Using Apple Magsafe Charger in Car - Help

• 

  apsilon on 14/12/2020 - 07:46

  Does the socket still have power? Might've blown a fuse. If it does and it just stops for a while or until you change chargers then it sounds like your car doesn't like the current draw and the BCM is shutting down the supply. A cig lighter socket can handle 10amps but that doesn't mean the car manufacturer has designed the circuit for that. That said a 45w charger should be under 4 amps so I would think they would've allowed for that draw.

  The other question is does the magsafe charger work if you plug it into a wall adapter? ie are you sure the charger isn't faulty?

  • 

    TheNewBargainer on 14/12/2020 - 07:52

    +1

    Hey apsilon, Thanks for your repsonse!

    The magsafe charger works when plugged into a wall and the socket has power for other devices (i.e- my dash cam works fine when plugged in).

    Is there anything to do about the car's BCM shutting down the power supply?

    • 

      apsilon on 14/12/2020 - 10:29

      The other chargers you have, can you try them in another car? Those have specs saying 18w which should be ~1.5 amps which surely should be small enough draw.

      If it is the BCM, which I would doubt for 1.5 amps, then no, there's nothing you can do as that's the limit the engineers have set. I'm not familiar with VW but I do know some brands, if you trigger the protection too many times the BCM will permanently disable it as it believes it's a fault.

• 

  Marcsie on 14/12/2020 - 08:21

  -1

  You may have to buy Apple car charger to be able to use your Apple MagSafe Charger.
  That’s the reason I don’t like Apple product … Controlling !

  • 

    hopper on 14/12/2020 - 10:19

    +1

    Or just wait and buy Apple car.

  • 

    TheNewBargainer on 14/12/2020 - 19:23

    Hey Marcsie, could you please send me a link to the Apple Car charger?

    • 

      Hybroid on 14/12/2020 - 19:27

      This kind of thing will work fine: https://www.amazon.com.au/Anker-Charger-Powerdrive-iPhone-Ga…

      4.8 Amps if you don't use both ports else halved across both. There must be a USB-C variant out there.

      CHOETECH one should work too but the wireless charger I got from them was rubbish. You don't need to pay Officeworks premium.

    • 

      Marcsie on 14/12/2020 - 19:36

      -1

      https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/MHJ93X/A/20w-usb-c-pow…

      • 

        TheNewBargainer on 14/12/2020 - 21:28

        +1

        Hey Marcsie, Sorry, I meant the Apple Car charger

• 

  studentl0an on 14/12/2020 - 09:27

  Even the 18w chargers won't work?

  The video you sent shows the charger working when the phone is already charged, so it wouldn't be outputting many watts. The car probably thinks any load more than 10w on that circut for more than 15 seconds means the lighter is malfuctioning and could set the car on fire. That's why it's cutting it. That'd have to be annoying.

• 

  Headless on 14/12/2020 - 10:10

  Do you have the right model of Apple car charger - I'm not sure if they release a new version to go with each new version of phone (compatibility)
  I wouldn't be surprised if its deliberatly designed not to work with newer models.

  I use a car charger that works on all types of phone models (with a 3 split cable) - check the amperage of both the fuse and the charger - some are low power some high

  Sounds like a faulty charger though

• 

  pantsparty on 14/12/2020 - 11:27

  -1

  The MagSafe charger is not made to hold your phone in the car like this. It will definitely fall off if you go around a corner too fast or hit a big enough bump.

  I look forward to your next post - iPhone 12 pro screen cracked - help!

  • 

    TheNewBargainer on 14/12/2020 - 19:24

    I've had my phone sitting on it (not charging) for about 3 weeks and it hasn't fallen off yet. Its extremely solid.

    I was worried it wouldnt be strong enough when I watched youtube videos warning this.. But i think they were anti-apple people just spouting propaganda

• 

  gonsped on 14/12/2020 - 12:19

  I use the Apple magsafe charger to charge my iphone 12 mini in my 2011 Golf. It even works through my - albeit superthin - plastic case.

  I bought a cheap $10 magnetic vent mount from Amazon. The magsafe just attaches to the magnetic vent mount. I don’t use any of the included steel plates.

  Sabrent Air Vent Magnetic… https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01KA04BUY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_s…

  The magsafe is plugged into a Baseus USB C cigarette charger.

  Now what you don’t realise without a usb c power meter is you cannot have too strong a magnet on the center of the magsafe, this literally kills the wireless charging, it looks charged but there is no current flow and the phone actually discharges.

  In my experiments, my vent mount had 4 watch cell sized magnets, I removed the top magnet and reassembled. No glue, soldering etc, the silicone cover just peels off.

  Then I mount the magsafe charger off center so its attached towards the top of the magsafe.

  So far it works great, has not failed/moved once and so easy popping the phone on and off the car.

  • 

    TheNewBargainer on 16/12/2020 - 10:26

    I think you may have solved my problem!

    I think I had too strong a magnet on the back of the MagSafe charger.

    I removed it and now it works in my car with a Belkin 27w usb c car charger.

    I will have to fix the MagSafe charger to my dash with something small and non magnetic (like a dice).

    Thank you so much!