iPhone car charger always left in socket: Running Down Battery??

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Prius Five Guy, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    I always keep the charger in the socket during charges and even when I'm not charging the phone.

    Is this necessarily a bad thing, is it running down my battery?

    Thanks
     
    #1 Prius Five Guy, Sep 20, 2012
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    The 12v dc receptacle puts out no power once the car is turned off so it cannot run down the battery. Mine stays plugged in all the time as well, irregardless if I'm charging my phone.
     
    #2 Paradox, Sep 20, 2012
  3. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    The 12V sockets are only energized when the car is in Ready mode I believe so the DC/DC converter is supplying the power so there is no drain on the 12V battery.
     
    #3 jdcollins5, Sep 20, 2012
  4. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

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    I was in the middle of a trip last week when I discovered that my never-used iPhone charger wouldn't fit in the plug and my new phone (serving as my nav unit) was running low. I was able to "adjust" it and get it into the plug. I thought it may be a permanent addition to the car, but I was able to remove and re-insert it without so much force.
     
    #4 car compulsive, Sep 20, 2012
  5. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    Seems like the general consensus is no harm... but to just to clarify:

    Using the socket below center console and NOT the one inside the arm rest.

    So even though the charger is in the socket (minus the phone) there no harm?
     
    #5 Prius Five Guy, Sep 20, 2012
  6. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    Mine stays plugged in all the time (this includes when car is turned off AND when it's running)....
     
    #6 Prius Five Guy, Sep 20, 2012
  7. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Right, mine (charger) stays plugged in all the time as well. It doesn't matter though; If the charger is always plugged in, the phone is always plugged in etc. When not in 'Ready' there is no power to the 12v outlet so it cannot do anything to your battery.
     
    #7 Paradox, Sep 20, 2012
  8. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    There's a "blue" indicator light on the charger that is always on when plugged in an car in use (even when phone is not connected).

    Me thought the "blue" suggested that charger was utilizing the car's battery which in theory it is BUT ya'll are saying it's negligible?

    OK, my obsession with this will end today, I promise ;)
     
    #8 Prius Five Guy, Sep 20, 2012
  9. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Yes, it will be blue when the car is on, or in ready, even if a phone is not plugged in. BUT, when the car is off, it will not be blue. That is the point... No power goes to the outlet when the car is off thus no drainage of the battery.
     
    #9 Paradox, Sep 20, 2012
  10. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    Your are right it is using a very very little power ....
     
    #10 szgabor, Sep 20, 2012
  11. Larsenvega

    Larsenvega Junior Member

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    Why don't you just use the USB port in the center console for charging? That would alleviate you from having to worry about a bulky charger drawing down your battery, plus keep your interior a little cleaner looking at the same time.
     
    #11 Larsenvega, Sep 22, 2012
  12. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    Where does the USB port draw power from? You're talking about the armrest area, right?
     
    #12 Prius Five Guy, Sep 24, 2012
  13. Larsenvega

    Larsenvega Junior Member

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    Yes, I am talking about the one in the armrest area. It draws power from the car when in run mode. You should be fine just using the USB for charging unless you are trying to charge your phone when the car is off. I always have my iPhone cord coming out of the front of the armrest box and just let it lay in between the seat and the center console when not in use. I'm using a black cord in my dark grey interior, so it is barely noticeable.
     
    #13 Larsenvega, Sep 24, 2012
  14. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    Larsenvega!!

    Brilliant suggestion! Love the USB port in the center console and will be my primary source of charging. Only small downside is the charge speed to full batt life is not as rapid but I can live with this.
     
    #14 Prius Five Guy, Sep 25, 2012
  15. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    Other downside is the Toyota USB's are weak and it will not charge iPhones in Mophie or other battery cases. In that case you do need to use the 12V outlet. Another issue is if use Bluetooth vs. USB for iPhone/Prius interface, the USB will override it and force to the USB.
     
    #15 ProximalSuns, Sep 25, 2012
  16. Larsenvega

    Larsenvega Junior Member

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    The USB interface provides cleaner audio and doesn't drain battery life, so I would consider that a pro rather than a con. I charge my phone at home nightly and rarely need to charge it throughout the day, but when I do, the Prius USB port provides a decent boost.
     
    #16 Larsenvega, Sep 25, 2012
  17. Prius Five Guy

    Prius Five Guy Member

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    cause the USB port continues to relay an error message that the device isn't supported...
     
    #17 Prius Five Guy, Jan 3, 2013
  18. Caydoc

    Caydoc Junior Member

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    ...don't mean to hijack this thread, but can anyone tell me if iPod, plugged in to USB port, will charge, or will I have to remove it once in a while to charge externally?
     
    #18 Caydoc, Jan 3, 2013
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