USB2 to power & charge a GPS?
02-12-2012, 08:21 PM
#11
Senior Member
Here's an alternative that I did for my gps.
I picked up an adapter similar to this at best buy for $13 and used an add-a-circuit to power my gps. I used the 5 amp fuse slot #35 (its a switched port which is only on with the ignition) with a 5 amp fuse to ensure that I wouldn't overload the circuit if a fault in this adapter or my gps happens. I then just plugged the gps adapter into the one I linked and ran the wire to my gps up the side above the fuse panel and then along the very front edge of my dash to the middle of the dash. With everything tucked back there all I see is about 10-12 inches of the gps power cord straight to my gps. Very clean looking in my opinion.
I picked up an adapter similar to this at best buy for $13 and used an add-a-circuit to power my gps. I used the 5 amp fuse slot #35 (its a switched port which is only on with the ignition) with a 5 amp fuse to ensure that I wouldn't overload the circuit if a fault in this adapter or my gps happens. I then just plugged the gps adapter into the one I linked and ran the wire to my gps up the side above the fuse panel and then along the very front edge of my dash to the middle of the dash. With everything tucked back there all I see is about 10-12 inches of the gps power cord straight to my gps. Very clean looking in my opinion.
02-12-2012, 09:11 PM
#12
I used the post below to plug mine into switched power that shuts down the GPS when the engine switched off. I then ran the plug up through a small hole I drilled through the dashboard tray. I have since replaced the suction cup with a friction mount that sits nicely in the tray. With the GPS removed the small USB that plugs into the GPS can only be seen if you are standing up on the steps and peering in through the window.
https://www.f150forum.com/f38/best-place-pick-up-12v-switched-66099/?ref=esp-link
https://www.f150forum.com/f38/best-place-pick-up-12v-switched-66099/?ref=esp-link
02-12-2012, 09:18 PM
#13
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USB only provides 5volts with a max current of 500–900 mA. iPods/Externals/GPS Units all have to comply with this power output. If a device needs more power than USB provides then they must have an external power supply. So to some up, essentially a USB Flash Drive or a iPod/Zune etc are all made to only draw the safe amount of power from usb ports. They will not fry your sync module.
Here's a link to picture of the module. You can see that the USB1/2 are the same thing.
http://www.jasoneckert.net/blog/Entr...ft_module.html
Here's a link to picture of the module. You can see that the USB1/2 are the same thing.
http://www.jasoneckert.net/blog/Entr...ft_module.html
This link references it, but only just that:
https://www.f150forum.com/f38/usb2-i...talled-136516/
This guy said his actually did get damaged:
https://www.f150forum.com/f38/usb2-f...system-110584/
The second one's a tough read... lots of MS vs. Apple and what-not. However, there are some good posts in there with success in using ipod's and other devices which would definitely require more power than a usb key. Seems like good news.
Forum member pfbz even has a picture of the sync wiring diagram & the part number for the usb (#1) cable that gets routed to the lower portion of the dash.
Maybe the OP's issue (link #2) was a bad cable, or a fluke thing not related to the usb2 mod at all? There doesn't seem to be resolution as to the warranty claim in there, at least that I could find.
Sorry if I raised the red flag here and it wasn't warranted. A search turned up several hits on "fried sync", however, all of the references to it seem to be anecdotal, with the exception of the 2nd link above. With just one reported failure that I could find, and at least a few (10?) posts stating success in powering other devices, I'd think you'd be fine.
As I said, I'm using the usb2 mod and have been for almost 2 yrs. It's worked well for me. I use it with a usb key, but I've charged ipods/iphones off the usb1 port just fine.
If you end up adding a dash mounted gps - post pix. I'd love to see it.
-Matt
https://www.f150forum.com/f38/usb2-i...talled-136516/
This guy said his actually did get damaged:
https://www.f150forum.com/f38/usb2-f...system-110584/
The second one's a tough read... lots of MS vs. Apple and what-not. However, there are some good posts in there with success in using ipod's and other devices which would definitely require more power than a usb key. Seems like good news.
Forum member pfbz even has a picture of the sync wiring diagram & the part number for the usb (#1) cable that gets routed to the lower portion of the dash.
Maybe the OP's issue (link #2) was a bad cable, or a fluke thing not related to the usb2 mod at all? There doesn't seem to be resolution as to the warranty claim in there, at least that I could find.
Sorry if I raised the red flag here and it wasn't warranted. A search turned up several hits on "fried sync", however, all of the references to it seem to be anecdotal, with the exception of the 2nd link above. With just one reported failure that I could find, and at least a few (10?) posts stating success in powering other devices, I'd think you'd be fine.
As I said, I'm using the usb2 mod and have been for almost 2 yrs. It's worked well for me. I use it with a usb key, but I've charged ipods/iphones off the usb1 port just fine.
If you end up adding a dash mounted gps - post pix. I'd love to see it.
-Matt