USB charge port for iPhone/Smart Phones/Tablets

[Burgerman]

People have asked on this board, and by email, as well as currently on the "other site" about USB charge ports on powerchairs.

Well I ignored this until now, I hate phones... But I finally got an HTC sensation a few weeks back, and it eats batteries. So I fitted a USB charge port. Actually just a neat fancy lead that goes in the chairs charge port. Works great. Maybe someone should post this link over at the other place too since theres people talking about it again over there again.

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/usb-pow ... e-port.htm

Admitedly, some powerchair systems have a 12v out system, at silly money, but this is 6 UK pound, 9 dollars, and simple.

[JoeC]

Where did you get such a small adapter? My phone draws up to two amps, and back when I was working on this project I don't remember any options available that looked viable that were so small.

Seriously, you could find a contract manufacturer to build these for you and you could sell tens of thousands of them for a very reasonable margin.

[Burgerman]

The spec for USB 2 is 1000ma.

Small?

Ebay! Wher I get everything from. Yes I could get thousands made for a couple of pounds each...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Belkin-Micro- ... 2eb9fd6477


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A0329-BELKIN- ... 1c231570b7

Says not iPad, but it worked in the pub!

There are thousands available. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=u ... m270.l1313

[Burgerman]

Heres a few hundred different ones. As long as they say 24v as well as 12 all will work fine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=u ... m270.l1313

If it is just stripped down and contained in a bit of heat shrink in a cable, the biggest bit is the neutrix connector.And they do 90 degree plastic ones of those that are tiny...

As it is it tucks under the seat behind a bolt when not in use. I no longer charge my phone any other way. After all I am always with the chair!

Thing is that lately I have been getting about 10 requests a week on how to do it, why manufacturers dont add it, etc. But its so cheap and simple to do. I didnt realise how short a life these smart phones had until I got one recently. NOW I see the need!

Ayyway it should help loads of people as I can just point them to the link instead of repeating everything over and over... Its so simple that even if they cant solder any 14 year old kid can do it for them.

[Burgerman]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-CHARGER-U ... 4ab1fc1bf6

Better still. Includes a spare cable...

What phone takes 2000ma? It would still work on 1000ma but charge slower? 2000 (2 AMPS) is huge! Must have a 20 inch screen!

[JoeC]

It's just a cheap blackberry, nothing special. It takes ~500 mA from USB, but if you give it a 5 volt source through the wall transformer (I assume that it tells by presence or absence of voltage on certain pins), it draws 2,000 mA, and charges much faster.

I leave mine connected to a USB charger most of the day, but it's inconvenient that it takes significant time before the battery is full.

[Burgerman]

I think most can draw more if its available. But those phone batteries (as tested on another page here http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/HTC-Sen ... y-Test.htm ) charge at high rate initially, but it falls away pretty fast. So I dont think the final 100 percent point will be much faster. But it seems that way because you get a gree light at around 95 percent. If you chartge with your hyperion, you will see the same thing, but the "float" 4.20v continues afterwards for over an hour until it finally reads zero ma.

So you probably get a better charge leaving it connected a while after its "full"...

[Tigerfan]

H I'm thinking of adding this to my mobility scooters front console. It it ok, rather than putting the charger socket on, to wire into the ignition wiring from the key socket instead?

[Burgerman]

Yep. Add a 1 amp fuse.

[Tigerfan]

Brilliant. Thanks

[cohardway]

Looks like someone already makes a USB charger, link below

http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/xlr-usb-charger.html

[Fulliautomatix]

I make a better one!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121371915700?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

[garriew]

I decided to get a guy I know online to make me a few of these. One for me and a few for friends.

Am I missing anything?

1 Amp (1000mA) fuse
XLR connector
USB Charger
2 core cable
heat shrink tube

What's a good diameter for the heat shrink? Will 20 AWG guage cable be ok?

[ex-Gooserider]

I decided to get a guy I know online to make me a few of these. One for me and a few for friends.

Am I missing anything?

1 Amp (1000mA) fuse
XLR connector
USB Charger
2 core cable
heat shrink tube

What's a good diameter for the heat shrink? Will 20 AWG guage cable be ok?

