MTFCA Forum

I can recall several articles on this subject with lots of mixed results. On the recent Golden Gate tour my phone ran out of poop and was stuck. So I need a solution.
My first effort was a cheap plug in lighter to USB socket and it did not function. No charge showed on the phone display and it took less than 0.01amp.
Next I tried a more expensive converter and it functions correctly.
Here is the set up: After running for an hour or so to see if anything got too hot, the phone had charged from 54% to 80% Now I have to install the parts in the Coupe. I found a screw under the dash board to mount a phone holder and tomorrow I go searching for a cigarette lighter outlet that will be out of the way of my knees.

As to why one functioned and the other failed I could hypoithise that the cheap one had a seven volt zener diode to drop the normal 12v to 5v required by the USB specification. Naturally this will not function on only a six volt input. Again I suspect the more expensive device has a DC-DC high frequency inverter and copes with the 6v input with no problems.

I have similar experiences. I also experimented with several and found one where it worked. If I use the SatNav function it does not charge but keeps it charged so that's OK.

If it were just for me, I'd connect a USB power outlet directly to the 6V system. Most phones have good power regulators that will adjust and filter the power to charge the phone.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1532551500

Maybe I didn’t make it clear enough but one cheap converter did not function and did not charge the iPhone. I made a guess as to why.

Say ever consider a solar panel mobile phone charger?

I wasn't too clear either. Using a 12V to 5V converter will probably not work on a 6V system. It depends on the specs of the components.
Just hooking a USB phone charger cord to 6V will probably work because most power regulators in the phone will have no trouble converting 6V to 5V, which the phone requires.

Paul Shinn did this on his YouTube channel to one of his Model As.

He bought a certain plug in charge receptacle and wired it directly to his battery.

The plug receptacle looks like a cigarette lighter or power source in a modern car

When the subject of phone chargers comes up periodically, I always recommend picking up a USB portable power bank battery pack. They fit in your pocket and for around $20-25 you can pick up a decent one. You can take it anywhere and it will eliminate unreliable power converters and running wires in your T. To me it doesn’t get much easier than that.

I use a 6 to 240V inverter to power my iPad through its charger. No need for a 12V battery in my car.

Interesting

TonyB wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 08, 2021 9:04 pm

... On the recent Golden Gate tour my phone ran out of poop and was stuck.

There's your problem, Tony. You're using the wrong power source....

Who would ever want to put a phone in there car? Phones are for talking. Cars are for driving.

The next thing you know people will be talk about using their phone to take photos. But then what would cameras be for?

Anyway if things don’t go well with the power supply it may work for smoke signals.

Matt in California wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 11, 2021 3:50 pm

Who would ever want to put a phone in there car? Phones are for talking. Cars are for driving.
The next thing you know people will be talk about using their phone to take photos. But then what would cameras be for?
Anyway if things don’t go well with the power supply it may work for smoke signals.

Phones can assist in driving. Some can be used for driving too Helps on the job They can drive you crazy too

Next, they'll want to install a OBD port.