Car Chargers For Mobiles And Tablets

[kia cat]

I have the cigarette socket adapter with a USB socket in the end from my old hTc phone.
Will this work OK for charging and Apple iPhone, iPod or Nexus 7 [with the correct lead, natch]. I know Apple gadgets prefer Apple's own, but didn't know with the one type of adapter policy it's percolated down to in-car stuff. Thanks

[sunny-dave]

My iPhone 5s is normally very picky about leads and mains chargers - but it seems to work OK with a generic USB car adaptor and a cheap as chips lead ... iPad OK too.

[kia cat]

I was going to say cheers Sunny D; but thought oops. So thanks Dave ;)

[sunny-dave]

Pleasure :)

[Hymie]

The most important criteria in matching any 5V usb device with a car cigarette lighter charger, is the current required by the device being charged.

Many cheap chargers only provide 100mA, whereas some power hungry devices need as much as 2A (2,000mA).

[kia cat]

Thx Hymie, but at the risk of appearing an absolute klutz, how do you tell?

[Hymie]

Very often the output current rating will be marked somewhere close to the USB socket outlet (e.g. 5Vdc 100mA), or it maybe on the product packaging.

Since one rated 100mA, can be had from your local £ shop, and one with an output rating of 2A is likely to cost over £5 - it is an important criteria.

Overloading the output of a car charger could have serious consequences for your Ipad.