Multiple USB Ports?

MyClassic IPod has a USB lifeline to the USB port in our Prius. I think a12 V charger is the best option to add. That's what I use. I don't know the rating for th USB port, but it doesn't charge my IPAD 2.

 

+1 on the 12V USB charger recommendation.

There are 12V powered USB hubs in the $50 range, but a simple 12V USB charger sounds like it would meet your needs.

 

Just get a compact 12V-to-USB-power converter. The one I have just barely sticks out of the 12V socket, and has 2 USB power-only slots. There should be many different vendors selling this sort of accessory.

Thanks to USB power, many device specific rechargers will soon become obsolete. Or at least they should. It has been several years since I first heard that the Chinese government was mandating this for small devices in their domestic market.

 

I agree with fuzzy1. I went onto ebay and purchased a 12v device that has a pass through cigarette lighter connection and two USB ports. There are literally hundreds of these and if you can wait an extra week, get one of the ones from hong kong or china and save even more. I connect it to the 12v adapter in the front below the gear shift. I attach a radar detector and the two USB ports are used to charge my iphone4 and my wife's phone when she is in the car. I purchased a long 6 ft USB cord so that that my phone can be in a ram-mount to the back and left of the steering wheel in front of the a/c (which keeps it cool when the sun shines in). I use the USB in the center for a flash drive. Since my iphone is bluetooth enabled, I can play music directly and the USB in the front is used only for power.

I paid $6.99 for it a year ago but it can be purchased a lot less. search on "2 port usb charger". Without the pass through I see it now for $1.57 (hong kong) and $2.60 (US). I see one with a 3 year guarantee, 2 USB's and a passthrough for $3.75. The challenge will be to pick from the 2,900 (all) or 1,400 (US only) matches.

 

Mrmakei305's link: Walmart

Yup, that matches the size and shape of what I use. Mine is a different brand, and has a folding D-ring for easier removal, but is otherwise form and functionally the same.

 

yup - that griffin charger looks exactly like the ones I mentioned on ebay that cost $2.60 (no shipping & no tax). As the vendors selling on ebay make a profit, you can bet walmart gets that additional $6.40 as pure profit as well. And I bet that all of them are made in the same area of China.

I get a lot of my stuff at wal-mart but when it comes to adapters, cables, and batteries, for example, it's hard to beat the competition on ebay. Today I received three packages of 3000mAh AA rechargeable Ni-MH batteries (4 per package). Paid $8.76 for all three packages (no shipping or tax). No way to come close to that at Walmart and most stores don't even sell 3000mAh or even 2700mAh.

I hope this is not taken as a critcism. My point is that for these types of electronic entities that all pretty much come from the same place, I have found no benefit for buying at local retailers (as the ebay sellers often take returns as well).

You should really enjoy this device. I almost always use my phone with the charger especially since my auto apps (especially the Garmin GPS app), draw a lot of power on the phone (yes - I do have a navigation system on the prius and still prefer the Garmin app).