Charging question Nuvi 260W

Yes.

Thanks for the quick reply Charlie.

Just to be perfectly clear.....yes, if the computer is turned ON !

Funny!!

But I have actually had people ask that question.

Well..most of the time..

Some machines(laptops) offer a BIOS setting that allows power to the USB ports when off.
Particularly the newer Lenovo laptops.

I personally own several machines and an IBM R52 Thinkpad (Pre lenovo take over). It does not have this BIOS option, but sometimes I wish it did.

So check your BIOS. Your machine may have this option.

OK, here's the thing:

There will ALWAYS be power to the USB connectors when the computer (regardless of type) is booted up and running.

On most systems, there will NOT be power to the connectors when it is shut OFF.

So the most correct answer is still " Yes, if the host computer is running."

While your "clarification" is correct, I'm betting it is not signigicant to 1 in a million users.....if that many.

EGADS!!! Excuse the F#CK outta me!

Note my quote.. EVEN WHEN OFF for newer Lenovo laptops. I would suspect this may be a feature of other newer laptops as well..even some desktops.
Then I state to check your BIOS.

And I'm betting that for those with newer machines,this is a viable option to check for.

If you wanna get 'technical' lets do so. (20+ years in the TECHNICAL FIELD(Programing, NOS, networking, Administration etc..etc..etc) qualifies me)
Sheesh!

Easy guys. No need for profanity. It's unwelcome here.

We are all just sharing information here.

I'm sorry. Really.

The point WAS and IS that my comment about needing to have the computer ON was aimed at someone in the "total novice" category......which is the kind of person who would likely ask that question in the first place.

I should have known from your first response that you wouldn't understand that. The whole point was to keep it simple and NOT get technical.

Except when there isn't.

Windows XP, and I assume Vista, has a configuration to power down unused USB ports. I believe the default for this setting is to enable this power saving feature, even on non-laptop models.

For Garmin units, this isn't an issue since they load up as Mass Storage devices so connect to the USB port (i.e. the port is now in use) and the power remains on.

Other devices may not and the USB ports may power off. An example are iPods when NOT set up for disk mode or manual managing. If that is the case, when you connect the iPod, if it isn't normally used on that computer's iTunes library, when you tell it not to sync to that library, it will disconnect itself and then the power on the USB port will shut off if that feature is enabled. So you find your iPod plugged in and NOT charging due to no power.

I suspect, but haven't checked, that if you eject a mounted Garmin that if that feature in XP is enabled, that the power will power off even though the GPS is connected.

Regards,
PT

Well, shut my mouth!
Where, pray tell, is that config. option located and/or how is it accessed ??
Maybe you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

In Windows XP

1. right click on My Computer

2. select Properties

3. select Hardware, then Device Manager

4. click on the + sign next to Universal Serial Bus controller

5. double click on USB Root Hub. select Power Management

6. uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"

Tomorrow's lesson will be on shaking hands and playing dead

My wife says I've got the second one down pretty good already!

Perhaps tomorrow's lesson should be shaking hands and playing nice.

I think you will find that charging with the USB connections, it will take longer than using the A/C house charger, to get a complete charge.

That would depend on the GPS unit itself and the charging current allowed by the internal charging circuitry.

If the unit limits the charging current to a current equal to or less than both charging methods (in this case, 500mA or less) then neither method will charge faster. If the GPS allows for higher charging currents than 500mA, then the wall charger would likely charge faster if it was rated to supply the higher current.

However, I suspect any GPS unit designed to charge off a computer's USB port is probably set at a half amp or less charging current in order to avoid overloading (and possibly shutting down) a USB port from an overload. If that is the case, then like I said above, neither method will result in faster charging as they will both charge at the same rate.

Cheers,
PT