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31-05-2019, 18:56
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
Anyone recommend a multi socket 12V USB Charger? Kind that plugs into a cigarette lighter plug? I don’t want to permanently install something that is not going to last. Seems they last about a month or two for me, and I use them below and am now in a Marina with AC on all of the time so humidity is low 50% range, so I don’t think it’s salt air that is killing them. I think they are just cheap junk.
Surely there has to be a high quality one? I don’t even care about the cost anymore, just don’t want to have to take four $25 usb chargers with me for the next cruise.
Ideally one sold on Amazon, anybody have a brand that lasts?
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31-05-2019, 19:18
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#2
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
Doesn't Blue Sea make installable ones?
I've had good luck with Aukey.
But the I always keep dozens of all types, scattered around in ziplocs, spare cables too, USB is not a robust standard for connectors.
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31-05-2019, 20:08
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Maryland
Boat: 1985 Ericson 32-3
Posts: 315
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
I replaced two 12V cabin lights with these and they look good. They are LED so draw little power and have built in chargers. The fixture is a bit smaller than I expected but the light is pretty bright for reading. The blue night light is too bright if you want to sleep with it turned on.
https://www.amazon.com/Color-Glass-L...p?ie=UTF8&th=1
I also installed one of these 12V plugs with two 2.4A ports at the nav station. I've had the same one on the motorcycle in the weather for several years without trouble and if it fails they sell them at car parts stores anywhere for $10.
And a couple of the AC outlets got replaced with ones from Home Depot that have USB chargers built in.
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31-05-2019, 20:22
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 5,486
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
I've used a 4-port USB charger from eBay for the last 15 months for my tablet and phones. It's been working great.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Superior-4-...edirect=mobile
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31-05-2019, 20:29
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#5
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Thailand
Boat: Herreshoff Caribbean 50
Posts: 1,096
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
__________________
Steve .. It was the last one that did this !
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01-06-2019, 16:17
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Meandering about the Gulf of Alaska coast [NNE Pacific]— where the internet doesn't always shine... [Even Elon's...] Homeport: Wrangell Island
Boat: Nauticat 43 [S&S Staysail Ketch]
Posts: 1,671
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
A64,
I installed 2 of the Scanstrut ROKK waterproof [really] USB sockets in or center cockpit catch in 2017. They are still going strong and in use 80% of the time.
Photos of our outdoor installs are appended. [One on steering pedistal, one on back of MFD pod— both with exposed circuit breaker pushbuttons.]
We use them with the Scanstrut Lifedge Ultimate Charge/sync Lighting [iOS] cables [as shown in the above photo.] Their cables are more difficult to source. I see West Marine has them for almost the price of the charging station... These cables are holding up very well, however, so will hopefully be worth the price over time.
In case this is of interest.
Cheers! Bill
__________________
SV Denali Rose
Learning every day- and sharing if I can.
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01-06-2019, 17:29
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
I really don’t want installed ones, I don’t want more holes in the boat.
I’m looking for what Sailor Chic uses, just has to be a quality one out there is what I’m after.
Just too much stuff gets charged via USB now days, even my DSLR camera batteries.
The other option is of course 120VAC, but obviously I don’t want to run an inverter to charge an IPad.
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01-06-2019, 17:59
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#8
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
https://smile.amazon.com/Anker-5-Por...s%2C172&sr=8-7
Anker usually make good stuff. You could lop off the ciggy plug and hardware this one. Scoche might also make one, they've got a good rep. Considering that modern smartphones and tablets use USB3 and above, and can take advantage of 2-3 Amps from a USB power source,you might want to look around, see if anything supports some of the "fast charge" protocols if your devices can take advantage of that.
That Anker is supposed to pass 50 watts to the 5 ports, so it certainly wouldn't do "full" power to all of them. But a look at Anker's web site might get you something better faster. RAVpower is another top name.
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01-06-2019, 18:15
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
Some of the ones I’ve gone through. The first two are dead, currently on the third, the one with the inverter, just I don’t use the inverter and it has an on / off switch
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01-06-2019, 18:40
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#10
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
Maybe the ciggie port's gone bad, 4-5A would be my limit for those
or maybe you've got transient spikes / surges on that circuit?
In any case Anker and Aukey are both well regarded.
https://www.newegg.com/p/0ZA-01D2-00...9SIAE1B6US9054
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01-06-2019, 18:52
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,704
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
I recall, a64, of discussions about USB plugs and agree with your "no more holes" approach.
I have one cig socket. I charge my phone, VHF, rechargeable batteries for my handheld GPS, and something else. They're on a list somewhere, but it's across the cabin so I'll get it later!
sailorhchic's idea is great, 'cuz I have many things I have to cycle to get them each charged individually.
Hmmm... But not all of them charge with USB, some need their own cig sockets.
So I'm thinkin' maybe a multiple cig socket splitter into a sailorchic thingie.
Now I have to go back and count each one.
See what ya made me do!!!
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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01-06-2019, 19:07
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Boat: 31' Cape George Cutter
Posts: 3,270
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
You might back up a bit and tell us what the charging requirements are for your devices. To charge at the fastest rates the USB port has to match the devices' needs. iPhones need a port that speaks Apple's protocol; my phone uses Qualcomm's Quickcharge 3 (QC3) so I buy USB chargers that support that on at least one port. Some phone manufacturers (besides Apple) use their own proprietary standards. A few even use the industry USB PD (Power Delivery) standard (fancy that). The latest charging protocols can negotiate higher voltages than the standard 5V, which allows for more power at the limited currents USB supports. I recommend 3- or 4-port chargers with at least one port specifically for your own phone, and the rest either 2.1A or 2.4A ports with broad support for the various protocols.
Precisely because protocols are changing it is unwise to buy built-in USB chargers, especially for phones and tablets. Better to install cigarette lighter outlets and buy new USB chargers as needed. Or just be patient when charging.
I keep a cable in the car for my QC3 port, and on a 2.4A port I have a cable with a micro-USB connector and adapters for USB-C and Appe's Lightning connector.
I recommend doing a search on Amazon for one that meets your needs and gets good reviews, then buy there or elsewhere.
Greg
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01-06-2019, 19:31
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tarpon Springs fl
Boat: Morgan 384/ 1982
Posts: 378
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
I replaced my 110V outlets with 110v two female and 2 USB outlets. Lowes or home depot !
Those Usb are very strong and charge very fast compared to my cigarette plug chargers ! I did 2 outlets in my main salon , They were like$ 22. each White or brown So i can charge 4 things at once !
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01-06-2019, 19:42
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Australia
Boat: Milkraft 60 ex trawler
Posts: 4,653
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
Quote:
Originally Posted by stnick
I replaced my 110V outlets with 110v two female and 2 USB outlets. Lowes or home depot !
Those Usb are very strong and charge very fast compared to my cigarette plug chargers ! I did 2 outlets in my main salon , They were like$ 22. each White or brown So i can charge 4 things at once !
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Same here but got them on eBay.
Far more grunt than any previous plug in charger we had used.
https://www.ebay.com.au/p/3x-Dual-US...d=251950376692
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01-06-2019, 19:42
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,704
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Re: Good quality 12VDC USB Charger
stnick,
Given Carina's good point about different and changing USB ports, wouldn't that complicate things, if not when USBs changed?
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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