Can't charge iPhone from power outlet on '08 1200 GSA

springonion

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Hi,

I've been trying for ages and its cost me a small fortune in different wire's and cables, but I still can't get my iPhone to recognise that its supposed to charge when plugged into my bikes power outlet.

I've got an '08 1200 GSA and an iPhone 3G. I've got a convertor to convert the BMW socket to a more normal cigarette lighter socket. Then I plug my iphone in with a proper job connector. Other mobiles I've tried charge fine but the old iPhone just won't react. Tried it with engine on, engine off etc etc.

Does anyone else have issues charging an iPhone from the bike? I'm not too much of an electrical whizz and haven't got a meter so can't tell what the bikes putting out. I just know other phones charge but the iPhone doesn't. Its almost like there isn't enough juice for it to go into charge mode.

I'm off on a trip shortly so any tips or ideas would be greatfully received.

cheers

Nick

:beerjug:
 
does the phone charge from the car with the same iphone connector? JJH
 
springonion said:
Hi,

I've been trying for ages and its cost me a small fortune in different wire's and cables, but I still can't get my iPhone to recognise that its supposed to charge when plugged into my bikes power outlet.

I've got an '08 1200 GSA and an iPhone 3G. I've got a convertor to convert the BMW socket to a more normal cigarette lighter socket. Then I plug my iphone in with a proper job connector. Other mobiles I've tried charge fine but the old iPhone just won't react. Tried it with engine on, engine off etc etc.

Does anyone else have issues charging an iPhone from the bike? I'm not too much of an electrical whizz and haven't got a meter so can't tell what the bikes putting out. I just know other phones charge but the iPhone doesn't. Its almost like there isn't enough juice for it to go into charge mode.

I'm off on a trip shortly so any tips or ideas would be greatfully received.

cheers

Nick

:beerjug:
Click to expand...

Same as that and mine doesn't work from the car either. I did a bit of research and it seems that the new generation Ipods and Iphone don't support 12v charging - you apparently need a 12v to 5v adaptor. I haven't bothered yet......
 
When I put my new Iphone on into a dock on a micro system at home the phone does not recognize the sysem, ( my daughters Itouch works fine, but is older) I made enquiries at the Apple store and they have changed the software for reasons best known to themselves,:( you can get partial operatin by selecting airplane mode. This may be the cause of your problem.
 
paintman said:
When I put my new Iphone on into a dock on a micro system at home the phone does not recognize the sysem, ( my daughters Itouch works fine, but is older) I made enquiries at the Apple store and they have changed the software for reasons best known to themselves,:( you can get partial operatin by selecting airplane mode. This may be the cause of your problem.
Click to expand...

I plug mine into the car stereo and it tells me "This accessory is not compatable with an iphone" how arogant can Apple get suggesting a cars an accessory for an iphone!!!:D (Still charges and plays music though!)
 
I have one of these:

TV650_AV1

I've just tried it on the bike with a retractable lead off ebay and it works a treat (it does also need the adapter to take it up to the usual car adapter size), it also has a built in battery pack that can be used for extra battery life
TV650_AV2



They are about 30 beer tokens out of the Apple shop but in my opinion well worth the money.



How it all fits together, sorry its a crap photo but I am supposed to be working and it was a quick shot, can add more later if you need them!!

225135ed.jpg
 
Last edited:
Cheers chaps,

Tried it in the car and the same - no charging.

I noticed a load of people advertising iPhone car chargers but they all look the same as mine and some of the reviews were that they didn't work. So I've done some more digging.

You guys are right as I've also found out that apple have changed the software to not allow car charging or at least turned it off !! How daft is that!


Cheers for the tips on the griffin charger and also switching it into flight mode. I'll try both of these and see if they work for my phone.

Cheers for all the tips and advice guys.

Nick
:beerjug:
 
I have one of the latest (I like to believe so) iPhones and charging it without problem on my 07GS
 
I just got a generic 12V car type USB charger, plugged it into the bike via a socket converter and Bob's your uncle.
 
springonion said:
Cheers chaps,
You guys are right as I've also found out that apple have changed the software to not allow car charging or at least turned it off !! How daft is that!
Click to expand...

I think Apple have not been quite that daft. There are three different issues here...

1) Older iProducts used to be able to charge from a 12v firewire port or a 5v USB port. The different ports used different wires in the 30-pin connector. Many older cigar lighter adapters (or indeed older chargers generally - e.g. some JBL music stations) were made to use 12v charging wires. However, Mac computers now all have USB ports and firewire is less common. Apple therefore dropped the firewire chariging option from newer iProducts to save hardware costs. This means the older chargers trying to use the firewire charging wires in the connector do not work.

