Just got an external GPS Nav. system, and would like to feed the USB power from the overhead console.

Anyone done it before? Any tips you wanna share?

Vindio

'04 RAM 1500 Quad-cab.

 

USB devices run on 5VDC. Our trucks run on 12VDC.

But, our sensors use 5VDC for power that comes from the pcm. So, you would have to wire it from the pcm.

 

Radio Shack sells a converter for changing 12 volts to
3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 volts
for about $14
that I have used to power radios and battery chargers
but me personally,
I would be afraid this dc power
might have too much noise and voltage spikes
to feed into a GPS thru the USB port
without checking it out on an oscilloscope first.

 

Since its an external unit, it should have a 12v feed. The usb is for uploads from the website on my garmin.

 

I know some computer accessories are now being powered by the USB cable (canon scanner) but I agree that doesn't make sense for an auto accessory. The GPS should be powered by 12V DC for an auto accessory. Be careful about using the power you can find in the overhead console. I ran my radar detector power up there so I could hide the cord and I found a nice 12V source, it turned out to be the power for the auto dimming mirror. Every time I put the truck into reverse the radar detector powers off and back up. I reasoned that the auto dimming rear mirror is powered down in reverse to make sure you don't run into things backwards because it was dimmed.