Garmin GPS Power

Unless you or someone puts you a cig lighter plug in the second link you provided won't work. Do your new vehicles have the needed USB plugs?

My new Palisade has more cigarette lighter connections than any vehicle I have ever had. Given that lots of gadgets require 12 volt electricity I'm surprised your vehicles are lacking outlets.

On the Buick, look carefully in the “cavity” underneath the console, the forward almost vertical panel. There should be a cover over the 12V socket. On the GMC truck, check the owner’s manual or provide some more specific model information so we can provide help. But if you have a Sierra, you may be correct. See https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/04/most-2022-gmc-sierra-tr...

No 12 V outlet in either the Sierra or the Buick.

What model Buick?

In the Enclave, see the link (paying attention to the picture) at https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fownersmanu...

My point was, IMO, Garmin should provide the 12V / USB adapter with new GPSr's. If the vehicle has a 12V port, then use it with the GPS USB power cable. if not, just plug the USB power cable into a USB port directly.

The USB / 12V adapter is only necessary for GPS power cables that are hard wired to a 12V plug.

Yes, both my vehicles have multiple USB ports.

What model Buick?
Next door neighbors 2021 has the outlet covered on the side of the console, half-way between the floor and the top of the console.

The Buick is a 2021 Encore GX. It's the wife's car which I rarely use. It turns out there is an outlet in front of the console cavity. Without a flashlight, it's tough to see.

Thanks for the tip.

Unfortunately, it doesn't help with the Sierra Pickup which definitely lacks the outlet.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/04/most-2022-gmc-sierra-tr....

I suppose I could use an A/C adapter in the 120VAC outlet in the console if I can't power the RV 890 directly from a USB port.

My DashCam 56 came with https://www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/659100

I had already told you where to look, even provided a link to a picture.

Get one of these for the Sierra… https://www.ebay.com/itm/193850739369

I appreciate your help but the link you provided was for a Buick Enclave. I have a Buick Encore GX with a different console.

Bdhsfz6,

Will you be emailing your suggestion to Garmin?

Thanks for posting. I'm in the market for upgrading my vehicle. This is something I need to keep in mind. Thanks!

All I could post at the time was the Enclave because you hadn't supplied the model. Had you checked the owner's manual (see https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/buick/2021... if you don't have one) you would have also found the info you needed on page 86 in the section titled "Power Outlets". Page 87 of the manual indicates that you may also have a 110/120 volt outlet.

On the Sierra, again see the manual at https://www.gmc.com/bypass/pcf/gma-content-api/resources/sit... and in particular page 104 as depending on the exact model you may have a 12v power outlet. If you have the hard copy manual, check the index for "Power Outlets".

Some Sierra's may vary. The manual for the Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD / 3500 HD model indicates the 12v outlet is at the rear of the console. See https://www.gmc.com/bypass/pcf/gma-content-api/resources/sit... for the manual where the power outlet is discussed on page 103.

Thank you.

Again, my original intent in posting this was simply to point out that Garmin should take into consideration the fact that some new vehicles do not come equipped with a 12V power outlet.

When you go shopping for a new or used vehicle you have to think about what you're going to use it for besides driving.

Can you get 12 volts out of a 5 volt USB outlet? I know transformers work for AC but DC is a different fish.

It can be done; see https://www.electronics-lab.com/project/5v-to-12v-step-up-dc... should you be inclined to make the converter yourself.

There are adapters available; see https://www.amazon.com/Cigarette-Converter-Electronic-Automo... purchase.

One thing in this regard is to verify that any USB port in a vehicle supplies power. Some don't, they are for connecting a stick for upgrades or perhaps audio content.

In the case of the OP's Buick, the manual (page 137) seems to indicate that there are (2) USB ports and they can be used for data and charging.

The Buick has two USB data/charge ports in the console and the Sierra has three. Four if you count the USB-C port.

There are two problems using the RV 890 in the Sierra. A USB port will power the unit but the jack is on the side of the unit itself, not on the magnetic mount. This defeats the purpose of the mount and requires you to disconnect the cable manually.

The Garmin power cable that ships with the unit, plugs into the mount but it appears to be a proprietary plug & jack. A USB mini or USB micro won't work. The plug is larger than a micro but smaller than a mini. I'm going to try and source it somewhere.

In the mean time, I'm powering the unit with a 120VAC to 12V adapter.

It appears the best solution will be to wire my own 12V outlets in the vehicle.

I don't have an RV 890 but I believe that with power plug supplied by Garmin, one end plugs into an accessory outlet of the vehicle, and as you've noted the other end plugs into the mount. Energy is then transferred from the magnetic mount to the RV 890 via the magnetic mount interface with a 14-pin connector. The manual is at https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-9FC76615-A91B-4... should you need it. "Mounting and Powering the Device in Your Vehicle" is on page 3 of the manual. The port on the side of the RV 890 is a Micro USB power and data port and is used for operations like updating with Garmin Express.

