255W power cable
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16 years
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I have semi-permanent mounted my 255W in my primary vehichle, but left it so I easily remove it to use in my secondary vehichle, only I don't want to have to move the power cord adapter as it is threaded behind the dash.
I have a charger for my Motorola Razr phone, which powered my old Garmin unit, a C340, and it seems to work OK to power my 255W, with one twist. When I plug it in, the 255W goes into data mode as if it was plugged into my PC as an external drive. After about 30 seconds the maps load and I can use it normally to navigate and calculate routes.
I just wonder if this could cause problems down the road since it does still seem to work just fine using the phone charger. I guess I am a little concerned about any long term damage or effects to the 255W.
Buying another Garmin power cable is no big deal, but just seems unnecessary if the other cable works OK.
Has anybody else seen a different power cable cause this and is it really a concern?
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This is an oft discussed topic - but you seem to have introduced a new twist
Normally, the unit stays in data-mode, unless you intervene in a variety of ways. In your case, it sounds like Garmin might have made a change to the behaviour, in that it gives up on 'data mode', if it fails to negotiate a connection with any intelligent life at the other end of the wire!
When it does load 'normally', is it actually still charging? I suppose there's a possibility that it's giving up on the USB connection completely.
(Garmin chargers aren't intelligent, but they do have a resistor between pins 4+5, to identify themselves to the unit.)
------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ---------------------- http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy »
i bought a universal adapter
i bought a universal adapter with about 5 different options for hook up for various gps and phone devices,when i hooked it up to my 255w it did the same thing,but when i put the 90 degree adapter on it it works just like the garmin plug.i think it has extra pins or something for charging other devices thats why it does that ,as far as hurting it ,i wouldnt think so as we hook them up to the computer quite frequently
Yes it does still charge
Yes, it does still go into charging mode once the maps load, and if you turn it off. So I assume what you mentioned above is correct and it just gives up on the USB connection and operates normally.
well...
Yes, it does still go into charging mode once the maps load, and if you turn it off. So I assume what you mentioned above is correct and it just gives up on the USB connection and operates normally.
What I meant by 'giving up on the USB', was not using it at all, including for Power!
Apparently, you're only allowed to draw 100mA (1 unit load), until you've negotiated your power arrangements with the 'other end'. So I wonder if it's in some sort of trickle-charge state?.
In the absence of these instructions (or the Garmin resistor), how can it tell what current it is allowed to draw?
It might be possible to shed some light on what it's actually doing, by using the diagnostics mode. However, many of the other units modify their behaviour when connected to USB in diagnostics mode and this one might be the same.
Wouldn't it be great, if we could just ask Garmin
"Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I would be more than happy to help you with this today!
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blah, blah, blah
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Any further information is proprietary."
(Essence of last email I received from Garmin
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------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ---------------------- http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy »
Proprietary
I would think that they would more likely reply that using other than the approved power adapter would void the warranty.