Navionics boating app power consumption

[ChrisJHC]

As requiem said, you can set Bluetooth to remain on in Aeroplane mode.
This is very common if you want to use a Bluetooth headset on aeroplanes.

For others (who do have GPS on their tablet/phone), GPS will also work happily in Aeroplane mode.

[welshmonarch]

I am using 2 iPads and an iPhone to run Navionics. I have a motor boat so power generation is not a problem. However, each device has its own usb socket and in addition I am running a gps signal booster. My next electrical upgrade will be to put each usb socket on a separate fused supply. The reason for the 2 iPads is to have back up and I usually run one zoomed in for detail.

[s/v Jedi]

This is what you need for charging. Best to use the USB-C port: https://www.amazon.com/AINOPE-Charge...09R3ZF51G?th=1

Also, using internal GPS consumes a lot of energy. Try to disable the internal GPS and use GPS data from the wifi NMEA feed.

[alanfw]

I've been using the Boating app for almost 18 months now. When I started, my boat's USB power sockets could keep my Samsung tablet at 100% charge. But recently the app has been sucking power faster than the charge points can supply it! I'm wondering if app upgrades are the problem.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by alanfw

I've been using the Boating app for almost 18 months now. When I started, my boat's USB power sockets could keep my Samsung tablet at 100% charge. But recently the app has been sucking power faster than the charge points can supply it! I'm wondering if app upgrades are the problem.

Battery life and constant gps

[alanfw]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Battery life and constant gps

Doesn't make sense to me: I only use tablet while it is plugged in to a charge port, so the battery wasn't being drained when using the app so the battery shouldn't be degrading that fast. Besides that, if the battery was fully charged before I went out and remained fully charged for the whole day the battery isn't even being used - the tablet is running on current from the charging port alone. This means that a year ago the tablet running Navionics app was using LESS power than the USB charge port could provide, now it's using MORE power than the charging point can provide! Navionics is the only app I have on the tablet.

I understand constant GPS is a drain, but that's not a variable - it was also constant GPS 12 months ago when everything was fine. Am I missing something here?

[ChrisJHC]

Have you checked that the tablet is actually being charged?

The cables tend to degrade after a while.

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by alanfw

I've been using the Boating app for almost 18 months now. When I started, my boat's USB power sockets could keep my Samsung tablet at 100% charge. But recently the app has been sucking power faster than the charge points can supply it! I'm wondering if app upgrades are the problem.

Could be a Navionics upgrade, but that would be lower on my list of possibilities. It could be the charge cord, either damaged, or you replaced it with a different one. It could be the battery itself has degraded, which will happen fastest if you leave it plugged in while it's at 100%. Or it could be an OS upgrade.

It is also worth noting, that most USB sockets do not support quick charging, and will charge much slower than a "QC3.0" USB port. This includes expensive name brands that are sold specifically for boats. If you have a normal USB port(which might be labeled 2.4A or something), then at best it would barely keep up. So, you might have been on the line and only a small change was enough to make it not keep up.

Search for QC3.0 USB port on Amazon. They are cheap, and will charge a Samsung tablet 20x faster than a regular USB port.

[alanfw]

Thankyou Wholybee. That's pretty good info, especially regarding the availability of fast charge points. I think I might need a new tablet ��

I don't think either of the tablets I own support fast charging.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by alanfw

Thankyou Wholybee. That's pretty good info, especially regarding the availability of fast charge points. I think I might need a new tablet ��

I don't think either of the tablets I own support fast charging.

I recommend this charger:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RHSD9WM

and this tester, which allows you to see exactly the charge rate, voltage etc.:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JYVPLLJ

The charger I linked above has many charge rates as defined in PD and QC3.0, but the high ones require a 24V feed to the DC outlet.

I tested all the modes, they often don’t work right at all, but this unit works and is high quality. I can charge my laptop at 30W with it.

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by alanfw

Thankyou Wholybee. That's pretty good info, especially regarding the availability of fast charge points. I think I might need a new tablet ��

I don't think either of the tablets I own support fast charging.

Samsung has supported fast charging for a long time. 2015 or 2016, maybe earlier. I have a 2017 Samsung tablet, that takes (from almost 0%) overnight to charge with a regular charger, but less than an hour with the QC/PD port.

iPads probably have supported them for as long.

@s/v Jedi - very good information. Especially the tester.

[alanfw]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I recommend this charger:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RHSD9WM

and this tester, which allows you to see exactly the charge rate, voltage etc.:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JYVPLLJ

The charger I linked above has many charge rates as defined in PD and QC3.0, but the high ones require a 24V feed to the DC outlet.

I tested all the modes, they often don’t work right at all, but this unit works and is high quality. I can charge my laptop at 30W with it.

Thankyou. I DO have an accessory socket charger and a panel mount charger but I would prefer a wired panel mount charger (because it is less likely to create a bad connection). Have you come across a particularly good one of those?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by alanfw

Thankyou. I DO have an accessory socket charger and a panel mount charger but I would prefer a wired panel mount charger (because it is less likely to create a bad connection). Have you come across a particularly good one of those?

No, I tried many and they are all garbage. You really need the one I linked to.

About the outlet: I tried many of those too, incl. Ones that look exactly like the expensive Blue Sea Systems one. Outcome of all this: buy the expensive Blue Sea Systems one.

We will be replacing everything with that outlet and USB charger, connecting it to our 24V system. It’s great to be able to charge my Macbook Pro straight from an USB outlet

[welshmonarch]

Have you checked the battery voltage and that something else may be draining down battery. Is connector clean, try new cable. I use Navionics on 2 iPads and all is OF