Sorry if this has been asked already, & I'm sure it has.  I just took possession of my newish Octavia Elegance today, so until I find my way round it I'm probably going to ask some pretty dim questions.

 

I've managed to connect my phone up via the bluetooth OK, but noted that the battery on my phone was flat, having forgot to plug it into charge last night again.  Being away from home, I plugged my phone into the car's USB connector to charge, but note that when I switch off ignition and lock the car, the USB switches off and the phone then stopped charging.  Is it possible to leave the phone in the car charging from the USB socket with the car locked?

 

Folkie

The socket is permanently on so get a plug with a USB connection in it and your phone will continue to charge when car locked and ignition off.

^   ^   The (as it was formerly known) 12v cigarette lighter socket is always on, irrespective of the ignition. 

 

I've got one of these in my car: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00M6Q83B4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

 

It sits pretty much flush with the 12v socket so doesn't take up much room compared to bigger chargers. Charges my iPhone 6S+ quickly as well. 

Thanks kalpat & dstev2000, Yes I've not tried the socket, I'm surprised that the USB supply turns off while the socket turns off, that does not make a lot of sense.  I'll try out the socket idea sometime, just taken off guard when the USB already on the panel, failed to charge my phone.

 

Folkie

Edited 12 January, 201610 yr by Folkie

Thanks kalpat & dstev2000, Yes I've not tried the socket, I'm surprised that the USB supply turns off while the socket turns off, that does not make a lot of sense.  I'll try out the socket idea sometime, just taken off guard when the USB already on the panel, failed to charge my phone.

 

Folkie

Seeing as the USB is power and data, I would imagine the 5v supply is from the head unit and will therefore go off with it.

 

You could probably rejig the USB connector to be always on via a permanently energised and separate USB supply, but that's a lot of messing about IMO  :no:

It's not an issue, the fact that it goes off with the ignition answers my question.  Being new to the car, I thought there may be a way of bypassing it.  A USB adaptor sounds a good idea, for anytime the phone is flat and I'm only making short journeys, I had something similar in my last car.  I'm not sure under what circumstance I would use the USB socket for data, unless the service station uses it for "updates".

 

Folkie

Be aware that it is highly likely that the USB adaptor will stop your DAB from working. The cheaper ones reduce the voltage to 5V by rapid switching which produces a lot of RF interference and as the DAB aerials in the Octavia are not the most powerful it doesn't take much to lose the signal. Some adaptors work, many don't.

Thanks Paulius55, yes it looks like the one suggested by dstev2000 suffers from interference problems, not really an issue as I was more concerned with charging my phone when I was not in the car, in which case I'm not using the DAB anyway, the USB on the dashboard works fine when the ignition is on.  If anyone has any suggestions of any adaptors that don't cause switching problems, they might let me know.  Thanks,  Folkie

DAB issues aside, that adaptor mentioned above is actually very good as a charger with a high output and very low profile. When I found the problem with DAB in my car I put the adaptor in my wife's Fiesta, non-DAB, and it charges phones very quickly. I have just fitted a dashcam to mine and the supplied 5v adaptor also caused the DAB to cease working. I thought this was a showstopper but read on another website that TomTom adaptors were "superior" quality and had suppression built-in. I had an old TomTom satnav in the cupboard, tried the power supply it and it worked perfectly with no effect on DAB at all. It has the wrong type of mini-usb connector for a phone however but shows that it is possible to do. Good hunting.

The DAB has always been rubbish on my Superb so I never use it  :no:

 

You are right about the interference though, I've had a few USB adaptors (of various prices) and they've all caused issues with DAB - I'd forgotten all about that  :|

Thanks to you both for your input.

 

Anyway, since my last post I made a search and went for the http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CD0JBZK , I looked at both the UK reviews and the ones for the same item on the USA amazon and although a number on the USA site were unfavourable, there were none relating to any interferance, so thought I would take a chance.  I'll do my own review when I get it.  Folkie