You still have not supplied exactly what Sierra you have but I have supplied links to two Sierra owner manuals that seem to indicate that 12v accessory outlets may be in your vehicle.

My 22 stinger comes with 2 usb ports and 2 12V sockets.

In the front is a 12V socket + usb type A port. This latter is useful for playing mp3's off of flash drives.

The rear has another 12V socket and a 2 or 2.5A usb type A charging port.

For either of the 12V sockets I have a 12V --> USB adapter. Accepts 2 devices and up to 2.5A each. Plenty of usb power to go around.

As for the OP's problem, link up the garmin to the smartphone app to have the most up to date real time traffic.

The vehicle is a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4. It is the refreshed model with the latest interior, NOT the older Limited model that has the same interior as the 2021 models. Unfortunately, most of the refreshed models are not equipped with 12V outlets.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/04/most-2022-gmc-sierra-tr...

I'm currently using the 120VAC outlet to power the RV 890 via a homemade adapter capable of providing the necessary wattage.

The 890 can indeed be powered via a USB mini port located on the side of the unit. This bypasses the magnetic mount which makes this method less than ideal.

It turns out this won't work anyway since the USB port on the Sierra does not provide enough current to power the 890. An error message to that effect appears on the screen when attempting to boot the unit.

The best thing to do is to wire up my own 12V outlet. It's a shame to have to modify a brand new vehicle though.

Anyway, thanks for all the research you did on this.

The best place to connect a 12v outlet is the fuse block which is usually under the dashboard:

https://youtu.be/NW0QaQaU41Y

12 volt cigar lighter outlets are available at auto parts stores, but marine suppliers usually have high-quality cigar outlets:

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=1187549

"dobs 108" has good advice and on most Sierra's there is a fuse block on both the driver and passenger sides. See https://fuse-box.info/gmc/gmc-sierra-mk5-2019-fuses-and-rela... for some details and how to access. I would use 12 AWG wire or larger to minimize line loss although you run shouldn't be excessively long.

If you are going to just power the GPS wire size greater than 22 AWG is overkill. 12 gauge wire will handle 30A or more depending on the insulation and the length of the run.

I don’t know the current draw of an RV 890 GPS. One clue might be the fuse size on the power cord. My 2689 has a 2-amp fuse.

Anything larger than 22 AWG may be overkill as far as the current capacity, especially on a short run where voltage drop will be minimal. But 22 AWG wire is about 0.025 inch diameter (less than 1/32 of an inch) so it would be critical that it be anchored well through the run, or in time it may break due to vehicle vibration. 12 AWG is about 0.08 inch diameter, something about midway between 1/16 inch and 1/8 inch.

Then too we don’t know about potential future use of the socket. What if some future owner plugs in a small portable refrigerator that draw 5 amps? Hence the reason why it is recommended that vehicle chassis wiring be able to handle 7 amps. Device failure might also be a concern. My first GPS was a TomTom One and while driving one day it started smoking! What was the current draw? I'm glad it happened while I was driving and not in my garage. I generally kept it plugged into the car and perhaps in an always powered socket.

While the virus has me not travelling in the last couple of years, my well-established habit is to take my Garmin along in the airplane (giving it a sniff of sky every half hour so that initial acquisition at the destination goes better), and plug in to the rental car the moment I reach it.

I hope I don't start having occasions when the rental lacks a 12V accessory outlet I can find.

I do, finally, have a smartphone (new to me last year), so I've got the backup option of using Apple maps or Google maps, but I'm used to my 3597.

Most new vehicles are still equipped with 12V outlets. Just how long this will continue is the question.

Those that are not so equipped, including my Sierra, have a 120 VAC outlet instead. For insurance, it might pay to travel with a 120 VAC to 12V adapter just in case. Make sure the one you carry will support the current draw of the GPS you plan to use.

With the proliferation of 12V gadgets we all travel with, it's hard to believe the auto industry will completely discontinue these 12 V outlets any time soon.

As long as someone want to smoke while driving...

Didn't think new cars even had ashtrays anymore.

I lost my 12v cord sometime during a vacation trip and have been running on the USB cord with a 3 ft M/F extension. Haven't had a problem in 3 years.

Interesting, I haven't driven any new rentals without a 12V plug so I'll be looking closely when purchasing my next vehicle

I tried powering the RV890 with a USB cable but the port in my vehicle won't supply enough current. I get an error message to that effect when booting the unit.

Some of these newer large screen GPSr's are power hogs and the USB ports in some vehicles aren't up to the task.

Good to keep in mind. I'm only powering a Nuvi 50 that way.

The USB port in my truck that won't work with the RV 890, powers my Nuvi 3597 just fine. I'm sure most smaller screen models will be ok.