Garmin Nuvi 3597 Power Cords, Mount, Etc.

cable to the mount on a 3597 will provide power only. In fact, if you connect the cable between your computer and the mount, the 3597 will power up just as if it were in the vehicle. Removing the unit from the mount and connecting the same cable directly into the 3597 will then send it into the data mode.

This could be the post you are looking for: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/43416

Yes you can power your 3597 using the magnetic mount with an aftermarket mini USB cable. Make sure the cable you use has a voltage regulator built in or you could damage the GPS. A cable, such as this: http://www.thegpsstore.com/Gilsson-GUSB5VB-Hardwire-power-co... should be used if you plan to hard wire to a vehicle. You will lose only the traffic feature.

If your vehicle has an in dash regulated USB power port, you can connect your 3597 using a standard Mini USB cable. Again, you will lose only the traffic feature.

All the newer Garmin units I have seen with separate power and data ports use mini USB connectors for both. The exception is the Dezl760 and RV760 models which use mini USB for power and micro USB for data. I don’t see Garmin discontinuing use of the mini at this point.

Thank you so much for the replies.

As you can see from the link provided by bdhsfz6, the 3597 with current firmware is very picky about the charger. I have tested many chargers on my 3597 ... some work, some don't. I don't use the supplied traffic cable because it is too bulky and I don't get traffic coverage in most places I travel.

I am currently using this very inexpensive adapter with a plain 6' mini USB cable. It works fine on the 1.1A port, but gives an error on the 2.1A port. The ports are not marked, so I just had to try both to identify the one that works.

I just received my Garmin Nuvi 3597 a few days ago and finally used it yesterday. When I tried to use it with an after market cord, I got the message about not charging. Is it simply an issue of current that causes this issue? The port that I was trying was likely about 2.1 amps. I will try a different adapter soon and I think one port is only about 1 amp.

I wonder what the "line in the sand" is for current? For example, if it is above 1.5 amps, does it not charge? Or is it an issue of the data pins being shorted?

Also, I seem to recall something about not all mini USB cords being created equally. Do some have a certain pin shorted out or disconnected for some certain function?

There is quite a bit of USB information here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

I have tried a number of "generic" chargers that have both 2.1A and 1.1A (or 1.0A) ports with my 3597. On a couple of these, the 2.1A port is marked "A" for Apple, and the 1.1A port is marked "S" for Samsung I presume. I don't know the reason, but with all these chargers, the 3597 gives the invalid charger error on the 2.1A or "A" port but works fine on the 1.1A or "S" port. I suspect it has something to do with how the USB data conductors are handled by the charger.

Garmin offers the following FAQ:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?...

Most of this you already know and is of little help. I suspect they are just promoting their own hardware.

Another post here at the Factory may shed some light on the issue:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42312

A cable with the following pinout is required to properly charge many of the newer Garmin Nuvi’s:

http://pinoutsguide.com/GPS/garmin_nuvi_power_pinout.shtml

The best explanation of the issue I’ve found so far is in another blog:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=666156

It promotes the rather pricey 3BR Powersports Nuvi Power Cable as a solution to the charging problem.

GPS City stocks the cable in several lengths starting at $15 in case you are interested.

http://www.gpscity.com/3br-powersports-garmin-usb-to-miniusb...