using cell phone charger

While a cell phone charger of either kind may work, I'd use one specifically made for my GPSr - either OEM, or after-market...but that's just me.

...and see how many volts are being put out vs. what's called for. This thread has arisen before on this site. I'm not an electrical engineer, but there's a need to keep it close to what's required. Plugs are just one factor to consider.

GC

Three things to check, capacity of your charger in current verses what the GPS needs, polarity of the charger plug, and last but not least the voltage requirement of the GPS verses what the charger puts out.

I'm assuming you are referring to a cell phone charger that plugs into a car and/or AC outlet. The USB specification is for an output of +5 VDC. I have used both types with no problems. The one caveat is that the GPSr thinks it is connected to a PC (at least my Nüvi 660 thinks it is) so while it's charging, it's not "functional". The regular car charger, with I believe 10 pins, must tell it "Hey you're not connected to the PC.".

Having said all that, it is probably best to use "authorized" chargers. While the USB spec is specific, you have to test or take on faith, that the adapter is putting out the correct +5 VDC.

There are NO standards for DC power supply plugs.
Therefore, the size, style, type of plug means NOTHING.

Don't ASSume anything. You might be OK but you might be VERY sorry.

I use my RAZR A/C charger all the time, 5v 850mA, it shows as being connected to the USB/PC and it charges faster than the USB from the PC

While true that there are no standards for DC power supply plugs, there are standards for USB. (The U doesn't stand for Universal just because they thought it sounded good.) As long as the phone manufacturer didn't do something non-standard-ish, it, or any other USB cable, should be able to power your GPS. If there was no standard voltage, amperage, etc, the whole idea of being able to plug any USB device into your computer and having it power up would not work.

This will not, however, do away with the problem of your GPS thinking it is hooked up to a computer and just sit there in mass-storage mode.

I use my RAZR A/C charger to charge my Tomtom 720. I haven't had a problem yet.

USB is USB almost ...

To put the Nüvi in charging mode instead of mass storage mode, you got to change the 200 ohm resistor by a 17.3 Kohm resistor between pin 4 and pin x in the mini USB plug.

Found at PINOUT.RU website.

http://pinouts.ru/GPS/garmin_nuvi_power_pinout.shtml

If you're GPSr gets fried using a power source other than what is reccommended by the manufacturer, don't expect them to fix or replace it under warranty.

Like the previous poster said. All USB output 5V max.

I only have one USB charger in the car. I used it for cellphone, GPSr, and anything that use a mini USB connector.

It about time most manufacturers are using mini USB instead of a special connector.

I wouldn't do it. As long as I got compatible ones from Garmin and Verizon, I might as well use them both.

Besides, I've taken some long trips when I had to charge my phone while using the GPSr.

I can put my 350 into charging mode by pressing the power button until a "Charge Mode" message comes on the screen. I think the resistor in built into the unit not the cable.Because I can change it to charge mode using a regular USB cable. The power button can switch the built-in resistor to charging mode.

I recently purchase a Garmin Nuvi 200W GPS model. It did not came with a USB cable. I found out that the USB cable my BlackBerry Pearl uses has the same plugs as the one in Garmin. I plugged it in, the computer detected it. I was able to use the USB cable for my cell with my Garmin unit to download POIs and upgrade the unit. Don't waste $20 buying Garmin USB cable.

I am using the USB cable that came with my digital camera. It is working fine.

The original question was about the external power converter/charger, was it not ??

Right answer.....wrong question.

5V NOMINAL. There is a bit of headroom in there for the max. I think it is something like 5.25V.

PT

Yep, been there, done that. I let all the magic smoke out of a Casio keyboard I had when I plugged in the wrong DC adapter. Let's just say it didn't work anymore...

All manufacture that use the USB cable follow the standard of USB. As long as the female and male connector are the same all PINS will work the same.

Have a NUVI 350 and there are two ways to charge it. If you use the side, it will always think that you are connected to the computer because it was designed that way.

The second way. My nuvi comes with the connector to the suction cup. That connector was configured for charging only.

For all other electronic devices that uses the non USB cable. You have to be very careful because each manufacturer have their own way of producing the output voltage.

You take the chance of it going into Mass Storage mode. That is really the only draw back. Techs at Garmin have told me this, so I'm sure it's okay.

This may not be on topic however.. I just purchased a 670 and it came with the car charger/holder. Very convenient but does it matter that every time I plug it into the unit it gets power and charge from the holder. Does this repetitive charging cause problems with battery life?

Assuming that it has a Lithium-Ion Battery like most do, then the answer is: NO, not a problem.

If the voltage from your Cell phone charger is exact as your GPS unit, it works well.

I purchased a cell phone power cord for my GPS and it works perfectly fine.

I ended up using the radio shack I-GO charger with the interchangable tips on my Garmin c330 very easy and handy I can switch between charging My Nokia cell, Motorola cell,ipod,kids mp3 player very handy. The different tips are 10 bucks each.

My cell phone charger with the same connector has an output of 5V @ 850mA

My Garmin charger is rated a 5V @ 1.0A

This would work, but the charger should have at least the same current draw capicity.

I believe folks like to use cell phone USB car chargers because they either already have one or that it's cheaper to buy a cell phone USB car charger than buying a GPS USB car charger.

I use a IPOD charger and it works great.

I use the (120v ac>dc) charger that came with my RAZR cell phone and it works fine.

I had purchased an "unbrand" charger for my GPSr at Amazon, which the vendor told me would "work fine," and it did.

But when I found that I already had a cell phone charger that appeared identical, and both worked OK, I gave my "unbrand" to my daughter, who also has a c340, and am using the cell phone charger without incident.

I used various usb charger from the RAZR, blackberry, and other usb cables connecting to computer. All seemed to work just fine.

That's not correct. One of the pins in the USB connector carries a signal voltage to indicate to the device if it should go into charge or storage mode. The cradle has this pin disabled so it will always go into charge mode no matter what you plug into it. The side connector responds appropriately to the cable connected to it. Plug in a PC cable and it will go into storage mode. Plug in Garmin's wall or car charger, and it will go into charge mode. My cell phone USB chargers do not have this "charge only" identifying signal on their USB connectors, so they put the Nuvi 350 into storage mode. They still charge it, but it can't be operated while charging. Doesn't hurt anything, but it is an annoyance.

I've wondered if I could use a cell phone charger. I was concerned since I didn't want to ruin the nuvi 750. Having found this post, I became much more comfortable and have just completed a charge using a cell charger and the battery diagnostic screen. Worked just fine. The screen detail even told me when it was fully charged.
Thanks to all who contributed.