Droid X discharges faster than it charges while using Navigation n the car dock.

[greydarrah]

I'm using the Moto Rapid car charger and drove for 2 hours today using navigation (screen on 100% of the time) and actually listened to an audio book as well. When I plugged in and started the trip I was at 80%, when I got there I was up to 100%. It's all about the charger you use.

 

[Mojoe#AC]

Had mine on the card dock for 10 minutes last night, driving around town trying it out. It was cool out and at night and the Droid X still got pretty warm. I didn't have it on long enough to charge or discharge it but the heat issue has me concerned about using it for navigation.

 

[Ktulu]

Another data point

Yesterday I was able to charge the phone with a Blackberry car charger (500mA) while running Google Nav and a few other apps. This was NOT in the Motorola car dock and the screen was at 20% brightness.

5:30 am Monday. Phone reporting 100% battery. 45 minute commute running Google Nav. Phone reported 100% battery on arrival. Google Nav stopped working and required a "force close" at about the 35 minute mark.

3:00 pm Monday. Phone reporting 70% battery. 45 minute drive home with Google Nav. Phone reported 90% battery on arrival.

 

[impostor71]

There's something whacked with the car dock. I've also tested this and google nav in the car dock will cause my phone to drain battery even though it's showing a charging symbol in the status bar. Removing the phone from the dock (with google nav running) and plugging the charging cord (Moto rapid charger cord) will charge up the phone again. I watched the battery temps via the Battery Left app and the temps were the same in or out of the dock.

 

[vicw926a4]

There's something whacked with the car dock. I've also tested this and google nav in the car dock will cause my phone to drain battery even though it's showing a charging symbol in the status bar. Removing the phone from the dock (with google nav running) and plugging the charging cord (Moto rapid charger cord) will charge up the phone again. I watched the battery temps via the Battery Left app and the temps were the same in or out of the dock.

That's pretty scary. I was just about to run out and pick up one of the car docks. It's only point-to-point wiring for the micro usb charge path, so that would imply that you have a defective unit, or there is a design problem with the dock. I wonder if any other car docks are experiencing that problem, or not.

I know I have to be careful with my home dock to make sure the DX is completely seated. I learned that lesson when my DX discharged overnight while on the dock.

 

[TurboCam]

I am happy to report that I took the 4 hour drive with google nav on the entire time (screen at 100%). I started the trip with 60% battery left, and the phone was totally charged up when I ended my trip.

I had the phone docked in the car charger and used the moto rapid charger this time. battery temps started at 32C and got as high as 36C.

So, the moto rapid charger definitely works! thanks for the recommendation cory! the vzw dual port couldn't keep up on the same trip one week earlier.

In summary, I still think this is an issue with the car dock though.

 

[impostor71]

it's possible that my car dock is defective somehow. I'm going to have to exchange it at my Verizon store and test again.

 

[Cory Streater]

Yesterday I was able to charge the phone with a Blackberry car charger (500mA) while running Google Nav and a few other apps. This was NOT in the Motorola car dock and the screen was at 20% brightness.

5:30 am Monday. Phone reporting 100% battery. 45 minute commute running Google Nav. Phone reported 100% battery on arrival. Google Nav stopped working and required a "force close" at about the 35 minute mark.

3:00 pm Monday. Phone reporting 70% battery. 45 minute drive home with Google Nav. Phone reported 90% battery on arrival.

On your second trip was it still at 20% brightness? It could be that 20% reduced power consumption low enough to be able to charge and use GPS/Google Maps at the same time. I'm not questioning your results - in any way - but the fact is, if the phone is consuming more than it's receiving, you you will not see an increase in charge. If it's breaking even, then I would expect it to stay about the same. Seeing as the output of the charger is 500mAh, it does seem odd that at even 20% brightness you would have such a positive result. Are you positive it's 500mAh? Also, is this a USB charger or a dedicated car charger?

 

[alphanu22]

yes the BB Charger is 500mAH, i been using it and used it all last week when i went to DC with the Vent Mount. Stayed @ 100%

 

[rswain64]

Just completed a 4000 mile trip in 10 days using the Motorola Car Dock and a BB Storm car charger. Left Panama City, FL to Sturgis up through Canada and back home. Didn't have any issues with the phone charging at all. Drove approximately 10-12 hours per day and heavy use when stopped and unplugged. Only time I recharged was when in the dock driving. Used the NAV the entire time with satellite view and streamed Pandora or MLB games when driving. Only issue I had was on the way home the phone rebooted. It was 103 in Nashville and think it overheated in the windshield. Absolutely love this phone and it's features.

