Cigarette lighter toasting phone charger?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bryanw1968 · 12-22-2009, 12:47 PM

Previously I had a sprint nextel phone and used the car charger all the time with no problems. Now I have a samsung sprint phone and I've toasted three car chargers after about a days worth of use. The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is possibly my MSD interference? Any ideas?
Thanks.

mikajo39 · 12-22-2009, 01:53 PM

Hmm well first I'd check the voltage coming off the cig lighter, should be around 14.4v or so if it's like 2 volts over, you probably would toast it. Some chargers are also made more heavy duty than others, most of the charger designers assume everyone drives today's cars with excellent voltage regulation and all that jazz. Bad voltage regulator possibly? If you shut off your lights or a high drain appliance it could cause a voltage spike which could toast a charger too.

68gmsee · 12-22-2009, 04:12 PM

Yeah, the truck may be overcharging. My voltage is just over 13 vdc measured at the battery while running. Some cheaper chargers are not designed to take much over 12.5 to 13.5 volts while others have overvoltage protection.

bryanw1968 · 12-22-2009, 06:07 PM

I have a new AC Delco alternator(external regulator) and I'm usually dead on 14.1 with no load. I haven't checked the voltage at the lighter but it has to be the same however I will verify. Yah my last phone was a nextel built to military spec so I assume the charger was beefed up also. I guess I could wire in a voltage regulator for the cigarette lighter.

12-22-2009, 12:47 PM	#1
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Cigarette lighter toasting phone charger?? Previously I had a sprint nextel phone and used the car charger all the time with no problems. Now I have a samsung sprint phone and I've toasted three car chargers after about a days worth of use. The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is possibly my MSD interference? Any ideas? Thanks.

12-22-2009, 01:53 PM	#2
mikajo39 Gearhead and audio junkie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: nunyah Posts: 452	Re: Cigarette lighter toasting phone charger?? Hmm well first I'd check the voltage coming off the cig lighter, should be around 14.4v or so if it's like 2 volts over, you probably would toast it. Some chargers are also made more heavy duty than others, most of the charger designers assume everyone drives today's cars with excellent voltage regulation and all that jazz. Bad voltage regulator possibly? If you shut off your lights or a high drain appliance it could cause a voltage spike which could toast a charger too.

12-22-2009, 04:12 PM	#3
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Cigarette lighter toasting phone charger?? Yeah, the truck may be overcharging. My voltage is just over 13 vdc measured at the battery while running. Some cheaper chargers are not designed to take much over 12.5 to 13.5 volts while others have overvoltage protection.

12-22-2009, 06:07 PM	#4
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Re: Cigarette lighter toasting phone charger?? I have a new AC Delco alternator(external regulator) and I'm usually dead on 14.1 with no load. I haven't checked the voltage at the lighter but it has to be the same however I will verify. Yah my last phone was a nextel built to military spec so I assume the charger was beefed up also. I guess I could wire in a voltage regulator for the cigarette lighter.



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