using Maps and a car charger

[kwalla]

I've noticed that when using Google Maps to navigate from one place to another and my phone plugged into a car charger, the battery will still drop.

Does this mean my charger isn't supplying as much power as the Nexus 5 can take?

Or that's just the nature of using GPS/Maps -- it's going to consume power faster than my phone can suck it in?

 

[amarie82]

My car charger doesn't charge my phone all that well. If I'm talking on it using data etc it is slow to charge. The charge is always the best when I plug mine into the wall.

 

[werewolfboy]

It could also be other apps too. What does the battery page under settings say?

 

[GuitarG20]

I have had this issue with mine. it's possible that the phone is getting so warm due to a)being in a hot car, b)being heated up by being plugged in, and c)using GPS, which also warms up the phone, that is' deciding to not charge, or barely charge, to alleviate the risk of the battery overheating and being damaged.

 

[Deleted User]

Must be your charger not putting out enough juice. I can run Google Maps (and Glympse and Pandora) with the screen constantly on and it will still charge the phone to 100%.

 

[amarie82]

Must be your charger not putting out enough juice. I can run Google Maps (and Glympse and Pandora) with the screen constantly on and it will still charge the phone to 100%.

I am aware some car chargers are better then other with charging in the car.

 

[Deleted User]

This is the charger I have:

http://www.amazon.com/PowerGen-char...0088U6OZY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_awd_9h1Wtb120BXE9_tt

 

[amarie82]

Thanks I'll have to look into that one and see if that works better then mine!

 

[JBentleyR]

This is the charger I have:

http://www.amazon.com/PowerGen-charger-Designed-Android-Devices/dp/B0088U6OZY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_awd_9h1Wtb120BXE9_tt

I have the same one (but in black). Just the other day, my wife and I drove for around 4 hours using this charger, Google Maps and GPS. The battery charge remained at about 82%, even though the phone became slightly warm.

I'd recommend it (and Amazon).

 

[SiempreTuna]

The majority of car chargers produce somewhere between 0.5A and 1.0A. Check the standard charger for a modern, large screen phone and you'll see it produces somewhere over 1.2A.

Large screens require a lot of power.

If you look around, you can find car chargers that are higher rated. I have one rated at 1.2A which seems to be OK.

Even so, I still habitually turn off the screen when I know there's a long stretch with no turns coming up. My previous charger was a 1A and turning the screen off when not required was the only way to ensure my phone pretty much maintained charge through the trip.

 

[big_mike]

i always have problems too, new charger it is! hers for the advice folks

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

My car has a USB port that has this problem. Luckily, it also came with a DC port and that continues to charge while using Google Maps.

You could get a solar charger. I bought this one on sale a month ago and it actually does work, although I'm fortunate enough to not require it in my car:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J3N7FRQ/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_knQXtb1JJVZ3V

 

[umataro42]

It's definitely the charger, I had the same problem using a charger I originally got for my OG Droid.

I use this one with my Nexus 5 and it charges while using Maps (or Waze), while also playing music through my car's Bluetooth:
Amazon.com: Anker

 

[BigCiX]

Using your GPS in using more power then what your car charger can produce. Try dimming while using the GPS on long trips.

 

[scythefwd]

I've got a Duracell 1a charger... Keeps me at 100 or works its way there when using Pandora and copilot GPS in the car.

 

[mattyboyo]

Remember to get a decent wire as well. If I use a cheap wire the battery goes down with nav on, but with a decent one I can have nav running and wifi hotspot for the kids and it still charges the battery.

 

[Yesevil]

I had this problem alsol, turned out it was a cheap charging cable that I was using. When I used my official charge cable or my speedy charge cable (double amps but cant transfer data) it charged fine

 

[jj14x]

One other option (when on long stretches on road) is to turn the screen off. The nav will still work and give you voice prompts at the right time, but shutting off the screen will eliminate a large battery drain.

But to re-state what the others said, with a good charger/cablee, your phone should continue to get charged (my phone stays at 100% when plugged into the car charger even with active navigation use with screen on).
I use a couple of different chargers - one by newtrent (2Amp), and an old T-mo branded one that is a wall charger and car charger in one (not sure of the amp rating) - it looks like this
I use the latter one when I travel - works beautifully!