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Grazer
Joined: 16 Dec 2011 Posts: 183 City/Region: Yukon
State or Province: YT
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Horse
Photos: Grazer
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:26 am Post subject: USB Charger |
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I am looking at installing a Blue Sea Dual USB charging socket.
I was thinking of mounting near existing cigar lighter socket and piggy back off the existing power supply. Or should I find a dedicated terminal with it's own fuse. Any suggestions as to where others may have installed it and powered a USB charger?
Thanks,
Grazer |
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Aurelia
Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 2331 City/Region: Gig Harbor
State or Province: WA
Photos: Aurelia
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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I would consider just putting in standard 12v sockets then using something like this to plug in USB cables. Then you have both choices.
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/BasAcc-Black-Universal-Dual-USB-Mini-Car-Charger-Adapter/8261918/product.html?refccid=NXAF5ZUMOBNIXASCAXGF6WZPUY&searchidx=38
As far as placement, I put one in on the port side, upper dash and there was already one on the Stbd side at the helm. I added another inside the Stbd stern hatch for a quick 12v connection there and may put another on the ceiling corner in berth in the future. We carry a couple of smart phones and one tablet plus a few other 12v powered or at least rechargeable boating accessories such as a small fan and one light. Our Torqeedo battery will also charge from 12v which was the primary reason for the stern connection. _________________ Greg, Cindie & Aven
Gig Harbor
Aurelia - 25 Cruiser sold 2012
Ari - 19 Cruiser sold 2023
currently exploring with "Lia", 17 ft Bullfrog Supersport Pilothouse |
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Will-C
Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 2476 City/Region: Temple
State or Province: PA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: Will-C
Photos: Will-C
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:51 pm Post subject: USB Charger |
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We use a 400w inverter plugged into a 12dc cigarette lighter type socket and plug in six way power strip into the inverter. You can use it for a variety of things like camera ,phone chargers, laptop etc. We have the Ipad type charger that uses a wall wart (120 volt plug in type transformer) and the USB cable plugs right into that. As previously mentioned an extra 12VDC socket/s comes in handy for a lot of things. We ran a dedicated circuit to the additional one we added. Fuse size dictated by wire size and what the socket is rated.
D.D. _________________ Chevrolet The Heart Beat Of America |
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Sunbeam
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 3990 City/Region: Out 'n' About
State or Province: Other
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Sunbeam
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Aurelia wrote: | I would consider just putting in standard 12v sockets then ... plug in USB cables. Then you have both choices. |
I considered the Blue Sea USB sockets, but then decided the same as you -- that I would put in more cigar lighter sockets, which could serve multiple purposes, due to the availability of USB inserts for them. That's not to say the USB sockets aren't good of course. |
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Ray
Joined: 13 Dec 2011 Posts: 271 City/Region: Pamlico River
State or Province: NC
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Seaweed
Photos: Seaweed
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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I have put in three of these around the boat (new holes).
Beware that they draw about 20-30mA continuously, even when nothing is plugged in.
Because of that, I have build a really, overly geeky, overly complicated, push button timer/relay that feeds all of mine. I push a button and they get 12V for about 3hrs and turn off altogether with zero standby current.
I'll post something about it soon if anyone is interested.
Although quite geeky, etc. It has been something (including the outlets) that I have really come to appreciate. |
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 8650 City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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Just as an aside question:
Does the unfiltered nature of the 12 DC current from the battery/alternator when the engine(s) are running, make any difference to the electronic devices one would be likely to plug in to the USB outlet?
Eg.: voltage that may approach 15 or more volts, and a rippling voltage curve?
Would this be filtered out by most device's internal power supplies?
Joe. _________________ Sea Wolf, C-Brat #31
Lake Shasta, California
"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous |
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Sunbeam
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 3990 City/Region: Out 'n' About
State or Province: Other
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Sunbeam
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Ray wrote: | I have put in three of these around the boat (new holes).
Beware that they draw about 20-30mA continuously, even when nothing is plugged in. |
Do you know if this is just the Blue Sea USB ports (as opposed to the Blue Sea regular old "cigar lighter" ports)? What I'm really wondering is if my Blue Sea cigar lighter ports are drawing current continuously, and figured you might have checked in your research/project.
