USB Charger Weirdness
 

Hi,

So I've got a 2005 KLR 650. Battery is <2 months old. It's got an adapter like this http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/..._pkt001-24.jpg running off the battery with a 7.5A fuse in the block so I got one of these Battery Tender USB Charger - RevZilla to charge my phone, etc.

Unfortunately something isn't right - the symptom is that when I plug my phone in to charge (Google Nexus 4) the charge icon flickers and the phone reports not charging. I thought maybe the bike had to be running but that made no difference.

Any suggestions on what it could be?


Cheers

Edit: I was thinking of getting something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-M...-/221429005664 to bring the USB port up front but without knowing how to fix my current problem I don't know if that will be any good.

If you certain your battery us healthy, then it sounds like that USB adaptor is faulty. Have you tried other phones ??

Maybe your phone needs a specific charger. Have you tried using the genuine nexus USB cable in the adaptor ?

That test was with the cable that came with the phone, unfortunately, so that suggests the USB adapter. Although I do have a bunch of other cables so I will try one or two of those and see if that nets anything different.

I can't really test the battery. It's new and the bike starts/runs well.

I don't have another phone to test with but I'll try it with some other USB devices in the morning and see what happens.

First check the two outer pins on the USB connector for 5 volt, with a multimeter or with this
USB Voltage Current Meter Tester Charger Doctor for Power Bank Phone Mobile Cell | eBay

If its ok, then it could help to shortcircuit pin 2 and 3, as many mobiles "negotiates" with a charger(or computer) to try to get adequate amount of current. This will cheat the mobile to think there is a correct charger connected.

I use a 12V plug with an insert like this :Dual USB In Car Charger Twin 2 Port Mini Griffin PowerJolt for iPad iPhone 5 5S | eBay
and it charges my Samsung Galaxy S4

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I don't have a multimeter so I've ordered one of the USB testers suggested (though from DX). I've also got in touch with the company I got the USB thing from for suggestions.

I've also ordered a completely new harness to run off the battery, though I'm hoping it's not necessary.


Cheers

I'm not am expert with electronics, but I always run phone chargers, etc. through a fuse block, that is attached to the battery via a relay, with switched power. I don't think I've ever connected any electronics directly to the battery without a relay.

I thought a relay was just a switch and doesn't fundamentally change the way the power is delivered? I get that the ability to turn it off is a good idea but I don't think that would fix the problem I'm having.

A relay and switched power are two different things. Google it :)

I've tried to find the distinction you're making but I'm not sure I'm on the right track - Motorcycle Power Relay and Distribution Block | Canyon Chasers Motorcycle Sport Touring describes a relay as I understand it, which is just a switched power source?

I'm guessing switched power means something different but all the googles are saying is to use a relay?

A relay is used for turning 12 V on/off for high current users such as headlights, because a contact on the handlebar maybe can't take that high current or it has an internal resistance, so the voltage drops.

For small current use, such as phone chargers, you don't need a relay. USB charges with 0.5A, a few with 2A, so a 0.75mm square wire is sufficient. A fuse is alway a good idea, to safeguard the wiring from fire, if its grounded somewhere.

"Switched power" generally means the power to your auxiliary chargers, lights, etc. won't be hot until you turn the key. I prefer to power my accessories this way. I have an old Centech AP-1 fuse block connected to my battery with a switched relay. The relay is wired to the battery and tapped into a wire on the bike that receives power when the ignition is turned on, usually a head- or tail-light. The fuse block receives power from the battery through the relay, all of my accessories are connected to the fuse block (except my old PIAA 1100 lights because they came with their own relay). This may be overkill if all you want to charge is a phone, but it's a good way to go if you want to add more doodads such as a GPS. I have an old "unswitched" relay cable lying around somewhere, but decided not to use it because it's really easy to drain the battery.