USB car charger

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mattyb

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#177749 13-Aug-2015 09:57

Not sure if this is the correct forum - please let me know if there is one more suitable?

I recently bought a usb car charger from PBTech - this one:

http://www.scosche.com/color-match-iphone-usb-car-charger-12watt

Fortunately I opened it and plugged it into the cigarette lighter in my 2000 Honda Civic (Japanese import) while I was still in the carpark of the store - as nothing happened, no light came on and no charging happening on my phone (Galaxy S5). Took it back into the store and the guy behind the counter tried it out in his car and it worked fine. He then came out to my car and tried it and still no dice so managed to get my money back (good service PBTech Penrose!).

However I still want to get something like this as I've got cheaper ones with only 500mA output that charge far too slowly to be any good (but still work in the same cigarette lighter in the same car).

Anyone think of any reason why it wouldn't work and which one I could try next to ensure success??

Bit of a mystery to me, maybe something to do with the car battery not having enough juice?

Thanks in advance for help.

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1365322 13-Aug-2015 10:03

Corroded contacts in the socket can play havoc with chargers, particularly if the lighter has been used for it's original purpose... Try cleaning any gunk off the contacts and have another go.

mattyb

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1365386 13-Aug-2015 10:53

RunningMan: Corroded contacts in the socket can play havoc with chargers, particularly if the lighter has been used for it's original purpose... Try cleaning any gunk off the contacts and have another go.

As I alluded I have two others (both 500mA output) that work fine. Good suggestion though I'll have a look and see what condition the contacts are in.

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1365391 13-Aug-2015 11:05

I gave up on getting a car charger that worked without generating scary amounts of heat, i now keep a 11,000mAh battery pack in the car and use that if required, it is easier to bring it into the house and charge overnight as required, added benefit of getting a solid 2.1A output if required also

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1365395 13-Aug-2015 11:06

mattyb:
RunningMan: Corroded contacts in the socket can play havoc with chargers, particularly if the lighter has been used for it's original purpose... Try cleaning any gunk off the contacts and have another go.

As I alluded I have two others (both 500mA output) that work fine. Good suggestion though I'll have a look and see what condition the contacts are in.

Yep, and unless those chargers are the exact same physical shape as the one that didn't work, they are most likely contacting in a different area of the lighter socket - I've seen it several times before where one charger works, and another doesn't due to buildup in the socket.

Start by gently scraping the surface clean of the centre contact.

andrew027

1286 posts

Uber Geek

#1365407 13-Aug-2015 11:20

You know the socket works, as other chargers, and presumably other devices e.g. the actual lighter, work when plugged in. I agree with cleaning the contacts in the socket, but also try rotating the charger in the socket.

I know that sounds like basic advice, but I bought one of these to get music off my phone onto my 2007 BMW X3 stereo, which doesn't have its own bluetooth and the auxiliary input jack is mounted on the rear of the center console - great for people in the back seat but a bit of a blind fumble for the driver or front passenger. When I got it it didn't seem to work, but by rotating it in the socket I found there are definitely a couple of "dead spots" where the contacts on the plug don't seem to connect with anything in the socket.