TND Tablet losing battery while plugged in

If you are using a DC cord, where the DC cord goes into the socket on the truck try using a tine off a plastic fork or a couple of cable ties between the connector and the socket. The heavy bouncing a truck takes sometimes wiggles the connector out a little, thus losing your connection.

Mark

 

Tablets need at least 2 amps to charge. You need a better charger.

 

and that could entirely possible. I had that problem with my last truck before it got traded in.

 

I have to use this trick with a couple of usb chargers that I bought at Dollar Tree. Any piece of paper folded up about the same size as a paper match will do.

 

I've got to hand it to rm, building a product specific for truckers that doesn't work correctly on DC in a truck. Sounds like it's broken to me, it was sold to you as a product that would work in your environment. If you bought a camera at a dive shop for use under water and it leaked you would want a refund right? How is this diferent.

 

Before this gets out of hand again... Trucks for the most part have a short shaft for the DC in the front and the constant vibration sometimes in an older truck or newer truck tends to make the plug vibrate out the connector a little causing a loss of connection.

Adding a piece of cable tie or the tine off of plastic fork helps keep a tight connection.

IF the roads were smooth without potholes or a nice flat surface then you would have less vibration. So is RM responsible for the condition of the asphalt/concrete of roads?

 

It's also an ancient design of the automotive industry. Can't blame gps manufacturers for working with what the vehicles are equipped with.

My newest vehicle has a built in USB port. I'm sure we will be seeing more of this in the future.

 

Even then the USB port will not supply enough current to the units.. I have tried the USB/DC adapters rated at 2.4a and they would not keep the tablet charged. I saw a steady decrease in the battery status.

Mark

 

I know this thread is a bit old but I just started having a charging problem of my own with my TND. I did some research online and found a few suggestions. I also looked at the connectors between the mount base and the unit.

The contacts on the back of the unit are dirty and need to be cleaned. The problem is that normally when electrical contacts need to be cleaned you can take a new pencil eraser and clean them right up but on this unit the contacts are tiny and at the bottom of a small "protected" circle of plastic so you can not get in there to successfully clean them.

Another problem seems to be with the charger provided by RM. It appears to no longer be putting out enough amperage to keep the unit charged.

I solved this by using the mini USB on the unit itself (On the right side) and using an aftermarket charger capable of 3+ amps. The one I'm using I got from Amazon and has a built in meter to show the amperage draw. It also has 2 USB ports, I'm only using the 1 for the TND. The meter usually shows 1.5 to 1.8 amps. Given this it would stand to reason that a charger rated at 2+ amps should be enough. However, I tried a few other chargers, all rated at 2a or more and none of them would keep the unit charged.

Here is the particular charger I am using: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FWXY636/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation what so ever with Amazon or the people that make or sell this charger. All I know is it is rated at 3.1a and it works for the TND, (When plugged into the port on the side of the unit, not the mounting base).

Hope this helps...