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Drivesmart 50 won't charge on USB
I have Drivesmart 50 unit. Usually, it is connected to the car charger for traffic data but last weekend, I had a long trip and at the end of the trip, I noticed that the unit was low on battery. It was connected to Garmin genuine cable all throughout the trip. I thought the power supply was loose. It powers up if I connect the car charger.
I thought I can charge at home using a phone charger but it didn't charge and discharged the battery completely.
If I connect to the laptop, it doesn't show computer sign (probably because the battery is depleted.
Any idea why it doesn't charge on a phone charger or over the USB? It seems it will charge on Garmin branded charger https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/67647.
I thought I can charge at home using a phone charger but it didn't charge and discharged the battery completely.
If I connect to the laptop, it doesn't show computer sign (probably because the battery is depleted.
Any idea why it doesn't charge on a phone charger or over the USB? It seems it will charge on Garmin branded charger https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/67647.
Comments
If not, then that is what you should be using. USB plugs just don't supply enough juice to keep the unit running and charge at the same time.
I have found that if you have a 5v 2amp charger and a good short cable the GPS will charge at 400-700 mA, but it is quicker/easier if, when plugged in, you switch off or dim the screen, as the screen drags the maybe half the operating current. Long ago I invested $5 in a USB volt/amp meter so I could see what was going on.
The exact same thing occurs with phones, I have often heard people say their car charger takes forever to charge their phone and this is why. The charge chips for lithium batteries are quite smart in identify what rate it can drag from the charger and if indeed it is capable at all.