GPS and Dashcam on one car port

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › GPS and Dashcam on one car port

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#175090 16-Jun-2015 21:32

Hi all,

Seem to be having some trouble with running a GPS and a Dashcam on the same cigarette lighter plug on my car.

GPS: Navman EZY255LMT [Rates + 5 V dc / 1.0 A on http://www.manualslib.com/manual/823907/Navman-Ezy255lmt.html?page=6#manual ]

Dashcam: Navman MiVue338 [Rates + 5 V dc / 1.2 A on http://www.manualslib.com/manual/564197/Navman-Mivue-338.html?page=15#manual ]

Both these devices came with their own chargers, however my car only has 1 cigarette lighter so I can only plug one in at a time which isn't really helpful. So I got 2 USB cables and a dual USB car charger from PB Tech the other day and set it all up.

However:

Both of them start up fine when I turn the car on but they both turn off shortly after.
They both show the charging lights so they're receiving power.
Unplug one, and the other will turn on as normal.

Tried:

Original cables [works]
Only one at a time on new cables/charger [works]
Tried in another car, same issue.
Different cables, behaves the same.

What can I do from here? Im starting to think its an issue with maybe overloading / insufficient power?

Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers!

Edit: If it makes any difference, I have a Nissan Primera 2001 similar to this: http://www.todomercado.com/tm/aviso/img_avisos/1226426651341_1226426804763_gpenamarchant.jpg

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1326178 16-Jun-2015 22:33

Everything points to the new usb charger being either faulty or not up to the task. What are it's specs? if it's a 2A charger, it's too small.

JoshWright

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Trusted

#1326181 16-Jun-2015 22:38

You can buy a sort of hub/extension strip for the 12V socket that will split it up into 3 12V sockets, although it's an ugly solution.

Perhaps the USB charger is faulty or the current draw is too much for the USB charger. Your best bet would be a dual 2A charger (4A total).

josephhinvest

1543 posts

Uber Geek

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Trusted

#1326204 16-Jun-2015 23:49

I have one of these from Jaycar.
It works well, I have my dashcam and wireless handset charger connected with 12v plugs and it has two USB ports too, one 1A and one .5A.
There's a newer and better looking model of the same for about $10 more. Recently took on a road trip and very handy to be able to charge two phones etc.

Cheers,
Joseph

lNomNoml

1807 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1326206 16-Jun-2015 23:54

I use this: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=USBMBE0202&name=MBEAT-3A--15W-Dual-Port-USB-and-Dual-Cigarette-Lig

Works fine for me using a Zalman Blackbox and Garman GPS.

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#1326207 16-Jun-2015 23:54

andrewNZ: Everything points to the new usb charger being either faulty or not up to the task. What are it's specs? if it's a 2A charger, it's too small.

It's a brand-less charger, it said it had 2 x 1.2A plugs, so I assumed it would be more than enough as I was sure that was the standard for USB.

JoshWright: You can buy a sort of hub/extension strip for the 12V socket that will split it up into 3 12V sockets, although it's an ugly solution.

Perhaps the USB charger is faulty or the current draw is too much for the USB charger. Your best bet would be a dual 2A charger (4A total).

When you say hub/extension strip, do you mean it'll be a hub of car lighter sockets? (I don't know the correct term for it). That could probably work, it's ugly already as theres about 2 meters of excess cable coiled up under the dashboard. Whats another hub thrown in there right.

So do you both think this charger ( http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Power-Products-Electrical/Power-Conversion-%26-Transformation/12VDC-Power-Supplies/4-8A-Dual-USB-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Adaptor/p/MP3667 ) could handle the job? Says 2 x 2.4 outlets. Would this be too much? (Like it won't give the devices too much power I mean? I don't know if this is a thing haha)

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1326218 17-Jun-2015 01:15

the charger isnt up to it.
USB chargers can be pretty hit and miss, the cheap ones aren't worth it most of the time.

Your options are either a lighter socket splitter as already suggested, or a new better charger. The splitter is the one pretty much guaranteed to work.

