Lost Car charger, any dealers to recommend?

gerizam60 · 10-25-09, 08:04 PM

Hello to all,

I lost my car charger, which I need to replace so I may use my Bluetooth GPS.

I have found dozens of dealers selling accessories for the Dell X51V. Can anyone be so kind as to recommend to me a online dealer that's good.

Thanx.

Gerry

kcallahan · 10-25-09, 08:18 PM

Amazon is pretty trustworthy.
Posted via Mobile Device

acejavelin · 10-28-09, 09:10 PM

I just went through this VERY recently, there are a few good dealers, and although I had an issues using their products, I think it had more to do with my Axim than their products. Try Pocket Solutions at PDA Accessories for an Axim dedicated solution.

Although after going through several chargers for cars, the best solution I have found as recommended by others is using a car charger for a Sony PSP and the factory OEM travel charge adapter that is normally used with the A/C charger. Just connect the OEM Dell travel charge adapter and connect the Sony PSP car charger and all works well. Sony PSP chargers can be found anywhere from Wal-Mart, eBay, Amazon, and many other retailer and online sellers.

gerizam60 · 10-31-09, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by acejavelin

I just went through this VERY recently, there are a few good dealers, and although I had an issues using their products, I think it had more to do with my Axim than their products. Try Pocket Solutions at PDA Accessories for an Axim dedicated solution.

Although after going through several chargers for cars, the best solution I have found as recommended by others is using a car charger for a Sony PSP and the factory OEM travel charge adapter that is normally used with the A/C charger. Just connect the OEM Dell travel charge adapter and connect the Sony PSP car charger and all works well. Sony PSP chargers can be found anywhere from Wal-Mart, eBay, Amazon, and many other retailer and online sellers.

Ace, what kind of issues can you warn me about?

Although you stated that your Unit may have been the issue, it may have been the product.

I have read using the wrong adaptor can SMOKE a Axim; Incorrect pin arrangements, wrong voltage output, etc.

Hence the reason why I'm asking for a reputable dealer. I not interested in cheap prices, but reliable aftermarket accessories. I do not wish to loose my Axim for a couple of bucks.

Gerry

DavesPPC · 10-31-09, 12:54 PM

Amazon, eBay, etc....

acejavelin · 10-31-09, 06:33 PM

My issues were mostly with chargers from eBay, tried 3 different ones and they do not supply enough current to charge and power the unit simultaneously, the OEM Dell adapter is like 5.4VDC@2410 mA and most of the cheap eBay ones were 5.0-5.2VDC@500-800mA, some of the higher current ones would charge the standard battery if the unit was off, but none would charge my mega-capacity (3600mAh) battery or charge a standard battery and power the Axim at the same time, in fact the cheaper ones actually discharged my mega-capacity battery with the unit turned off. Guess sometimes you actually do get what you pay for.

Once I did get a good charger from Pocket Solutions, it would power the unit and charge only with the standard battery and only if enough pressure was applied pulling back to make a good connection. It would not charge the mega-capacity battery with the unit on, but would if I turned it off. I now think this is an issue with my Axim making a poor connection at the charging points of the connector, actually a somewhat common one, and not with the charger from them.

I did some more research and got some recommendations from others and discovered that a quality or OEM Sony PSP car charger outputs 5.4-5.6VDC@1000-1500mA, sufficient for the Axim using a factory travel adapter and the plug is the same. I have NOT tried this, but every forum I have looked at says this works. Just make sure it is specifically designed for the PSP and not a generic USB charger that supposedly supports the PSP.

My real solution was a little different, after a 1300 mile roadtrip of pure frustration readjusting the charging cable and watching the backlight go bright to dim and back again, I bought a used Medion PNA on Craigslist for $25 for the car, its not as nice as the iGuidance I used in the Axim, but it does the job for everything I need. For the Axim that I use for geocaching I bought a second mega-capacity battery and just swap them as needed since each gives me 6-8 hours of continuous use with a CF GPS card. They only issue with those batteries are if I have one charging the spare battery charger in the cradle (back part) then the Axim with a mega-capacity battery installed won't fit in the cradle to charge at the same time because the other battery sticks up to high.

BTW, Dell still sells an Axim car charger (wish I had discovered this earlier) that uses the original OEM travel adapter (not included though) here: PHAROS PX006 Universal Car Power Adapter : Mobile Phones | Dell Can't tell you if it actually works or not, but Dell is selling it as an Axim accessory so I would think it would.

gerizam60 · 10-31-09, 07:18 PM

Thanx again Ace. Do you have a link for that Sony adaptor?

gerizam60 · 10-31-09, 08:15 PM

I just checked out PDA Accessories. I wasn't impressed.

They do not spec out any of their products thoroughly. I'm aware of the needed output of 5.4 VDC/2A.

I was able to get a Picture close up on one adaptor; It says 5VDC/1A. Then again what typical pics display on a webpage and what you're really getting could be two entirely different things.

My cradle charges well, and I have spare batteries for the road. My concern is getting the right car adaptor that will keep the Axim's display ON when I'm engaged with my Bluetooth GPS.

Again, this is what I'm talking about with finding a reputable dealer. All PDA Accessories states is how good they are against other competitors, prices, and other BS.

I'm not interested in that, I need to read specs, so I know I'm getting the right stuff

gerizam60 · 11-01-09, 06:25 AM

Ok, I'm done with this. I decided to chance a long marathon phone call with Dell sales. (Approx 50 mins)

I went with the Pharos 12V adaptor.($20.99) It output is 5VDC/1.5A.

Again I only need my Axim to see external power so it does not go to sleep when I'm using my Bluetooth GPS.

In any event, the output should be sufficient to keep the battery from draining when engaged and should even get the power button to glow green if connected long enough.

The salesman could not locate the OEM 4mm to 32 pin Foxconn male adaptor.

So I went with the USB/32 pin Sync cable instead.($12) It has a molded Y connector so I may connect the 4mm tip from the 12V adaptor.

I considered it a bonus since now I can sync with my laptop when away from my home PC/cradle.

JoeQFlyer · 11-01-09, 09:41 PM

Back in the day - eforcity.com was the place. Haven't been there in a while though.

-Q-

Blkngold · 11-05-09, 02:18 PM

I searched for iGo charger on Buy.com and it allows me to order individual tips for the other devices I own.