1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Wireless phone charger

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by TheChosenOne, Jan 26, 2016.

  1. eric1234

    eric1234 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2008
    390
    198
    0
    Location:
    Hamden, CT
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Admittedly off topic, but I can't help but think that it's time for your daughter to seek some anger management help ;-)
     
  2. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
    2,732
    1,703
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Haha, I neglected to say she just turned 5.
     
    bisco and Mendel Leisk like this.
  3. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2009
    2,173
    1,312
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    The wireless charging will not work on any Apple device. None of them support Qi-charging standard. Not all non-Apple phones support that either.
    You don't need to buy anything to get the phone charged. If you need to buy something is either a Qi-charging enabled phone, or an adapter *for the phone* to enable that. I am not aware of accessories for iPhones to enable them to be charged on a Qi-charger.
    Reading the manuals of both phones and the new Prius, at least once, would help answer a lot of questions....
     
  4. eric1234

    eric1234 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2008
    390
    198
    0
    Location:
    Hamden, CT
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Try Amazon - they have lots of good stuff...


    Easy, Tiger. You're too lazy to spend 2 minutes to check Amazon before making a statement, and then you're going to criticize someone for not reading the manual? In the US we have a saying that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...
     
    TheChosenOne likes this.
  5. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    1,014
    486
    0
    Location:
    Nh
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I changed the back on my S5 and it charges "wireless-ly" on it's charger, err, which can be moved to a car and powered up by usb, so, change the back cover;)
     
  6. Zojja

    Zojja Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2016
    275
    126
    1
    Location:
    DC area
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    So I didn't actually think iPhones did wireless charging. I have a 6 and 6s. From what I get, there is a wireless charger that will work with it but not the one that comes with the car?
     
  7. azure247

    azure247 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2015
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    You can get a 14$ wireless charger for your iPhone. It attaches to the lightning port and the thin charging pad can be adhered onto the back of the phone. The charging rate is slow though. I think Samsung Galaxy/Notes have technology to have fast wireless charging as advertised on the phone spec.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i put my phone in the upholder, and use the wireless charger to charge the car.
     
  9. Jope

    Jope Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2016
    14
    7
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Hi all,
    First time poster and Prius owner. I have a 2016 4 Touring and have been mostly impressed with it (mostly). I've got to clear up this wireless charging discussion because I can't take it anymore. - FYI, I can't post links as this is my first post, ugh.

    The wireless charger in the Prius is a Qi wireless charger (wikipedia it). Qi (pronounced chi) is the name of the hardware interface standard that will allow devices to charge via resonant inductive coupling. That's right, your phone needs to either have this hardware built in or you have to buy a case built with the hardware. For a list of Qi enabled phones and/or to find yours go here:
    search wirelesspowerconsortium

    Apple, in it's infinite wisdom, has thus far decided against wireless charging but there are rumors of it coming for 2017 phones. See the Qi Wireless website for rumors (search qiwireless).

    Now on to my question. After putting my Nexus 6 on the charging pad and pressing the power button next to it, I hear some mechanical movement beneath it, as if the charging unit is adjusting to the "sweet spot" on my phone. Though my phone is admittedly large, it disconnects after a minute or so of charging and I have to either fiddle with it or turn off/on the car's charging function again, only to have it charge for a minute and stop again. Does anyone know what's really going on (other than my phone is too large)?
     
  10. MrBillTulsa

    MrBillTulsa Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2011
    174
    35
    0
    Location:
    In the hills west of Tulsa
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Maybe the phone is already fully charged?

    :eek:
     
  11. Jope

    Jope Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2016
    14
    7
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Wish that was the case!
     
  12. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    880
    673
    0
    Location:
    San Juan Capistrano, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    What Qi compatible cases for the iPhone 6 and 6s do you recommend that work with the Prius' wireless charger?
     
  13. Jope

    Jope Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2016
    14
    7
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    As a Nexus 6 owner I couldn't tell you... but Google might.
     
  14. SpecialK

    SpecialK Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2016
    55
    30
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Wireless efficiency in general is not great, wired in almost all cases is more efficient than wireless (charging, wifi, etc) However wireless introduces convenience. This car has Bluetooth and wireless charging, it doesnt get much better than that. I've only had the car for a few days, but in my opinion, if you are listening to music, or opting to use google maps instead of your nav, the wireless charger more or less just keeps your phone from loosing a charge, maybe it adds a bit to it as well.

    Hopefully one day they will add an upgrade to install a fast charger. I am happy with the wireless charger, but I keep a 12v charger in the glove box just in case i need a real charge.
     
    bisco likes this.
  15. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    2,802
    1,170
    0
    Location:
    Auburdale FL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Still waiting on my shipment from China. maybe this week for an OPS test.
     
  16. Joan Kissler

    Joan Kissler New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    7
    3
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Maybe it's the brand of your phone? If you are using an iPhone 6 you might want to consider getting a Wireless Charging Case for the iPhone from Bezalel or a Wireless charging patch.
     
    RCO likes this.
  17. Bill3315

    Bill3315 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2011
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I have the same issue, but with the LG G3. This phone is not too large for the mat. I turn the system on and get the "green", then place the phone down. After a second or so of the mechanical sounds, I get the "amber" indicating that the phone is charging. But after about 30-40 seconds, the amber begins to blink 3 times continuously. That indicates that there is some kind of obstruction. I hope to find a few friends who have Qi compatible phones to try out. If they all do the same thing, I'll head in to service. If not...I guess the cable will have to do.
     
  18. PaulTracy

    PaulTracy New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Philadelphia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I have a Nexus 6 and I think that the problem with intermittent charging has to do with the fact that the back of the phone is curved and rocks when the car is in motion causing it to lose connection.
     
  19. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,184
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I fixed it for my Nexus 6 by sticking six (3 each side) small transparent neoprene (?) dots of the black area of the Qi tray no rocking or slipping now. Perfect!
     
  20. Datan0de

    Datan0de New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2017
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hey all, I'm having a very similar issue. I just got my first Qi-compatible phone last weekend (Galaxy S8), and for the first couple of days it charged beautifully on my Prius' charging pad, giving me about 1% charge per minute.

    Suddenly yesterday it stopped working properly. Like others, it connects and the Qi light turns green for a few seconds, then stops charging and switches to a flashing amber light. I haven't changed anything that I'm doing, and the phone still charges just fine on the Qi charger at my desk.

    I'm wondering if this is possibly a defect? I'm brand new to this forum. Is anyone from Toyota here and able to speak definitively about this? Thanks!