AWG 20 will handle the current OK, but is a little light for physical strength - AWG 18 is better and the minimum for a UL listed AC extension or power cord. However as long as you don't abuse it, AWG 20 will work...

For shrink tube, the diameter depends on the diameter of what you want to cover with it. The general rule is that most shrink tube will shrink 50% - i.e. 1/4" will shrink to 1/8", but IMHO it is better to get a size that doesn't need that much shrinking, look for 20-30% shrink - i.e. 3/16" tube to cover a 1/8" diameter...

If you want the most effective seal, look for "Adhesive Lined" tube - this has a layer of hot-melt glue inside it, which melts when you shrink the tube, and fills all the voids, plus bonds to the insulation - just don't ever plan on taking the joint apart. IMHO it is the way to go for any applications that get a lot of weather exposure.

I have done a poor man's substitute by shaving strips off a hot-melt glue stick and sliding them inside the tube alongside the wires, and then shrinking.

Also there are different materials that are used, the good stuff is the FP grade that is a rubber based compound which stays flexible when shrunk. There is a cheap polyethelyne (I think) grade, that gets very stiff when shrunk and is not as good for most uses...

ex-Gooserider

[Smark67]

I know I'm probably being stupid here (although that's why I come to this excellent forum for solutions), but I get the XLR connection to the powerchair for the power, and I get the lighter socket car charger to change the power to 5V, but how do you attach the latter to the former? Cheers in advance…

[Burgerman]

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/usb-pow ... e-port.htm

[Smark67]

Thanks, if only I'd scrolled down when looking initially! However as usual I'm unable to do this kind of thing and don't really know anybody who could. If anyone in the UK is in a similar position I did find this place that sells them (http://www.portset.co.uk/assistive-tech ... b-charger/).

[Burgerman]

I should go into business.

£70 for £4 worth of parts...

[woodygb]

There are plenty of Chinese kits on the market.

E.G. ...Spec say's ....

Input voltage: 12V-24V ± 4.0V

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Sc ... 5b00d24971

[woodygb]

There are plenty of Chinese kits on the market.

E.G. ...Spec say's ....

Input voltage: 12V-24V ± 4.0V

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Sc ... 5b00d24971

[Smark67]

Okay BM, how much would you charge me to make me one?

[Burgerman]

£70

That's the point... There are already other suppliers.

[Smark67]

So the great disability rip-off continues! Where's a Martin O when you need one… ?

[Burgerman]

No seriously, I don't have time to get to my own projects.

But there are many such things available on the net already cheaper than that!

[ex-Gooserider]

There are plenty of Chinese kits on the market.

E.G. ...Spec say's ....

Input voltage: 12V-24V ± 4.0V

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Sc ... 5b00d24971

I would be a little bit cautious - they say 12-24V plus OR MINUS 4 volts - which means they are spec'ing the maximum input voltage as being somewhere between 20 and 28V - you get to place bets on just what voltage makes it blow up....

Looks like nice kit otherwise....

I would want to see just how they were doing the DC-DC conversion, and make sure that it was really up to it... Only way to know is to see what they are using for electronics (if possible) or get one, take it apart and look....

I'd almost be tempted just for the case and mounting stuff.

ex-Gooserider

[garriew]

Had a Internet friend make a few of these for me. He left the car adapter on though.

A few of them are really hard to plug in to the chair. Any suggestions on why this would happen or how to remedy it?

Anyway, here is a pic.

IMG_20140905_184455610.jpg (239.61 KiB) Viewed 36328 times

[woodygb]

A few of them are really hard to plug in to the chair. Any suggestions on why this would happen or how to remedy it?

Use a genuine Neutrik plug.

[Smark67]

Does this definitely step down to 5V and could he/she make any more with a Neutrik plug?

[Burgerman]

Yes, they are all just mini inverters. Quite efficient, about 1 amp and soldly 5v - USB2 spec. There are some 2 Amp ones around as well. But 1 amp 5v from 24v in, means they get hot even though they are pretty efficient.

[woodygb]

It's one of these ...or similar ...with a lead and Neutrik.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-USB-Car- ... 51bcad5a41