In-Car Media

[DaveD]

This...

Bluetooth streaming or the 3.5mm headphone jack

[AldridgeZ4]

Have you thought of getting a portable battery as the fag lighter is usually crap charging anything.

Good idea. I've used them on holiday to keep the smart phones running map and translation apps, but never thought of using it in the car.I bought a medium sized one, fits in the palm of our hand, and it kept 2 large screen phones running all day and night when we were getting lost and confused in Japan.

[ph001]

Why would the fag lighter be crap at charging??? It just gives 12v out. It’s the 12v to 5v converter that you plug into it that does the tricky bit.

[R60BBA]

Have you thought of getting a portable battery as the fag lighter is usually crap charging anything.

https://www.anker.com/products/107/201/ ... e-Chargers

Can usually charge a phone about 5 times before you need to recharge it. You can also charge two devices at the same time.

A portable charger is on my list of things to get after my phone only lasted for 8 hours on my most recent holiday.

Never thought of using it in the car though so thanks

[skelters]

Why would the fag lighter be crap at charging??? It just gives 12v out. It’s the 12v to 5v converter that you plug into it that does the tricky bit.

On the previous phone I had (Samsung Galaxy S6) the car was giving it 333ma of charge, the portable battery would provide 1200ma of the charge and Mains power provided 1800ma.

Using the fag lighter to charge a phone or ipod etc. might not provide enough charge into the device than the device is actually using if you're using Google Maps or something intensive on the device.

There's also the quality of the cables to think about. Usually cables that come with the phones are pretty poor quality and don't provide the same amount of power as a better quality cable. The Anker cables that come with the Anker portable power things provide better power to a device than the Samsung supplied cables. You can also buy spares relativity cheaply. I've seen the Galaxy S6 get around 999ma from one cable and 1800ma from another when Mains power is supplied to it.

There's also the quality of the Mains socket adapters and these suffer from the same issues with varying power output to the devices depending on the cables being used and the quality of the adapter. Likewise the quality of the fag lighter USB adapter can vary the amount of power that actually goes to the device and is depends on the quality of the cables used too.

I know this as I've been there, seen it and done it.

https://www.howtogeek.com/309766/want-f ... usb-ports/

Sorted out any phone charging issues in the car or anywhere else by buying a OnePlue 5T phone. 1 hour to full charge from 10%.

[mmm-five]

Mine happily charges my TomTom, GoPro, or iPhone - and usually have the phone, dash cam & tomtom on charge all at the same time during hoons.

I thought the output was much higher than they need too. From some info in the owner’s manual...

cigarette socket can power devices up to 200 watts at 12v

...which I believe equates to about 17amps (amps = watts ÷ volts).

Of course, this all assumes that the device asks to draw that much power

[ph001]

Indeed. The cigarette lighter itself has enough current capability to charge 10 phones all at the same time! All the chargers give out 5V, as long as you get one rated at at least 2.1A you are good to go. Admittedly a decent cable helps.

To say the cigarette lighter is crap at charging is complete nonsense.

[R60BBA]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 1685007449

Any one installed one of these?

Appears to offer the same functionality as the Grom but at half the price...

[markalp]

Everything you need

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-Adapto ... ne+charger

I know this is expensive for what it is, however after going through quite a few this is the only one that never drops connection, literally never.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIREFLY-Smalle ... 098&sr=8-2

As always the simplest things work the best.

[mmm-five]

I went the Pure Highway 400 (the 600 is available that adds hands-free calling) route with mine, due to it being an early MC without the aux port, and me being useless at wiring anything in.

Luckily I only had to stick an antenna to the window and route a cable behind the A-pillar cover, down to the floor and over to the USB socket. It can use an AUX port, it I’ve just got it using an usused FM frequency instead.

Means I can pick up DAB stations or use the Bluetooth connection to an iPod/iPhone.

BTW, my USB lighter socket adapter is similar to the one below (Griffin I think, ought about 7 years ago) and sits flat with the socket so you can close the ashtray if you wish.

The one in the Alfa is a more complicated affair as the adapter has 2 normal 12v sockets and 2 USB ports, but is shaped to sit in a cup holder behind the gearstick.

[ph001]

Everything you need

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-Adapto ... ne+charger

I know this is expensive for what it is, however after going through quite a few this is the only one that never drops connection, literally never.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIREFLY-Smalle ... 098&sr=8-2

As always the simplest things work the best.

Ha, I bought one of those about a month ago but had to return it. They emit a super annoying high pitch whine when on low load. Lovely and small though!

[R60BBA]

Quick update.

Bought the Grom w/ mic and Bluetooth and am booked in tomorrow morning at Dynamic Sounds in Wandsworth.

I got labour quotes from 10 Audio techs and the average price was about £85. (Creative Car Sounds in North London quoted me £120!! )

Dynamic Sounds quoted me half of that inc VAT!