What do I need to allow my phone to gain charge while using GPS in the car?

spazma7ik

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The Verizon charger doesn't supply enough power to make up for what GPS uses, and I know I read of some kind of adapter that makes the car lighter output a higher charge for micro USB, but I can't seem to search for the right terms, can somebody help me?
 

SnoDrtRider

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Mine seems to work fine...

I have my old Verizon charger (Mini USB) from my last three phones with an adapter (mini to micro USB) that I got at Radio Shack. My battery has never dropped in charge even using GPS, Phone and sometimes Pandora all at the same time.
 

mrredskin

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mine gains a charge, but it's very minimal. you said it's a verizon charger or is it the moto? i have the OEM motorola charger and it works fine. if your's is verizon, it might not have a high enough mAh output.
 

crspang

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I use the rocketfish charger from bestbuy and haven't had any trouble. Although the longest trip I've been on is three hours.
 

goinskiing

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I actually havde the same issue with my stock cable and all my other mini usb cables. It seems like charging is intermittent for me, even when plugged into a computer. The wall seems to be my only constant, but the car is almost always a no go.
 

hitek9

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Turn the screen off whenever you need to be on one road for a long time. That simple. Gps is still on and voice commands are still given.
 

takeshi

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The Verizon charger doesn't supply enough power to make up for what GPS uses, and I know I read of some kind of adapter that makes the car lighter output a higher charge for micro USB, but I can't seem to search for the right terms, can somebody help me?
Check the mAh rating of the charger. I'm using one of the Motorola chargers. I don't recall its specs off the top of my head but I have no problems with it charging the Droid while actively using GPS in the car.
 

lauriep

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I use a Verizon's charger, run my GPS all the time on long trips and it charges just fine.
 

rjsurfer

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I just used the GPS function for a 11 hour trip and the Verizon car charger just kept the battery at 40%, never went over that the entire trip....

I'm wondering if there is a more powerful car charger for the Droid?

Ron W.
 

williamweaver

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One time I was using GPS for awhile and I noticed my battery was low. Turns out that the plug going into the phone was sort of loose since there was a bunch of tension from the phone (on the windshield) to the outlet. I've never had the GPS drain the battery when it's not loose though. I use the official VZW charger.
 

Spyte

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I have both the Moto charger and Verizon charger, i run pandora at least 9 hours per day with gps and bluetooth on all the time, my phone never goes to sleep, and i finish the day with a full charge using either charger. that being said, i have never started the day half charged and i'm always plugged in so i can't say if its able to gain in battery charge or no.
 

jrod1990

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You can hook up an inverter so that the car's 12v system gets converted to 110 house v and use the wall charger, that should supply enough power to charge while running GPS. Most 5 to 10 amp inverters run between $25 - $100 depending on which brand you go with.
 

Slider46

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I'm using the iGo charging system (no it's no by apple :) )

You get the base charger and then if you change phones, you simply purchase a new tip to match your phone instead of a whole new charger. Saves some money in the long run and it seems to be fine for every phone i've used so far. (Samsung Gleam, LG VX8600, Droid)

I don't lose charge while using the GPS when this charger is plugged in.
 

satalac

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I had the same problem on a 3 hour road trip this weekend. Ran the navigation with the satellite layer and auto brightness on (driving in the sun). Finished with 60%. On the way back I didn't run layers and had auto brightness on (driving in a mix of sun/cloud/heavy rain). Was 100% when I reached my destination. Phone was at 100% both times when I started driving. I'm thinking that the satellite layer is a power hog.
 

KZIWarrior

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For some reason with certain charges you need to plug the phone in before you launch Navigation. Makes no sense but I've noticed it a few times (with the OEM Moto charger) but that was with the older versions of Maps.
 
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