Has anyone worked out the logic of when the USB port (in the UK, we are 'blessed' with just one USB port) powers up? The manual clearly implies that it powers up with ignition only. But I've connected a Qi phone holder, experimenting to see if the USB port will supply sufficient voltage and current to charge my phone whilst using a navigation app. Said Qi charger has a green light ('power on') which turns blue ('charging phone'). Weirdly, the USB port seemed to spring into life when I opened the driver's door, ignition still off. Then, at the end of my journey, ignition off, USB port stayed on for at least a minute, but eventually has gone off (and I hope it remains that way - I'm paranoid so will keep checking).

 

As an aside, pre-lockdown, I contacted Skoda via live chat to ask about the output of the USB port - they're normally limited to 0.5 A if it's a data port, can be > 2 A for a charge-only, then next day received a phone call when I was told that the port can actually deliver in excess of 2 A dependent on what the item being charged will take. And based on a 5-mile journey this morning, yes, my phone (Pixel 3XL running TomTom GO nav app) did indeed appear to not only maintain but increased the charge level. Will try a longer journey when it's permitted, but obviously limited data so far.

 

BTW, Skoda live chat folk are obviously working from home and as such don't have access to any technical data, according to someone I chatted with yesterday on a different topic. Was advised to e-mail my query, but not to expect a rapid reply.

Quite a few systems boot up when the drivers door is opened, rather than on the ignition these days on modern cars.

 

My Kodiaq primes the fuel pump on opening the door too.

 

The 12V power socket (and presumably the USB port) are supposed to be monitored by the car, and when the battery charge drops close to not being able to start the engine they are supposed to turn off, but this hasn't happened for a few owners.

Indeed - I noticed the Virtual Cockpit wakes up on opening the driver door, just didn't expect the USB port to wake up as well. Perhaps it's actually a logical choice, because it presumably allows eg Android Auto to start up (if a phone is connected directly) rather than have to wait for ignition on or engine on.

Cannot say, when it wakes up, bur definitely shuts down after about 10 minutes after ignition is switched off.

240 V socket in back shuts down exactly 10 mins after, I guess the USB does the same.

 

If you want permanent power, use cigarette lighter socket. These are always on.

 

Thanks Linni. The USB port shutting down is actually a big advantage, because I can leave the Qi charger permanently connected, and simply swap leads if I want to use Android Auto. I would much prefer if the 12V socket did the same thing ie ignition-only, but it's definitely live all the time on my car, so I'm loathe to leave a Qi charger permanently connected, because the LED and charging coil will be drawing a small but continuous current. Of the cars I've owned, this is the first with the always-live 12V socket.

I have optional 2 USB sockets + phne box (built in QI) + 240V, but they are definitely not live all the time.

Lucky person! What did the UK do to Skoda that we only get one USB port, no option to increase?

The reason is the phone box and it`s signal amplifying capabilities.

Not very sure, but wasn`t it somehow connected to military frequencies?

Pardon me, if I am wrong. Local fellows know probably more.

Strange, other manufacturers offer a wireless charging mat for UK cars..... but it's the 'only one USB port' that puzzles me - might be addressed in the next refresh of the Kodiaq, later this year. Even the Honda CR-V, not exactly noted for cutting-edge infotainment, offers at least 2 additional charge-only USB ports, last time I looked.

Like said, it`s not the wireless charger, it`s the phone`s wireless signal amplifying capabilities.

It`s just UK, mainland still has the phone box.

3 hours ago, SinglePointSafety said:

Lucky person! What did the UK do to Skoda that we only get one USB port, no option to increase?

 

The UK have Skoda UK to thank for that.

 

Skoda UK are the official importers of Skoda cars into the UK and therefore have an influence over the models and specs that we get to buy.

 

Only putting 1x USB port in a car built in the present day shows just how out of touch Skoda UK are with the needs and wants of their prospective customers.

The same doofus at Skoda UK who decided to use the 1x USB port insert instead of the 2x USB port insert is probably the same guy who was responsible for checking out the local legislative requirements for wireless phone charging, resulting in them screwing it up and having to pull it from all UK models and compensating disappointed customers...

 

 

It wouldn't surprise me either if he was the one who was asked to let Skoda know which models Skoda UK were planning to launch in the UK resulting in the 2.0 TDI 150PS manual 4x4 7-seater not being homologated to tow...

 

 

I'm almost certain he'll have also played a part in Skoda UK's abysmal servicing requirement communications too.

Thanks silver1011. An advantage of only using the USB port to charge is that the 12V USB adapters are famous for pumping out RF interference which can totally wreck DAB reception (validated by painful experience of trying many of these items before finding one that isn't too bad). Some cars have better aerials, some drivers only drive in high signal areas and thus won't notice, but my previous VW Golf was very prone to DAB interference and I regularly drive in poor reception areas.