Thanks,
Sunbeam |
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journey on
Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 3595 City/Region: Valley Centre
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: journey on
Photos: Journey On
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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As you know, that device uses 12 VDC to provide the 5 VDC to power USB devices. It's maximum output, per blue sea is 2.1 A, or a maximum of 11 watts. Say 20 watts input. Just tie it into the power lead for the cig lighter. That has a maximum of 120 watts, so the USB charger is only 1/6 of the cig lighter. By the way, I assume the lighter is fused.
The location is up to you. Where do you put the cell phone and tablet when you're using them? Put the charger near there so the cords will reach and don't get in the way.
Boris |
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rogerbum
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 Posts: 5922 City/Region: Kenmore
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Meant to be
Photos: SeaDNA
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Sea Wolf wrote: | Just as an aside question:
Does the unfiltered nature of the 12 DC current from the battery/alternator when the engine(s) are running, make any difference to the electronic devices one would be likely to plug in to the USB outlet?
Eg.: voltage that may approach 15 or more volts, and a rippling voltage curve?
Would this be filtered out by most device's internal power supplies?
Joe. |
Joe,
Most of these devices use switching power supplies to generate the 5V USB outlet. Switching power supplies are very tolerant to voltage variation. _________________ Roger on Meant to be |
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Foggy
Joined: 01 Aug 2013 Posts: 1521 City/Region: Traverse City; Northern Lake Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2014
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Boatless in Boating Paradise
Photos: W B Nod
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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A good recap on this is found here:
https://activecaptain.com/articles/mobilePhones/powerAccessories.php
Today I was in a Radio Shack and saw multiple USB adaptors, all around $20:
AC to USB, DC to USB, even USB docks 1 to 3 split. There are also one-to-two
12v (DC) cigar lighter splits.
For charging cell phones, iPods, iPads and the like, it seems to me the easiest
and most versatile is to hard mount one or two 12v (DC) cigar outlets. From
one of these, you can get 1 - 3, maybe more, USB outlets to do the required
job(s). And, it still leaves an outlet to plug in a handheld spotlight or, for you
diehards, your favorite stogie.
Aye. _________________ "I don't want any cake" - said no one ever.
If someone tells you they don't eat cake, unfriend them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20808 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Blue Seas give the parasitic (when not in use) drain of 15 milli amps. But that is enough that I would not leave them on--thus if you put one, in, then put it on a separate circuit--fused at 5 amps.
We have used the cig plug adaptor for at least 6 years to charge many USB devices on the boat, RV and car/truck--no issue. These are cheap, some have dual ports--and why not use these rather than putting in a dedicated port. We also have multiple cig type plugs, one under the gunnel for the inflator we use for the dinghy, and any device in the cockpit, one under the dinette, an extra one on the console, and one over each bunk, for extra fans, or other appliances…
It uses a lot more power to use an inverter, wall wart etc to charge USB devices than the direct DC to DC converters. (Max output is 2.1 amps @ 12 volts). _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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ssobol
Joined: 27 Oct 2012 Posts: 3372 City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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Be aware that different devices have different requirements for charging. Generally speaking, a tablet will need 2 amps, a smartphone 1 amp, a dumb phone or an MP3 player about .7A. Be sure to get a USB unit that will supply outputs with sufficient current.
In some cases a lower amperage than recommended will just mean longer charge times. However, some devices will not charge at all if the current is insufficient.
I always buy converters that have at least 2A outputs. These will work with all devices (so far). |
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Grazer
Joined: 16 Dec 2011 Posts: 183 City/Region: Yukon
State or Province: YT
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Horse
Photos: Grazer
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:40 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all your responses. As for the parasitic draw of 15mA, this has me somewhat concerned. I sure am interested in the timer switch. That sounds like a smart move, as invariably things get left on or plugged in. |
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DuckDogTitus
Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Posts: 1034 City/Region: Gig Harbor
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1988
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Miner
Photos: Hemingway
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:28 am Post subject: |
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on my boat, we would probably benefit from having the usb charger in the berth where my son will inevitably be playing with his kindle. _________________ Dustin |
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