[vdubturbo]

Does anyone know if the USB port in the glove box should have power? My console port will charge a phone but my glove box one will not. Is this normal?

[LiveLarger]

Power is part of the USB specification, so all USB should have power. That being said, some devices draw more power then USB port can deliver. A good example are iPads. They will not charge on all USB ports. I'm not 100% sure BMW obey to the specifications either, even if it would be dumb it they didn't.

[eskdale]

I must have power otherwise you could not use a USB memory stick either. And that definitely works OK.

[darrko]

All USB ports are not created equal. All USB ports have power but not all USB ports are "powered".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_USB

[eskdale]

Originally Posted by darrko

All USB ports are not created equal. All USB ports have power but not all USB ports are "powered".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_USB

Sorry Darrko - but you are confusing the issue here "Powered USB" is not a USB standard and is a "proprietary variant" of USB and is not what you will find in your BMW as it even uses different connectors to implement it.

The USB standard allows for 500ma to be taken from the USB connector and I'm sure the BMW is capable of supplying this. Some equipment likes to take more than this and this is likely to be a problem with the BMW (iPad & some Disk drives as an example). Additionally some equipment likes the data signals of the USB to be in certain states before they will charge.

Jon

[darrko]

You are probably correct, I remember reading in the user manual that the center console USB port should not be connected to portable hard drives. Perhaps this means that there is a limit to the power that the USB port will provide, maybe the hard drives/some phones draw in too many amps and pose a risk to the in-car circuits?

[vdubturbo]

Huh... so what I'm hearing is that the glove box one should behave like the center console one?

Right now, if I plug my iPhone into the center console it charges. If I move it to the glove box it does not. Service call time? I really want to be able to charge my BB on trips while I have the iPhone plugged into the iDrive.

[the_rangdo]

I charge my TomTom on the glovebox one and run a SSD HDD from the centre console.

[vdubturbo]

Originally Posted by the_rangdo

I charge my TomTom on the glovebox one and run a SSD HDD from the centre console.

Well... first service call, here I come.

[jedpause]

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

Well... first service call, here I come.

Before you do that.... don't you have a cigarette lighter connection in the cup tray (you could put a USB adapter there.... that definitely works.

Failing that, look UNDER the glove box and you will find another port where you can put a USB adaptor (feel with your fingers near the centre console...

[sunnyUK]

The USB port is capable of supplying 100mA initially but can indicate it can supply a higher current after the device is plugged in. Probably the glove box port is set up as low current port so the phone wont charge.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by the_rangdo

I charge my TomTom on the glovebox one and run a SSD HDD from the centre console.

What Make/Model SSD are you running? FAT32 format? Can't get my USB to work.

[eskdale]

If you want to go into detail there is a good description of the USB Power features / Specification halfway down this page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus

Have a read of the section "Power"

Bear in mind that the F10 was design before 2010 so the latest higher power specs will not be met.

The centre console USB socket is certainly capable of the 500ma. I have a MiFI (3G to WiFi converter) that I power on this USB connector and it performs fine. The MiFi only works as 3G to WiFi if it is not connected to a USB host device - when it is connected to a USB device it goes into 3G dongle mode. So to power it I have a short USB extension which isolates the 2 data lines. This then provides just the 5v. Just for your info the BMW happily provides 500ma to power the device without the data lines connected.

[vdubturbo]

Originally Posted by jedpause

Before you do that.... don't you have a cigarette lighter connection in the cup tray (you could put a USB adapter there.... that definitely works.

Failing that, look UNDER the glove box and you will find another port where you can put a USB adaptor (feel with your fingers near the centre console...

You're right, I could... but the whole purpose of spending all the money on Nav (and a 5-Series for that matter) is so I don't have a slew of wires, plugs, and adapters all over my car. I'd prefer to leave the phone in the glove box and keep the wires hidden.

Just my preference though...

[the_rangdo]

It's a Corsair F120 120GB. Bought it early 2011 so no idea if it's still a current model.

I did try a Crucial drive in my E91, lower in operation power but higher initial 'spike' so it never initialised. The Corsair uses a different controller chipset that draws much less current at start-up.

[E90Fleet]

BMW technical documents say the Center console USB can supply 500mA and that the glovebox USB should not be used for charging

[vdubturbo]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

BMW technical documents say the Center console USB can supply 500mA and that the glovebox USB should not be used for charging

Thank you for the info. I suppose it should say is "cannot" be used for charging

[darrko]

Yeah but technically if it says "should not" that would really mean "it can but you are not supposed to" as opposed to "cannot".

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by the_rangdo

It's a Corsair F120 120GB. Bought it early 2011 so no idea if it's still a current model.

I did try a Crucial drive in my E91, lower in operation power but higher initial 'spike' so it never initialised. The Corsair uses a different controller chipset that draws much less current at start-up.

Thanks for the info Rangdo. I'll try the Force Series™ 3 120GB SATA 3 6Gb/s Solid-State Hard Drive.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by darrko

Yeah but technically if it says "should not" that would really mean "it can but you are not supposed to" as opposed to "cannot".

Its wiring and connection to the car is different, so I think certain devices can draw a small amount of current from it, but most cannot.
Its not designed for charging

[vdubturbo]

Originally Posted by darrko

Yeah but technically if it says "should not" that would really mean "it can but you are not supposed to" as opposed to "cannot".

Correct, but neither my iPhone or my Blackberry will charge on t...hat port so it might as well say cannot.

[Philipp535i]

Will the glove box USB port have enough power to power a dashcam (you know, the type that films the road so you have evidence in case of an accident)?