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2012 Nexus 7 Discussion Forums (1st Generation) => Nexus 7 Help => Topic started by: ecd1211 on August 15, 2012, 08:45:08 AM

Title: Car charger for Nexus 7?
Post by: ecd1211 on August 15, 2012, 08:45:08 AM
I bought my Nexus 7 16Gb to use in the car, but I have not yet found a car charger that works with it. I had a couple of old ones that didn't work, and then ordered a Mediabridge USB charger from Amazon that was advertised as working with iPads, so I took a chance on it working with the Nexus 7. No dice -- the N7 doesn't even register that a charger is connected, even using the OEM cable.

Has anyone found a car charger that works?
Title: Re: Car charger for Nexus 7?
Post by: birdastrompgman on August 15, 2012, 10:03:40 AM
No, but I bought a car charger from Amazon, and it doesn't charge my N7.  The LED on the charger lights up, but my N7's battery widget shows the battery discharging when the N7 is plugged in using the OEM cable.
Title: Re: Car charger for Nexus 7?
Post by: silvercue on August 17, 2012, 03:14:37 PM
I use the USB lead that came with it, plug that into the car USB and it will draw current when in use, so not draining battery, though not sure it charges it up more.
Title: Re: Car charger for Nexus 7?
Post by: radiocycle on August 17, 2012, 03:16:02 PM
I use the USB lead that came with it, plug that into the car USB and it will draw current when in use, so not draining battery, though not sure it charges it up more.

What's your ride with a USB port, silvercue??
Title: Re: Car charger for Nexus 7?
Post by: tsruggles on August 17, 2012, 08:19:15 PM
http://www.rocketfishproducts.com/products/mobile-phones-gps/RF-PMC55.html

I believe that this is the one that I have. The specs don't show its amperage output but it appears to be one in the same. The premium charger claims to charge phones faster. It does this by increasing its amperage output.

Best Buy carries this charger. You need to ensure that it has an output of 2 amps. This is the amperage necessary to charge the tablet properly. I bought mine a year or so ago for my phone. It claimed that it would charge phones faster than a 'normal' car charger.

Standard phone chargers have an output of .5 amps and will not trigger the N7 to indicate that it's charging. It may actually trickle charge the tablet if it is powered off. I haven't tested this on my N7 but it did work on another tablet of mine.

Anyways, any car charger that puts out 2 amps will work. Don't go into a store asking for a N7 car charger because you will most likely leave with nothing, or, the wrong one. They are out there, you just need to verify the output.

My charger also has a USB port so that I can charge another device at the same time. I plug my phone into that port via an extra cable. This allows me to tether my N7 to my phone and keep them both juiced up. I use Maps on the N7 and it looks so much better on he big screen!

Title: Re: Car charger for Nexus 7?
Post by: tsruggles on August 17, 2012, 11:41:24 PM
Does this charger use a separate usb cable or is the charging cord built in? Also, does it happen to be a 5.1 volt charger?