 

Anyway, need to do a bit more investigation (but no in the near future!) to see if the USB port does indeed charge the phone on a long journey if I'm using a navigation app.

I find when using google maps  over a long journey, my iphone  7 charges very slowly and it’s unusual to get a full charge. 
 

I suppose this is due to the power requirement when using the phone rather than the capacity of the USB port but I may be wrong.

Option one - use only original cable. 

If that doesn`t help, option two - use cigarette lighter charger with higher output .

 

USB gives you usually 0,5 A, cigarette charger can get you 2,4 A or even more.

Edited 24 April, 20206 yr by linni

linni, I agree - normally a USB data port is only capable of 0.5 A, although a USB charging port (ie no data) can give > 2 A. It was interesting that Skoda UK claimed to me that the USB data port is capable of delivering a lot more than 0.5 A, and not doing any long journeys at the moment, difficult to verify this and compare phone charging rate with previous car where I used the 12V USB adapter as my power source.

That might be true. Kodiaq seems to charge faster than my Superb used to. Didn`t pay attention before, thought it was just newer and more efficient phone model.

I can do the direct comparison - same phone, software and charger I used with my VW Golf using 12V USB adapter, but now trying to charge from USB port.

 

Returning to my original post, a bit more experimentation shows that the USB port does indeed wake up when I open the driver's door (not sure if any door would do the same thing) probably because opening the door wakes up the instrument cluster. If I don't turn on the ignition, and then close the door, the USB port goes to sleep after a minute or so, followed by the instrument cluster. Which, if  the port can indeed keep the phone charged, would be ideal. Thanks to all those who posted here, it's been very helpful.

1 hour ago, SinglePointSafety said:

linni, I agree - normally a USB data port is only capable of 0.5 A,

 

IIRC USB 3.0 is nearly 1amp

I found these double USB ports on Ali express :-

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32947329925.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5c1c5441kZ8u76&algo_pvid=30c5b798-2a8d-41da-820b-059b7835d22f&algo_expid=30c5b798-2a8d-41da-820b-059b7835d22f-19&btsid=0ab50f6215881033293116285e7e46&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000576105334.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5c1c5441kZ8u76&algo_pvid=30c5b798-2a8d-41da-820b-059b7835d22f&algo_expid=30c5b798-2a8d-41da-820b-059b7835d22f-18&btsid=0ab50f6215881033293116285e7e46&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

 

Not got one myself but maybe of interest to people?

Well, reporting back after a bit more experimenting. Using at least 2 well-known navigation apps (not at the same time!) and a speed cam warning app in the background, on a smartphone with a big screen, I can report back that the USB port supplies sufficient current to still charge the phone. Obviously phones and software vary, but using a Pixel 3XL, phone is charging at least 3-5% in a 15-minute journey, which is....unexpectedly impressive and more than sufficient for my needs. That's using a Qi charger, which obviously limits the charging rate anyway.

This is strange. In my previous post, I stated that I thought the USB port was indeed capable of increasing the charge in the phone even when the phone was running a navigation app. Now that some of the lockdown has been eased, it's legal for me to travel somewhere with my mountain bike, so I've had some experience of longer (up to 1 hour) journeys. That's shown me that unfortunately the USB port isn't quite able to keep the phone charged, but only just - it lost a few % in an hour's drive. This might vary with nav app - TomTom GO v Google Navigation, and whether or not I run any other apps in the background, such as Spotify. Could always plug the Qi charger into a 12V to 5V USB adapter, but it's a real PITA to have to remember to remove the adapter, given that the 12V sockets are always live and I don't want to risk significant battery depletion (why Skoda? Why? Why did you do this? Only car I've ever experienced that has always-live 12V sockets - all the others were ignition-only).

On 23/04/2020 at 21:26, silver1011 said:

The same doofus at Skoda UK who decided to use the 1x USB port insert instead of the 2x USB port insert is probably the same guy who was responsible for checking out the local legislative requirements for wireless phone charging, resulting in them screwing it up and having to pull it from all UK models and compensating disappointed customers...

My car was held in Emden whilst they decided what to do about it. When it arrived at the dealer it was still in, but he was instructed to remove it before handover 😤

5 hours ago, SinglePointSafety said:

 That's shown me that unfortunately the USB port isn't quite able to keep the phone charged, but only just - it lost a few % in an hour's drive. 

 

are you using the phone screen for the actual Nav aspect or do you mean having just the nav app running means it can't keep up?

 

** Just seen your post above. Just seemed strange that you weren't making use of Carplay/Android Auto, if you have it? 

Edited 21 May, 20206 yr by SuperbTWM

Hi SuperbTWM. To answer your Qs:

I'm using TT GO nav app with the phone screen on. if I turn the phone screen off, it suspends the app by default, and then of course the phone will happily charge in its Qi holder

TT GO is my preferred nav app, although Google Navigation is OK, but TT GO is (currently) not compatible with Android Auto