USB vs 12V

[spiderpig]

So today I drove for about an hour to meet some family for an event. I had my IPhone plugged in via the USB port so I can access my music directly. But since I was using the GPS app, I'm not suje how well it was able to charge my phone. during the even my battery went down to 8 percent and I drove home with it plugged into usb and gps on and it was 11 percent when I got home.

My question is - is it better to use the 12v plug in with a usb connector or use the actual build in USB hub in the car? The car's hub doesn't seem like it provides that good of juice. But I haven't tested the 12v plug method on a long ride yet either.

I'm driving from PA to NY tomorrow and need my phone and gps working during the whole ride...any suggestions?

[Sponsor]

[iminhell]

USB = 5v
12v = 12v-14.7v

Use the 12v.

[mikebontoft]

damn you beat me to it.
I don't know about iphones, but with android you can do something called usb fast charge. If you arent using a factory charger, its less amperage unless you enable fast charge.

[rambleon84]

Originally Posted by mikebontoft

damn you beat me to it.
I don't know about iphones, but with android you can do something called usb fast charge. If you arent using a factory charger, its less amperage unless you enable fast charge.

yes this and most usb chargers that plug into the 12v only do 5watts (5v@1amp) as the usb is set as data, which will cause them not to charge as fast (or slowly drain under full load.) Pretty much your phone sees it as a usb instead of a wall charger.

I bought this one from Amazon and the one reviewer even mentions how he cracked it open to solder it so he can get full 2amps out of I just like it for its small profile and dual usb.

[GreenEnvy]

best bet is to get a stand alone gps such as a garmin nuvi. they aren't all that expensive.
gps apps on phones are notorious resource hogs, both power (i.e. processor) and memory.
If you must use it and listen to music, use 12v and stream music via bluetooth. It can keep up with charging that way (if you have sync its easy to stream through bluetooth, you don't need usb)

[emsvitil]

Get a high amp output 12v to 5v usb converter (minimum 1 amp) and try that.

The built in usb may not supply enough output amps.

[Now534]

Usb output is more than likely 500mA. On my android I'm using a 3000mA dual Usb charger. It splits to 1500mA per connection. I got mine from bestbuy

Sent from my SCH-I535 using FF Mobile

[mikebontoft]

you sure youre actually getting 1500ma out of it?

[Now534]

Pretty positive on it. I can check the specs when I go outside later

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[Now534]

It might be a 2000mA plug splitting out 1000mA each. And it lights up blue inside the ports.

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