 

[Clemsonpablo]

I have the moto rapid charger and sometimes if discharges, sometimes it floats, and sometimes it charges on the dock

 

[Ktulu]

On your second trip was it still at 20% brightness? It could be that 20% reduced power consumption low enough to be able to charge and use GPS/Google Maps at the same time. I'm not questioning your results - in any way - but the fact is, if the phone is consuming more than it's receiving, you you will not see an increase in charge. If it's breaking even, then I would expect it to stay about the same. Seeing as the output of the charger is 500mAh, it does seem odd that at even 20% brightness you would have such a positive result. Are you positive it's 500mAh? Also, is this a USB charger or a dedicated car charger?

Yes, 20% brightness for both trips and a 500mA Blackberry dedicated car charger. I'll see if I can get a picture.

Just for grins, on the way home, I'll repeat the test with my "Outdoors" profile that turns the screen up to 80%. It also bring up all the ringer and notification levels but that shouldn't matter.

 

[Cory Streater]

Post a picture if you want, but I totally believe you. I'm just surprised that a charger with that low of an output is capable of charging/keeping it fully charged at the same time. I wonder if it's the difference between a non USB vs. a USB type charger?

 

[Ktulu]

Well check this out, Cory. I drove home with the battery at 80%, the screen at 80%, Google Nav running, and the X plugged into the Blackberry charger. When I arrived the battery was at... 70%. This is more the result I expected when I decided to run my little test yesterday.

The good news is that it seems turning the screen down really low can get you by with a low power charger. Yesterday it was lightly raining and the screen was pretty easy to see at 20%. On bright sunny days like today 20% is a struggle. Especially with sunglasses on.

The bad news is I need to buy a new charger.

 

[Cory Streater]

Well check this out, Cory. I drove home with the battery at 80%, the screen at 80%, Google Nav running, and the X plugged into the Blackberry charger. When I arrived the battery was at... 70%. This is more the result I expected when I decided to run my little test yesterday.

The good news is that it seems turning the screen down really low can get you by with a low power charger. Yesterday it was lightly raining and the screen was pretty easy to see at 20%. On bright sunny days like today 20% is a struggle. Especially with sunglasses on.

The bad news is I need to buy a new charger.

Well I'm glad that at least something I said turned out to be true. I was hanging my head in shame haha... Anyway, thanks for reporting back. It's helpful to know that the display plays a big role in this as well.

I'm not sure if you checked out the Moto charger mentioned earlier in the thread, but it's only $6 on Amazon, so not too bad. One thing I forgot to mention earlier, is that there are different merchants you can have your order fulfilled through on Amazon. Based on some of the reviews I read, it sounds like your safest is to make sure Amazon is the one doing the fulfillment.

 

[badchevy]

I finally got to test the Griffin Technology - PowerJolt Dual Universal USB Car Charger out with a 5 hour trip in 98 degree heat, brightness on auto running Nav and Pandora. Started the trip with about 80% battery and was fully charged when I got there. On a side note half of this trip was through the sticks in Mo. and I never lost my streaming.. comming from AT&T I was very pleased.

 

[Ktulu]

I'm not sure if you checked out the Moto charger mentioned earlier in the thread, but it's only $6 on Amazon, so not too bad. One thing I forgot to mention earlier, is that there are different merchants you can have your order fulfilled through on Amazon. Based on some of the reviews I read, it sounds like your safest is to make sure Amazon is the one doing the fulfillment.

Thanks Cory.

 

[impostor71]

I finally got to test the Griffin Technology - PowerJolt Dual Universal USB Car Charger out with a 5 hour trip in 98 degree heat, brightness on auto running Nav and Pandora. Started the trip with about 80% battery and was fully charged when I got there. On a side note half of this trip was through the sticks in Mo. and I never lost my streaming.. comming from AT&T I was very pleased.

Were you using it with the Moto car dock or direct plug-in to the DX?

 

[Natemz]

So after reading this thread last week I decided to order 2 of the chargers off Amazon that Corey suggested. I had been getting the discharging during navigation as well. Got them in last night and this morning I tried out the charger along with navigation on my 40 minute trek to work. Major improvement When I unplugged the phone after arriving the battery read 100%. SO much better than the cheapies off eBay. Crazy thing is that 2 of them only cost me $12.

Thanks for the suggestion Corey.

EDIT: Just checked Amazon and the charger is now on sale for $2.27! Crazy!

 

[Shadin]

I think the car dock was badly designed. I was trying to get my phone to charge while in the dock today. Even with out any apps running I couldn't get the phone to charge while in the dock. I tried both the version car chager and the ac adapter for the usb cored. Neither one would work, but both would work fine if I plugged them straight into the phone. After playing around with it for a little bit I noticed that phone wouldn't seat all the into the dock when it was in the case(verizon case holster). I took it out of case and then the phone would seat enough, so that it would charge with either charger. I even tried modifying the dock like others have suggested on here, but I can't get it to seat well enough to charge in the dock while in a case, but it works fine out of the case.

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