then plug my devices into the cig plugs. I have one cig plug that is hot to the battery even when the 1-2-Both-Off switch is in the Off position. That way I can use that plug to power my rear view camera when towing, and everything else is off. When anchored, I use that plug for my small Garmin GPS to monitor my anchored position wanderings.

Cell phone charger, hand held VHF chargers, inverter for lap top, and spot light chargers all plug into the cig lighter plug.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[RobLL]

Thanks for all the information and alternatives. I have a friend who is the sort of 'master of all trades' coming up, so will have him look at these replies. And that Costco back up looks like the sort of thing I would also want.

Bitterend guy did a presentation on electronics at the Seattle boat show, and his first three pieces of advice was batteries, batteries, batteries.

 

[Two Bears]

This summer I had same problem with just I-Pad charging. I tried two different Cig/ USB port adapters, one of which was the Amazon one listed above. The I-Pad lost battery charge while hooked up running a Marine chart program while we were running. The Cig lighter sockets were add-on that I installed and tapped into other wires for power in the left corner or forward passenger side of the boat. I concluded that wires are too small for that long a run for the draw needed by our devices. This last trip we had the following needing charging from a USB port: 2 laptops, a Verizon "Hotspot" WiFi, 2 camera batteries, a Kendal "paperwhite" and the I-Pad. We had to schedule what got charged and when.

With that in mind, this winter's job list includes running a new dedicated line of a larger gauge wire from a dedicated helm switch/ fuze to the underside of the table and install multi outlets there.

Chuck

 

[hardee]

Oh, I forgot to add that the Costco jumpstart/charger also plugs into the cig lighter for 12VDC charging. How cool. :thup :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Bill K]

I found the jump start battery at my Costco store and saved the shipping charge.

Bill Kelleher

 

[RobLL]

I see that Amazon has a number of the battery back-ups which will start automobile gas motors, they all seem to include charging electronics, a flashlight, and can be charged with the cigarette lighter.

It also seems that charging one would work better with the re-wired 12 volt battery per thataway.

 

[Bob&Alicia]

We've been charging 2 iPhones, iPad, Mifi using the 12 volt at the helm and under table. We use a USB multi plug. The amp of the USB OUTPUT seems to be the key. 1 amp for iPhone overnight anchor watch. For ipad navionics the 2+ amp output. I bought two 12v plugs with 3 USB slots on Amazon. Amps are 1, 2, 2.2. iPad needs the over 2. No issues charging 3 devices at a time. Most USB 12v are only 1 amp output.

 

[Casey]

Not all USB chargers provide the same amperage.

Here is my post from Mon May 11, 2015

For the he past few weeks we have noticed that our iPad3 was slowly loosing its charge over 6-8hours of cruising. By late afternoon the iPad would be down to <10% even though it had been plugged in to a 12V socket all day. The iPad simply required more energy than the 12V plug was providing.

As a test, we plugged our small (140W) RadioShack inverter into the 12V source, then plugged the somewhat larger iPad 110V charger into the inverter. Problem solved - but the arrangement was rather cumbersome. Using this arrangement the iPad maintained its charge all day.

When we met Steve Baum (CD22 "Osprey") few days ago, he had experienced the same iPad power-loss issue that we experienced. His solution was to use a PowerGen 12V plug that supplies more current. He set me up with one, and it seems to be working fine, and it's a simple USB adaptor that goes into the 12V socket. I've seen several of these, and most seem to supply 2.1A. The PowerGen supplies 4.2A (if you only have one device plugged in).

Here's the PowerGen link on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... 2&_sacat=0

Best,
Casey&Mary
_________________
2013 CC23 "Katmai" renamed "Dessert 1st"
2006 CC23 "Katmai" (purchased August 2009)
2003 CD22 "Naknek" (sold May 2008)

 

[Will-C]

We use a 400w inverter plugged into a standard 12vdc socket. Then plug in a 6 way power strip. Then you can use your standard 120v ac charging adapter that came with your devices. Lets you charge camera batteries Ipads, cell phones, etc. This has worked for us for years while on the boat or towing on land in our truck.
D.D.

 

[Pandion]

I just found one of these at Costco:

Lithium Jump Starter and Portable Power Bank

Harvey, any idea how long that thing will hold a charge? And has anyone actually used one of these to start a boat engine?

 

[thataway]

There has been a lot of information on The Hull Truth about the small battery atterpack Lithium ion batteries, and one of the respected members sells one.

Yes, they will act as any booster pack and start an outboards. They don't have a huge amount of residual life. Any lithium ion battery pack will slowly self discharge, but certainly for more than a month, enough to start our batteries. (This is not specific to the units found at Costco).

There are any number of battery packs for recharging both USB devices and computers. I have owned a battery pack which will recharge my MacBook Air 3 times, for a number of years. I have several smaller packs which will double the life of the I phone.

 

[hardee]

I just found one of these at Costco:

Lithium Jump Starter and Portable Power Bank

Harvey, any idea how long that thing will hold a charge? And has anyone actually used one of these to start a boat engine?

I have not used it to start anything (except ion this thread) but I got interested in it when the motorcycle shop used it to start my bike after they let it sit with the lights on and ran the battery down. It started it right up. That was the 3rd time they had used it for a bike that week without recharging it. They had also used it to start a customers car. The owner said he had used it to start his Ford F-150 before, (not on that same charge though).

It is lithium ion so should hold a charge for a pretty good time, but I don't know how long for sure.

I liked it because of the size and weight and various output possibilities, and that it can be charged on either 110AC or 12VDC from my cig plug on the boat or truck.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[williwaw]

I believe USB charger output is 5 volts with a quality charger outputting 2.1/2.4 amps or 10-12 watts. If you look at the 120 VAC charger that comes with the iPad, for example, it's only provides 12 watts. This is not high power stuff so, while possible, poor charging is unlikely to be a voltage drop issue.

More likely the problem is just that the device running navigation software with the display set to max brightness is using too much power. With my iPad running Navionics, the best I can do is maintain the charge over time and I know my wiring is good

Btw, an easy way to add another 12 VDC socket to your dashboard area is to get an extension cord (like this) and hard wire it to fuse panel behind your helm. I just left the socket loose because it's rubber coated and behind my MFD so it don't notice it. Took me ten minutes to install and now I have a dedicated socket for my iPad.

 

[dotnmarty]

Harvey- you just solved my Christmas gift for my son. Thanks, now could you please get Santa to find a 14 footer for me? :xseek

 

[Sunbeam]

I just found one of these at Costco:

Lithium Jump Starter and Portable Power Bank

Harvey, any idea how long that thing will hold a charge? And has anyone actually used one of these to start a boat engine?

I haven't tried mine on the boat yet, but I have an Anti-Gravity XP-1 and it will start my V-10 "land engine" without any noticeable strain (I disconnected the battery cable and used just the Anti-Gravity to start it since my battery wasn't actually run down.) I have to think it's easier to start a boat engine since my boat starting battery is much smaller, although I'm no expert on the topic.

It seems to hold a charge quite well in storage, although I haven't kept meticulous records or anything, so no facts and figures on that.

The XP-1 also has a cigarette socket you can use with it (so I could charge my laptop, for example), plus the usual USB, etc. ports. That said, I keep it just for possible jump starting (has the typical jumper cable type alligator clips) so I don't use it for other purposes much.