2016 Prius Four I have been using this Anker car adapter in the center console 12V to charge my iPhone 6s and 5s for several weeks. Yesterday the outlet stopped working, the rear outlet still works. The Toyota dealer is looking at it but he said that I shouldn't plug in 2 phones at the same time. The adapter draws just 4.8A and the outlet is rated at 15A so I don't see what the issue is. Moreover he said that the charging cable I use determines the amount of charge drawn not the adapter. I am scratching my head. I understand that a poor cable may not be able to carry the current but isn't the *maximum* current drawn from the outlet determined by the adapter plugged into it? Thoughts? Thanks
The phone determines the maximum current drawn unless the USB port advertises a lower current. An iPhone 5s will use a maximum of about 1A, the 6s about 1.6A. So the total consumption would be about 2.6A @5V for 13W total. Taking into account the inefficiency of the 12 to 5V conversion this would be about 15W at 12V or 1.25A from the outlet. That should be no problem for the outlet. Are you sure the adapter is plugged in fully, I've had a couple of adapters that make unreliable contact, the outlet was not really designed as a 12V outlet! Have you checked the fuse for the outlet, has it blown or fatigued? kevin
Yes the 15A fuse had popped, replaced it, works fine now. Still not sure what caused the fuse to pop since the adapter wouldn't draw more than the outlet could supply. It seems to be plugged in firmly. Any ideas?
I recently had a bad adaptor with an internal short or something that would blow the fuse immediately. Tossed it in the trash. Overnight Prius Addict 2009 Prius 4 Black 2012 Prius 4 Blizzard Pearl 2013 Prius 4 Black
Hmm but in my case I have been using the same adapter for many weeks without any issue. After the fuse was replaced it is working fine again. I guess there may have been some stray metal or something in the receptacle that caused a short, will clean it out. Thanks
Look at the cable on the chargers for damage - crimping, shorts. If it happens again, I'd try a different adaptor, I've had quite a few go bad, they're usually very cheaply made.
True but Anker products in my experience are very well made. And I am using MFi certified Lightning cables with no visible damage. Thanks for the discussion and advice.
Agreed. Anker makes good products but no production line is perfect. 1 out of the 3 Anker lightning cables I bought no longer works. It's a little over a year old. There's no visible tears or damage either. What you describe sounds like a faulty 12v USB adapter. If the fuse trips again, you'll know.
Sigh...I hope Apple hurries up already and adds Qi-compatible wireless charging so I can just place the darn thing on the gorgeous charging pad the Prius has and toss all these cables and adapters.
I use splitting cable and two Anker chargers and 4 hungry device at same time.....no issues......read advice..posted by other members Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Throw your Applecore away! Get yourself a good android phone. 1) they're usually cheaper to buy and 2) the system is slicker. They often offer expandable memory and occasionally room for a second SIM card. Unless you go for Galaxy note 7, you should be fine with a Sammy (they have Qi charging inbuilt) and so does my Nexus.
I don't use the 12V outlet at all. I was going to get a vacum that was powered by the 12V until I read a post somewhere where they said it messed up the electrical system of the car. I don't even want to risk that. So I just purchased a portable battery pack. And I will carry that with me on road trips and camping and power outages. It charges my iPhone 6 Plus faster than the apple wall charger. I did a video review of it on youtube but I don't think it is appropriate to put a link here since it isn't a Prius review. But my channel there is Wonderful Wandering Topics if you want to see it.
I am hoping I can still use my Black and Decker vacuum cleaner when I get my car. I use it currently in my Zoe without problem, so fingers crossed
I wouldn't be concerned as long as it is within the 10A rating - which my old car vacuum would have been. Just check the rating first.
No good for the supplementary 12v 150w electric heater we have, that SWMBO used to use in her old Mini Metro some years back to defrost the windscreen. I do miss the quickclear electric heated windscreen on the Mondeo.
I've always been jealous of that heated windscreen, even when they were reported as dangerous in fog because your eyes could focus on the heater elements in reduced visibility. Nowadays they're much finer and not easily seen.