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1326308 17-Jun-2015 09:53

I've got a TomTom fast charger which has 1.2 and 2.4 A USB connections (+ leaves a free cigarette socket free something the latest version doesn't)

I also have a cigarette lighter usb multiboard device which has 3 or 4 usb sockets with labels for iPad, Android phone, iPhone and from memories of the packet had enough amps. Bought from one of the nationwide car parts chains . Probably less than $40.
Will look it up after work.

A.

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tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#1333307 29-Jun-2015 12:44

PBTech didn't have the MBeat one in stock, so I ended up getting this one from JCar: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Outdoors-%26-Auto-Products/Camping-%26-4WD-Accessories/12VDC-Camping/Cigarette-Lighter-2-way-Splitter-with-2-USB-Ports/p/PP2136

Works really well, can't believe I've never seen these things before this hunt haha. Thanks for the help everyone.

RUKI

1402 posts

Uber Geek

#1333369 29-Jun-2015 13:20

Ok, folks. You can guess and debate till late night about it, but datasheet tells the story.

I have dismantled dosens of no brand/ good brand and "who knows what that brand is" 5v car chargers.
With tiny little difference in design of the output port - ALL of them are 12V Dc to 5 Dc V chargers and use the same IC.
It is not powerfull enough to drive the current for both devices you intend to use.

Solution: separate chargers - one for every device.

Note: I am using those chargers (only pcb and chip from inside) and when I am short of donated ones I just go and buy them in piles for $1 each - please do not throw them away regardless of plug & cable. If you need reference voltage different from 5V - I can make one for you from those.

RUKI

1402 posts

Uber Geek

#1333977 30-Jun-2015 10:57

tardtasticx: PBTech didn't have the MBeat one in stock, so I ended up getting this one from JCar: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Outdoors-%26-Auto-Products/Camping-%26-4WD-Accessories/12VDC-Camping/Cigarette-Lighter-2-way-Splitter-with-2-USB-Ports/p/PP2136

Works really well, can't believe I've never seen these things before this hunt haha. Thanks for the help everyone.

When you said "works really well" - did you refer to:
1) using both USB ports for both of your devices or
2) using two 12V sockets and plugging two chargers into those, or
3) using one USB port and plugging your charger into 12V socket?

First option is of no difference from the original issue and may not really work, second and third should be OK.
It is bulky device and Jaycar has another options for $15 - same but without that chip inside (as you already have them).

I dismantled yesterday same device as you bought just to confirm that the same chip inside. Same chip I saw numerous times - used there to power both USB ports. Datasheet - max 1.5A. Recommended 0.5A.

jpoc

1043 posts

Uber Geek

#1334680 1-Jul-2015 09:29

As usual, I have the cheap one from alix: [url=http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-Dual-USB-Port-Car-Charger-Adapter-Micro-USB-For-iPhone-4-5-for-iPad-for/1537598450.html ]

I can run/charge a dashcam* an iPhone-as-gps and a Galaxy all at the same time.

* The dashcam is of course the cheap one from alix and that also works just fine. [url=http://www.aliexpress.com/item/100-Original-GS8000L-Novatek-2-7-140-25fps-HD-1080P-Car-DVR-Vehicle-Camera-Video-Recorder/1997214062.html]

raytaylor

4014 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1335456 1-Jul-2015 22:49

+1
The charger sounds under powered.

My korando has an electric dimming system on the rear view mirror, except my back window sign writing dims headlamps following me anyway so I decided to take the 12v power supply thats always on for the mirror, and pulled out the map lights.

Behind the map lights I pulled back the mirror dimming power wires and connected them into this
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Power-Products-Electrical/Power-Conversion-%26-Transformation/12VDC-Power-Supplies/Dual-Port-3-1A-USB-Charger%2C-Panel-Surface-Mount-12VDC-Input/p/MP3616

Then pushed the usb cable through so a few cm came out and mounted the dashcam behind the rear view mirror.
I dont like wires dangling in front of the dash so having the camera up nice and high out of the way is good.
I am looking for a usb cable for the radar detector also but i dont use it often so not so important right now.

Anyhow it works well - no wires and when the ignition is switched on, the dashcam starts up.

I was trying to pull the dashcam out of its docking cradle that is stuck to the windscreen and broke off the rear view mirror the other day - damaged the base of the dock too so had to use some silicon glue to hold the usb cable in place.

https://imgur.com/a/lxVhu

Ray Taylor

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