2) The newer iProducts need more current than older products. The USB charging standard requires the charger to identify itself as being able to supply a high current device. This is achieved by signals transmitted on the data pins of the USB socket. In an older basic charger these signal are not present so the iProduct determines it is not safe to draw the required charging current and so decides not to charge. A way to trick the iProduct to charge is to apply 2.0V and 2.7V on the D- and D+ data pins - this makes the charger appear to thje iProduct as one that is able to supply enough current.

3) The "airplane mode" comes up when the iPhone is plugged into a stereo system. If the stereo does not have appropriate intererence reduction circuitry you will get that weird interference noise through the stereo when the iPhone speaks to the network (e.g when receiving a message or phone call, or when doing its regular location update). The iPhone asks you if you want to enter airplane mode (so it nevers speaks to the network) to stop this. Whether or not you say yes does not (in my experience) effect whether or not iPhone can actually be charged - that depends on (1) and (2) above.

In summary, charging newer iProducts is a pain, but there is at least a rational explanation to it all - it is not just an Apple conspirancy to make us buy official Apple products. At least that is my understanding!

regards
Darren
 
dazlewis said:
2) The newer iProducts need more current than older products. The USB charging standard requires the charger to identify itself as being able to supply a high current device. This is achieved by signals transmitted on the data pins of the USB socket. In an older basic charger these signal are not present so the iProduct determines it is not safe to draw the required charging current and so decides not to charge. A way to trick the iProduct to charge is to apply 2.0V and 2.7V on the D- and D+ data pins - this makes the charger appear to thje iProduct as one that is able to supply enough current.
Click to expand...

great, thanks for comprehensive answer. But how do we do the above ?

Speak s l o w l y and clearly please I'm techno incapable !! :thumb2
 
srace7 said:
great, thanks for comprehensive answer. But how do we do the above ?

Speak s l o w l y and clearly please I'm techno incapable !! :thumb2
Click to expand...

It needs a bit of cutting soldering and volt measuring so if you are uncomfortable with any of these you might be best getting a different charger. It will be the charger you need to adapt - it has nothing to do with the bike socket or adaptor.

The way to get the 2 and 2.7 volts is to connect a chain of three resistors of appropriate value between the 0v and 5v pins on the USB and connect the middle two USB pins to the junctions. Exactly how best to do this depends on exactly what you have to adapt. Realistically, the low cost of a new charger from Ebay (such as the one linked to above) means you are better doing that. It will be tidier and save the hassle. (Google for "modify generic USB to charge iPhone" or something similar to see the sort of thing involved)

Basically, so long as your bike socket and BMW-to-"normal" socket adaptor are working, you just need to replace the plug in adaptor with one advertrised as being suitable for newer iProducts.

The only time I'd bother with the resistor fix is if the USB socket is integrated into something else (e.g. a car stereo) so you can't just swap it with a more modern one.

Nonetheless if you are keen to try, tell me exactly what set up you have and I will think about the best way you might fix it. E.g. this will be different if your charger is a cigar plug direct to iProduct 30-pin connector or if it is a cigar plug to USB socket that you plug a standard apple USB to 30-pin connector into.

Hope that makes some sense. This is one of those things that seems to makes sense when you write it, but not when you read it!

Darren
 
dazlewis said:
It needs a bit of cutting soldering and volt measuring so if you are uncomfortable with any of these you might be best getting a different charger. It will be the charger you need to adapt - it has nothing to do with the bike socket or adaptor.

The way to get the 2 and 2.7 volts is to connect a chain of three resistors of appropriate value between the 0v and 5v pins on the USB and connect the middle two USB pins to the junctions. Exactly how best to do this depends on exactly what you have to adapt. Realistically, the low cost of a new charger from Ebay (such as the one linked to above) means you are better doing that. It will be tidier and save the hassle. (Google for "modify generic USB to charge iPhone" or something similar to see the sort of thing involved)

Basically, so long as your bike socket and BMW-to-"normal" socket adaptor are working, you just need to replace the plug in adaptor with one advertrised as being suitable for newer iProducts.

The only time I'd bother with the resistor fix is if the USB socket is integrated into something else (e.g. a car stereo) so you can't just swap it with a more modern one.

Nonetheless if you are keen to try, tell me exactly what set up you have and I will think about the best way you might fix it. E.g. this will be different if your charger is a cigar plug direct to iProduct 30-pin connector or if it is a cigar plug to USB socket that you plug a standard apple USB to 30-pin connector into.

Hope that makes some sense. This is one of those things that seems to makes sense when you write it, but not when you read it!

Darren
Click to expand...

Hmmm I better sign a disclaimer before I torch myself and the bike !!
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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