Armrest USB port: charge 2 devices at the same time?

dtcdtcdtc · 07-10-2014, 12:05 PM

Does the USB port in the armrest have enough power to charge an iPhone and an Android phone at the same time?

I've seen Y cables on ebay/amazon before. I was wondering if that would work. (Also, was wondering if anyone had seen a Y cable where it is longer on the split side then the single side.)

rlmesq · 07-12-2014, 10:50 AM

You might get a trickle charge, but the phones might not charge at all.

Standard USB output is 5 volts, .5 amps. The iPhone charger is 1 amp; the iPad charger is 2.1 amps. Most Android devices come with a charger that's at least 700 ma.

I use 2.1 amp chargers with my Motorola Droid Maxx.

If you use a Y cable (or USB hub) with the USB port in the console, you'll be feeding .25 amps to each phone, which probably isn't even enough to keep up with the battery drain when the screen is on.

If you want to see how it works, try plugging a cheap USB hub into a USB port on a PC (make sure it's only .5 amps; some have a port that puts out more power). I think you'll find the charge rate unacceptable.

oceanview · 07-12-2014, 01:03 PM

Power, like water, takes the way of lowest resistance.
So it's probably the fact, that your devices won't get the same charging power.
Could be that one device gets 90% of the power and the other 10%.

Just give it a try, otherwise you would have to measure with an AMP meter how much you get for every device.

07-10-2014, 12:05 PM	#1
dtcdtcdtc New Member 7 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 3-series Join Date: May 2014 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Armrest USB port: charge 2 devices at the same time? Does the USB port in the armrest have enough power to charge an iPhone and an Android phone at the same time? I've seen Y cables on ebay/amazon before. I was wondering if that would work. (Also, was wondering if anyone had seen a Y cable where it is longer on the split side then the single side.)
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07-12-2014, 10:50 AM	#2
rlmesq Lieutenant Colonel 1039 Rep 1,509 Posts Drives: 2018 440i M Sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Chico, CA iTrader: (0)	You might get a trickle charge, but the phones might not charge at all. Standard USB output is 5 volts, .5 amps. The iPhone charger is 1 amp; the iPad charger is 2.1 amps. Most Android devices come with a charger that's at least 700 ma. I use 2.1 amp chargers with my Motorola Droid Maxx. If you use a Y cable (or USB hub) with the USB port in the console, you'll be feeding .25 amps to each phone, which probably isn't even enough to keep up with the battery drain when the screen is on. If you want to see how it works, try plugging a cheap USB hub into a USB port on a PC (make sure it's only .5 amps; some have a port that puts out more power). I think you'll find the charge rate unacceptable.
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07-12-2014, 01:03 PM	#3
oceanview Captain 207 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 335i F31 RWD Autom. Join Date: May 2013 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Power, like water, takes the way of lowest resistance. So it's probably the fact, that your devices won't get the same charging power. Could be that one device gets 90% of the power and the other 10%. Just give it a try, otherwise you would have to measure with an AMP meter how much you get for every device.
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