reb78 Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 As above - i just wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of USB sockets - perhaps a panel of three of them - that would be easy to wire in in place of the ciggarette lighter socket on the defender. I have a couple of those short griffin chargers with two outputs, but the radio interference from them is so bad that i may as well throw them in the bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted April 11, 2013 Author Share Posted April 11, 2013 I guess like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-USB-double-socket-panel-mount-dual-charger-12-or-24V-DC-input-5V-2-1A-Out-/370656808956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item564cde0ffc#ht_3314wt_1399 is the price realistic? I was wondering about a panel with at least three possibly more. I could fit two of the ebay items, but that is nearly £60! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Smith Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Watch the cheap ones, as I've found they don't have a high enough output, and many smartphones and most Apple stuff refuse to charge from them. That one is a bit expensive, but should work better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Idris Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Make some? I did 5volt for my robot fish with voltage regulators okay. Somewhere on the net there has to be advice on a suitable ferite ring and capacitor. And because I am such a tight wad at times, I'd cut the ends off USB extension cables and wire them to a common block Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heath robinson Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 That's a good plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I guess like this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-USB-double-socket-panel-mount-dual-charger-12-or-24V-DC-input-5V-2-1A-Out-/370656808956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item564cde0ffc#ht_3314wt_1399 is the price realistic? I was wondering about a panel with at least three possibly more. I could fit two of the ebay items, but that is nearly £60! I bought one of those, don't forget if your an iPad user that the above has the higher amperage charging for the iPad. There also a little cheaper on their own website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Didn't Nick find some when he did his camping fitout in the 109? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landy andy. Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Devon 4x4 do them.. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted April 11, 2013 Author Share Posted April 11, 2013 Devon 4x4 do them..Andy Thanks Andy - i'll take a look when their site is running again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landy andy. Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Another one for you http://4x4overlander.com/electrical/blue-sea-twin-usb-socket.html Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Those Blue Sea ones should last well, that is a marine accessories brand. I agree it sounds a little pricey, but a decent ciggy lighter socket isn't cheap either. Charging power output is normally regulated by the cable/charger unit. The car charger I have for my phone (micro USB) works fine with the phone, but won't charge my tablet. A look at The wall wart chargers explains why - one is twice the charge rate of the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Mud do these ones: http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/products/electrical/sockets-and-plugs/usb-socket.html Not used the socket myself though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 This any good? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRIFFIN-TWIN-2-PORT-USB-12V-UNIVERSAL-CAR-CIGAR-SOCKET-LIGHTER-CHARGER-ADAPTER-/250999272892?pt=UK_MP3_Player_Accessories_Chargers_Docks&hash=item3a70b8f5bc John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve200TDi Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 I purchased one of the adapters that goes into a 12v socket as at the time I could find any, but now it looks like you can get them, but they're a little more expensive, but why? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean f Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 I have one of the blue sea one and it works fine. Only issue I had is with my sat nav the higher charge rate works and charges it fine but the sat nav thinks it is plugged into the computer and displays the linked to PC screen which it doesn't do on its own cig light socket lead, I assume it to do with the charge rate. Possible something I could do in the set up on the sat nav but since I still have the cig socket I just use that and use the USB socket for my phone. I expect this is a device specific problem (Garmin Nuvi) which could be fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangeyRover Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Most likely the data lines have resistance or a short on them to indicate it is a higher rate charger. Apple have different standards to others, so may not be a consistent requirement across chargers. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus#Charging_ports_and_accessory_charging_adapters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted April 12, 2013 Author Share Posted April 12, 2013 This any good?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRIFFIN-TWIN-2-PORT-USB-12V-UNIVERSAL-CAR-CIGAR-SOCKET-LIGHTER-CHARGER-ADAPTER-/250999272892?pt=UK_MP3_Player_Accessories_Chargers_Docks&hash=item3a70b8f5bc John It would have been, but i tried a couple and they caused so much radio interference that i couldnt listen to FM at all with it plugged in. That problem is what caused me to post the question about dedicated USB sockets. Some good links in this thread. Thanks All! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 I bought a 12v to 5v dc converter that I was going to wire into some usb sockets I've removed from some old PC's. Your mention of interference caused by the dc-dc converter has got me thinking, I shall now be doing a temporary install first of mine to see what the RFI is like before I commit to the full install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey7134 Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 IIRC, PC USB sockets are 5v @ 0.5 Amp, and a mains charger will put out 1 Amp - this is how your phone tells if it's connected to a PC, or just a charger. Obviously will charge quicker @ the 1 Amp. Just something to bear in mind if making your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 IIRC, PC USB sockets are 5v @ 0.5 Amp, and a mains charger will put out 1 Amp - this is how your phone tells if it's connected to a PC, or just a charger. Obviously will charge quicker @ the 1 Amp.Just something to bear in mind if making your own. A power supply will only "put out" what the load "asks for". USB protocol means that a device should use no more than 100ma, without communicating with the PC and requesting more. Obviously a charger is not a PC, and as such has no way of communicating with the phone. The phone detects the difference between a PC and a Charger by the data lines on the USB connector. Most standard USB chargers short the data lines together, which makes the device realise its connected to a charger, rather than a Computer. It will then know it can request far greater charging currents. If the charger doesnt short those pins, the device will remain in PC mode, and will charge very slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 To add to what Aragorn has said some manufacturers are a little devious and try to stop their devices from working with 3rd party adapters. Apple has tried a number of things in the past so don't be surprised if you can't charge Apple kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 my iPhone charges from the USB socket on my in car laptop supply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 I've thought about making a panel with 5 or so USB ports. Should be easy to get some 5V voltage regulators, which you can find in the 1-1.5A range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Smith Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 My Huawei phone discharges rapidly if plugged into anything other than it's own charger, but then charges up perfectly normally. On the usb adapter in the car it does the same unless the engine is running. I have been told by an Apple phone guru that with iphones and ipads it checks the available charging current, which on most aftermarket chargers is too low, so it will refuse to charge, if you use a higher output charger they charge fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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