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Which USB car charger?

jon15
in Skoda Fabia Mk3 (2014-2021)

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Which USB car charger do you use? Apparently not all will work well in these VAG cars, as there might be a lack of contact when you plug in the charger into the 12V socket.

 

So which charger would you recommend?

Edited by jon15

I think you need a 12v charger with a centre pin. I have a Belkin rwin USB charger that works just fine...and has a centre pin. I also have a couple of rechargeable toeches with rounded connector ends that worked fine in my Volvo but do not connect with the Fabia. The centre pin seems to,be the key.

However, if you buy one from Halfords etc and it doesn't do the job, they will refund/exchange.

I have a Griffin one, double USB one.

Works a treat, never had an issue with it.

Look for one that has a 2A+ outlet or you could end up charging an in use device and it still having less power at the end of the trip!

I have had a similar problem with a Belkin charger I bought and had to return it and had to return it

 

Then with purchased one from PC World and that works fine

 

KIT USBGPC3MNK USB Dual In-Car Charger

Product code: 037956

 

 

​http://tinyurl.com/z53zzj4

I bought this 2 amp Mitec one from Tesco and it has been brilliant with my S6 edge.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/mitec-essentials-micro-usb-in-car-charger-2amp/423-3743.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=423-3743

Mitec also do a windscreen mounted claw holder which clamps the phone like a giant bulldog clip. It is very solid when attached and only suffers from a little vibration. Got mine half price from Tesco last month.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

    •
    • Like 1

    Sainsbury's own brand one. Seems to fit nicely in any car, and they're about the only one that's lasted me more than a year. Because VAG 12v outlets run full time rather than ignition switched, the regulators in the cheap ones always seem to burn out.

    Don't buy cheap ones off eBay. They just cause interference. But a decent branded one from Amazon or the highstreet

    Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk

    I havnt had any issues with it not working or making contact.

    I havnt used both ports at the same time yet as I bought it paired with a lightning cable and don't require any more ports as yet, but I can't see why it wouldn't power 2 devices at once as that's the whole point.

    In theory it should have enough guts to charge 2 iPads

    Edited by SuperbTWM

    • 2 weeks later...
    • Author

    After buying a few off ebay and ending up with fake Belkin ones i found this which has a lot of good reviews and won't blow up or fall apart

     

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerDrive-2-Port-Charger-iPhone/dp/B00VH84L5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452985020&sr=8-1&keywords=anker+car+charger

     

    So I ended up getting this Anker charger + their "super fast" cable for my iPhone 6. Thanks!

    Seems to work OK so far, though I don't find it too impressive in terms of speed -- only got about 14% in cca. 20 mins, despite their claims about being the fastest.

     

    One thing I'm concerned about is that the charger's blue light illuminates even after I've locked the car. Can this thing drain my car battery??? (Obviously I didn't keep my phone in the car, it's only the cable connected to the charger.)

    I'd make a habit of unplugging that charger when it is not being used.

    • Author

    I'd make a habit of unplugging that charger when it is not being used.

     

    Hm, do you think it could actually drain my car's battery? Somehow I'd think the car would need to stand for a week or more for something like that to happen?

     

    I'm not really keen on the idea of plugging and unplugging the charger each and every time, to be honest. :dull:

    Edited by jon15

    I would not think that it would draw too much current just sitting there with nothing connected, but remember, while some of these devices are quite safe to leave plugged in, the inferred way of using them will be to unplug them while not in use, just makes things a bit safer.

    So I ended up getting this Anker charger + their "super fast" cable for my iPhone 6. Thanks!

    Seems to work OK so far, though I don't find it too impressive in terms of speed -- only got about 14% in cca. 20 mins, despite their claims about being the fastest.

     

    One thing I'm concerned about is that the charger's blue light illuminates even after I've locked the car. Can this thing drain my car battery??? (Obviously I didn't keep my phone in the car, it's only the cable connected to the charger.)

     

    You can't force things to charge faster, You could hook it up to a 10000AMP 5V supply and it will still only draw what the charging circuit is designed to draw.

     

    I always unplug mine but i have left it in for several days days before and it hasn't flattened by battery.

    Edited by SuperbTWM

    Sainsbury's own brand one. Seems to fit nicely in any car, and they're about the only one that's lasted me more than a year. Because VAG 12v outlets run full time rather than ignition switched, the regulators in the cheap ones always seem to burn out.

     

    Cursed myself, after 14 months of heavy use, the cable's starting to get a bit tired at the car end. Can't grumble at that for a fiver though!

    • Author

    You can't force things to charge faster, You could hook it up to a 10000AMP 5V supply and it will still only draw what the charging circuit is designed to draw.

     

    I always unplug mine but i have left it in for several days days before and it hasn't flattened by battery.

     

    Well, I expected my iPhone would at least charge as fast as it does at home with the Apple's 1 amp charger in the wall socket, yet it charges slower than that in my car...

    Well, I expected my iPhone would at least charge as fast as it does at home with the Apple's 1 amp charger in the wall socket, yet it charges slower than that in my car...

    I haven't really noticed to be honest but yes it should charge as fast if not faster. I would give it a chance because the battery indicators aren't exactly the most accurate.

     

    some people are never happy :notme:

    Edited by SuperbTWM

    • Author

    I haven't really noticed to be honest but yes it should charge as fast if not faster. I would give it a chance because the battery indicators aren't exactly the most accurate.

     

    some people are never happy :notme:

     

    I'm not trying to be negative/nitpicking or anything, but it's just that I'm a bit annoyed with them as a company, or better yet with how they advertise this thing as being 'super fast' and whatnot --- when it's barely any faster than charging from the USB port in my car (!).

    I'm not trying to be negative/nitpicking or anything, but it's just that I'm a bit annoyed with them as a company, or better yet with how they advertise this thing as being 'super fast' and whatnot --- when it's barely any faster than charging from the USB port in my car (!).

    Was it the cable or the charger that was advertised as being super fast?

    if you have a look here https://www.anker.com/poweriq/

     

    it says its super fast but only super fast compared to a computer USB whch is only 500mA. (when charging a 5S)

     

    So its a bit of a pointless claim to be honest.

     

    What rating is your iphone 6 charger?

    Edited by SuperbTWM

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