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towlebooth · Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 7:16 am Post subject: Garmin Car Adapters

Hi all,
I received a car cig power adapter for my GPS on my birthday this year. Cool gift, thanks Sigil!! Haven't tried it yet but was wondering - can I have regular batteries in the unit while it is plugged into the car? Does the unit pull power only from the plug-in when connected and not from the batteries?

Thanks,
towlebooth

Centris · Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 9:42 am Post subject:

I had a bad experience with mine (I got one from Santa this past year). It sporadically blew a fuse in my car and I finally had to quit using it. I usually have my phone or CD player plugged into the lighter with never any problem so I know it was not the lighter. I even took the car to my mechanic to check it out, he thought it was a design flaw in the way their adapter fit into my lighter.

I tried it batteries in and batteries out with the same results -- Hopefully it was a quirky defect in my own adapter and will not affect yours, but just in case go buy a pack of fuses. Wink

But anyway -- when it did work it was great! Probably saved me lots of $$$ in batteries. The instructions say you can leave the batteries in and the way it works kind of depends on the fact that you have left the batteries in, since you have 20 seconds to push a button after it is disconnected to have the unit remain on and active. Plus when it was on the plug it acted just as if it had fresh batteries and gave real good strong readings.

It's a good thing to have and I still carry mine for "just in case"

Moe the Sleaze · Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 10:38 am Post subject:

I use my car adapter with my Garmin GPSMAP76 all the time and have had no problems with it. IMO this is an essential piece of gear I wouldn't want to do without.

Yes, you can leave the batteries in place.
_________________
"Hi, I'm Moe, or as the women know me - Hey! You in the bushes."
-Moe, The Simpsons

jonsom · Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 12:53 pm Post subject:

Is it a Garimin plug, or an aftermarket one. I bought one off E-bay (aftermarket) and use it all the time. I always have batteries in my GPS, but anytime I am in the vehicle I plug it in. There have been times where my GPS has been on and plugged in for a whole week. I also plug it in to my boat when I go fishing, and it works great.
_________________
"The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein

Centris · Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 10:04 am Post subject:

Mine is a Garmin plug -- purchased at Sportsman's Warehouse in Anoka. I hook it onto my Legend. I am beginning to think maybe mine is just defective or something -- nobody else has had this problem Sad

Bummer!

towlebooth · Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 6:33 am Post subject:

Not a bummer for the rest of us!! Worked great all weekend - to Eastern WI and back.