USB Port in Car

one. Some USB cable only pin for sync only. Try another cable to see if it works.

When I tried using my Nuvi on a vehicle USB port, it would go into computer mode thinking it was waiting for an update. After a minute or two, it would then start to function normally for navigation. Garmin uses a resistor on their car power USB adapter to tell the Nuvi not to go into computer mode when in a vehicle.

Using the USB port on my 2014 Equinox and a Nuvi 3597, the GPS goes into USB mode, the MyLink system starts looking for music on the Nuvi, and the Nuvi stays in USB mode forever.

Those USB ports are to play music from. Meant to plug in a stick full of MP3s. Doubt if they will do anything else.

Of course they will. Mine charges my tablet and my phone quite well. Pretty much any USB port must provide power, even a flash drive needs power. It would be able to charge a GPS as well. The bigger issue is powering a GPS while it is working. That depends on how much power is needed and how the connection needs to be wired for the GPS. I expect most ports will provide enough power. Wiring is GPS dependent, but a good technician should be able to rig a working cable. In some cases there are tricks that you can do with a Garmin GPS to make it go into operate mode rather than CPU connection mode even without modifying a cable.

Don't think those tricks have worked for some years now. Used to work great up to about the 7xx models.

Older USB, up to at least version 2.0 has to deliver at least 500mA (or 0.5A) of power to connected device. It's minimum requirement, as in practice it may be more, often 1A or so.

What it means in practice? If you will connect device to this USB it will charge. If, for example, wall charger to device is rated 1A and USB port delivers 0.5A it will double charging time, but device will be charged. It will be different if you will connect, let say, DVD player. If USB port delivers 0.5A and said player needs 1A to work it will not power on.

So in short: you can use any USB port to charge devices, but not every USB port will be enough to run devices like DVD or CD players. For those check rating, and if it is more than 0.5A it may not work correctly powered from USB port.

If you have USB port in car just check how many amperes it may deliver. If it will be even or more than device requirement, said device will work with this port correctly. If less, it may charge device, but it will not power on to work with this port.

What manufacturer's equipment? They may not all be the same. For example, Hyundai may while Honda may not.

The trick on older models is to turn the GPSr on before plugging it in. Once it is in navigation mode, it will stay in that mode after being plugged in. At least that is the way my nuvi 265WT works.

The trick on older models is to turn the GPSr on before plugging it in. Once it is in navigation mode, it will stay in that mode after being plugged in. At least that is the way my nuvi 265WT works.

The Garmin will recognize the data from the cars USB (like a PC) and go into PC mode. Per the previous post, you can turn on before plugging in or get a special USB cable that has the data pin out not connected.

Do you have a URL or a part number for that special USB cable? I need some.

Slightly off topic but this has always helped me in keeping my battery charged while doing offline testing.

I use a USB cable to attach my GPS devices to my computer.

When I plug my 765 into my computer, it does not make any difference whether it is on or off - it goes into data mode.

When I safely disconnect the 765, the USB continues to deliver power to the unit.

If I unplug the unit and immediately plug it back in, the 765 goes into navigation mode so I can do testing, etc., while the battery is being charged.

If I wait more than a few seconds before replugging the USB cable, the 765 goes back into data mode.

When the unit is getting power from my vehicle and I turn off the vehicle, such that there is no longer any power to the 765 via the USB cord, the 765 tells me that it has lost power and asks me if I want the unit to continue on battery power or turn itself off. If I do not respond within 30 seconds, it will turn itself off.

You are correct, grzesja. USB version 2.0 and below can only deliver a maximum of 500 ma at 5 volts or 2.5 watts. Try to draw more than that and the port goes into overload and shuts down. They are not current limited by reducing the voltage like a power supply. They are more like a fuse, they stop delivering any current at all.

This means that if your device needs more than 1/2 amp of current to charge the battery, it won't charge at a reduced rate, it won't charge at all. It is possible that your device might be able to reduce it's current requirement to match the amount supplied by the USB but I wouldn't bet on it.

You could always try disabling the data pins. I've never done it myself, so I don't know where you'd begin and I also don't know if you'd run the risk of frying your GPS and/or car's electrical system, so proceed at you own risk.