Customer Reviews

Garmin Vehicle Power Cable

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

No matter how much I want continuous power to my Garmin I just can't pay that much for a little power cable that costs probably $1 to make. It's the principle of it.

Instead I did some research and discovered a nifty little item called a USB car adapter for as low as two dollars! - then I can just use the USB cord that came with the unit! Only the wires needed for supplying power are used and not those for the data (they are separate wires in the cord). For more info do a search on Wikipedia for USB, and Goggle and right here at Amazon for USB car chargers.

I found a great dual charging unit elsewhere for $15 including shipping. With the dual unit I can charge my eTrex Vista HCx and phone or PDA, both at the same time. Just make sure the power output is 4.75 to 5.25V, that's the USB power specification. All but one of the units I found where in the proper power range though one was 7.2V, which is too high.

BTW, the little connector at the eTrex is also a USB connecter, just a different type (shape) then you may be used to. They call it a `mini USB,' while the larger one on the other end (of the cord that came with the unit) is a `USB type A', the same you typically see for computers and flash cards. It doesn't matter though, they are just differently shaped connectors that do exactly the same thing.

Don't pay Garmin's outrageous prices. Get a USB car adapter and power your eTrex through the USB cord supplied with your unit. It's the same as when you plug your unit into your computer's USB port and the computer supplies the unit with 5V power. Enjoy

I ordered this item from Electrogalaxy through Amazon.com and received a 110 volt power cable. I'm not sure what it would fit.

Electrogalaxy did not respond to my emails as to getting the right product or determining if the description is wrong. Instead they refunded my purchase, minus the $8 it cost to ship it back to them. This is their stated policy so if you can't trust them to send the right product, don't buy from them.

In short, I'm $8 in the hole with nothing to show for it, other than the knowledge to not buy from this company.

I would recommend you email the company before purchasing this item to verify what you are getting.

Works fine with my Vista HCx, just way overpriced!

But, it allows the use of the GPS in the car without using your batteries, and is great for turning up the brightness, as others have noted.

Garmin really does need to think some things through however. Both their AC and DC adapters are just that, adapters. The Vista HCx GPS I use accepts rechargeable batteries, but neither of their adapters are designed to charge batteries, but only to supply voltage to operate?! Kind of short-sighted on their part.

Good product, but I'm deducting points for price, and being unable to function as a charger.

I have two of these things. When used with a car lighter outlet, they cause my Legend Cx to overheat. When used with a true 12v. power source, they work fine. Most cars actually run at about 13.6 to 14 volts instead of 12. Garmin is trying hard to help me resolve this, but in the meantime, be aware that certain units may experience problems with this system.

It's fine as a charger but I wish Garmin had designed it as a standard 1 pin charger and placed the access point at he base of the unit not the top rear. Horrible placement. Also cord is way too long and is difficult to get the charger into the usb port. I am also concerned that the constant opening and closing of the rubber flat the waterproofs the usb port will damage it.

If you're using your GPS in the car and want to save on batteries I recommend it. My car doesn't goes with my hiking, and I don't have an adapter on my snowmobile, mountain bike, or motocross bike so I probably didn't need it. But hey the cord works like its supposed to when I did use it.

If you have Garmin Legend GPS, do not buy this adapter. I purchased it, used it in the truck and every time you turn off and turn on the engine, it will damage GPS. I had my GPS replaced 3 times.
I purchased newer Legend HCx and got it damaged by adapter also. After replacement, I simply use standard cellphone cigarette adapter and haven't had any problem at all.

The Etrex Vista C uses a USB port connection to the computer, and the power cable matches the GPS end of the cable. It functions well, supplying power as needed. However, the cable attaches at 90 degrees to the back of the unit. Thus, the GPS cannot lie flat on the dashboard, in contrast with the previous Etrex Vista model.

The user must either buy the Garmin window mount, or come up with a way to hold the GPS unit off the dashoard. I use a dry kitchen sponge wrapped with a strip of rubberized drawer liner. I would have preferred the cable enter the GPS unit parallel with the back.

Works as advertised on my 60Cx, I was wondering after reading a review that it didn't, it does. Using on a motorcycle so I wouldn't go for the USB power because it seems like it will create a weatherproof seal whereas the USB won't. It's a must have for me. 4 stars because of the price, yes it's steep.

I took a six hour road trip last summer and this device was fantastic in that I was able to use the backlight on my Garmin all the way and never had to worry about running down the batteries. I also use it at night when a backlight is pretty much essential. It conveniently plugs into the USB plug on the unit, and works fine with my dashboard mount. Yes, it is expensive, but I told a friend I would get him one for his Garmin as he was going to try and rig up one homemade in the hopes of saving some money. I thought that a car fire or toasting his Garmin is not worth the meager savings, or the risk that his homemade rig could go terribly wrong, so he will have a proper power source for his Garmin this Christmas.

I took one star away because I do think it should have been priced less for what it does.