[C320-list] Extra USB charger

[Warren Updike]

Yes, Magnadyne, that's the one we bought. I couldn't think of the name. Although, ours is an older 10A model. It's worked well, thus my advice to not go on low price for this. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hare [mailto:Catalina at thehares.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2018 12:48 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Extra USB charger

We have one of these http://a.co/29W7BNO mounted in our Nav Station, along with one of these:  http://a.co/5U0eCCh and both hardwired into aux breakers on the main panel.  They were installed around the time 

We have a Blue Sea 1045 FAST Charge Dual USB Charger Socket mounted on our A-B-Both panel by the dinette, one of these mounted in the cockpit engine pod wired to the power side of the switch and fused with a push button breaker next to the blower switch.

We've used a number of different USB fast charge plugs over the years in 12v sockets.  Most have worked just for quite a while, but they all have a tendency to fail after many years of use.  They tend to use the same or similar USB driver ICs and just have different packaging and sometimes different isolation/spike protection mechanisms.  

If you're paying top dollar because you want "the best", you're just as likely to be spending extra money and not always getting better internals.  What you should be looking for are chargers that support Quick Charge 3.0 standard in a quality housing.  But remember that most multiport chargers won't provide full output on all ports at the same time.  4 ports @2.1a per port is at least a 9amp device. So in my opinion, don't be fooled or get all hung up on the "best" charger.  If it lasts 5 years, by then, everyone will be charging with USB-C and your device might be obsolete anyway. 

Even though it's a poor quality picture, here's our nav station and you can see we mounted a 2" desk grommet in the back corner to let the cords come up from below so that the visible clutter is minimized. 
https://c320.org/mediagallery/media.php?s=20180622164302107

-Jeff Hare
2001 #809 C320 Woodbine II

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 10:40 AM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Extra USB charger

I connected ours to the 12v receptacle on the panel, the original one. It's a 10A with its own fuse, power LED, 2 regular plugs, 2 USB ports. There are 20 pages of these things on Amazon. DO NOT buy a cheapie! Look to pay in the $20 range. The one I found came with Velcro mount and screw mount. I attached it to the fwd facing vertical fwd of the panel, and wired behind the panel. Works great. 

I found a USB extension cord that winds on its own reel. The cord is conveniently out of the way when not in use. Easily & quickly pulls out to use. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Buitendijk [mailto:robbuitendijk at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2018 5:33 AM
To: C320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Extra USB charger

Hi there!

We want to add an extra USB charger for our iPhones en iPads.
My question is how connect the charger to one of the batteries: directly to one of the batteries with a 10A fuse, or via the switch board e.g. using the wires for the 12V outlet ?
Anyone with experience or advise for this question?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Rob Buitendijk
The Netherlands
2003 Catalina 320 #949