Bob.Blockerlundt
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I am looking for a 12 V car adapter with two USB ports, for two Mobius cameras. I understand each Mobius requires a USB port with at least a 1000 mA rating. And I see several models available with one port rated at 1000 mA and another port rated at 2400 mA, which should be fine.
But I also see some reviews saying USB wiring convention is different between Apple and non-Apple devices, and mixing-and-matching devices to non-compatible ports results in these ports falling back to only 500 mA, at least for some devices.
In other words, an Apple compatible USB charger has wiring that will charge Apple products at the full amperage (1000 mA or 2400 mA), but "everything-else" products at the default USB amperage (500 mA). Similarly, an Android compatible USB charger has wiring that will charge "everything-else" products at full 1000 or 2400 mA, but Apple products at 500 mA.
How is the Mobius affected by a USB charger using the Apple protocol versus other protocols? I see some adapters labeled Apple compatible, others as Android compatible, and still others having one port for Apple and one port for Android.
In particular, I read several reviews from Amazon user "K. Crawford", who found differences in how various chargers deliver power based on the wiring protocol.
Kensington PowerBolt Duo Car Charger for iPhone 4/4S
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3S5ZMIXCR863Q
January 28, 2012
PowerGen 2.4Amps / 12W Dual USB Car charger Designed for Apple and Android Devices - White
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1BSQFGYMS2DCH
January 28, 2012
Ultra Compact High 2.1A Output Dual USB Car Charger - to Power Android, Apple iPad, 2, 3, 4; iPhone 5S, 5C; HTC, Droid, GPS, Smart Phones, Tablets and USB Powered Devices
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1FC3OEG4972IO
February 26, 2012
Bracketron Universal Dual USB Car Adapter (UGC-298-BL)
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3UTMUEPV9R91N
February 26, 2012
PowerGen 4.2Amps / 20W Dual USB Car charger Designed for Apple and Android Devices
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TFF3PCTAVC9
November 24, 2012
Anker® 24W Dual-Port Rapid USB Car Charger with PowerIQ™ Technology for iPhone 6 5S 5C 5, iPad Air, mini, Galaxy S5 S4, Note 4 3 2, Tab 4 3 Pro and More [White]
http://www.amazon.com/review/R209HPGL4CY2BC
April 11, 2013
Note, some of the Amazon listings got reused to list newer models with different specs. So, the older reviews still attached to the listings may no longer apply to the newer versions.
But I also see some reviews saying USB wiring convention is different between Apple and non-Apple devices, and mixing-and-matching devices to non-compatible ports results in these ports falling back to only 500 mA, at least for some devices.
In other words, an Apple compatible USB charger has wiring that will charge Apple products at the full amperage (1000 mA or 2400 mA), but "everything-else" products at the default USB amperage (500 mA). Similarly, an Android compatible USB charger has wiring that will charge "everything-else" products at full 1000 or 2400 mA, but Apple products at 500 mA.
How is the Mobius affected by a USB charger using the Apple protocol versus other protocols? I see some adapters labeled Apple compatible, others as Android compatible, and still others having one port for Apple and one port for Android.
In particular, I read several reviews from Amazon user "K. Crawford", who found differences in how various chargers deliver power based on the wiring protocol.
Kensington PowerBolt Duo Car Charger for iPhone 4/4S
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3S5ZMIXCR863Q
January 28, 2012
"Likely great for dedicated Apple device users that has all the power it claims (simultaneously 2.1 Amps on one port with 1 Amp on the other for a total of 3.1 Amps output combined, but under performs DRAMATICALLY for non-Apple devices due to protocol issues for USB chargers."
"Kensington chose to go the Apple route for the 2.1 Amp port."
"However, when I connect any of the 3 high-power devices I have (HP Touchpad (2 Amps), Motorola Triumph Android phone (0.85 Amps) and the LG Optimus Slider (0.7 Amps)), none of them drew all the current they could have, because they were expecting a shorted set of data-lines."
"The 1 Amp port on this device is a bit of a quandry however. It didn't have the signature on the data lines of either the Apple protocol or the shorted lines. It appeared to have them open... which was a surprise and I believe a mistake (although I can't be certain with Apple products). The results for my 3 devices however were identical to that of the 2.1 Amp port."
PowerGen 2.4Amps / 12W Dual USB Car charger Designed for Apple and Android Devices - White
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1BSQFGYMS2DCH
January 28, 2012
"The 2 Amp port appears to be using the Apple protocol for USB power, so that port will only provide 0.5 Amps to most other devices."
"Luckily for my purposes, the 1 Amp port on this device uses the data-line shorting method. As such, it was able to deliver all the power my Triumph and Optimus wanted."
Ultra Compact High 2.1A Output Dual USB Car Charger - to Power Android, Apple iPad, 2, 3, 4; iPhone 5S, 5C; HTC, Droid, GPS, Smart Phones, Tablets and USB Powered Devices
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1FC3OEG4972IO
February 26, 2012
"This device chose to go the Apple route for both ports."
Bracketron Universal Dual USB Car Adapter (UGC-298-BL)
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3UTMUEPV9R91N
February 26, 2012
"This device chose to go the Apple route for both ports."
"But because I had bought 4 of these and they all had the same problem (except the PowerGen, which only had it on one port), I decided it was time to get down and dirty and see if I could open any of them up and modify them by shorting the data lines."
"A solder blob on the middle two pins to short them together is all that is needed."
"When I tested it afterwards, it performed beautifully with my android devices"
"DJ, without modification, both the 2.1 Amp and 1 Amp ports charged as USB/500mA ports with all of my devices, which of course stinks.
After shorting the 2 & 3 pins on both the 2.1 Amp and 1 Amp port, both ports charged as AC ports, with the devices changing much more quickly, cumulatively up to 2.1 Amps for both ports combined."
PowerGen 4.2Amps / 20W Dual USB Car charger Designed for Apple and Android Devices
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TFF3PCTAVC9
November 24, 2012
"... a more visible and appropriate labeling... "A" for Apple products and "NA" for non-Apple products."
Anker® 24W Dual-Port Rapid USB Car Charger with PowerIQ™ Technology for iPhone 6 5S 5C 5, iPad Air, mini, Galaxy S5 S4, Note 4 3 2, Tab 4 3 Pro and More [White]
http://www.amazon.com/review/R209HPGL4CY2BC
April 11, 2013
"... allocates one port to Apple products and one to Android."
Note, some of the Amazon listings got reused to list newer models with different specs. So, the older reviews still attached to the listings may no longer apply to the newer versions.