How to Power Tom Tom 4 Palm

**hotoru** · 04-12-2005, 03:08 PM

This is a quazi car computer / palm computer post but I cannot find the answers on the palm boards. I am hooking up a TomTom GPS Blue tooth unit with my Palm T3. My question is about what is the best way to power these devices. Right now I have them hooked into the cigarette lighter. But, I plan to move the cords to the fuse box. Should I use always on or key ignition? The TomTom I purchased had only the GPS and the power cord.

If I use always on I am afraid I may drain my battery if not run daily. If I use key ignition I am afraid the GPS battery will run dead if not powered daily. I usually run my car daily but occasionally I go a few days without use. Suggestions appreciated.

( I always enter a new post with trepidation. But, although there is a lot of posts about Tom Tom out there I cannot seem to find the answers I seek. If this has been posted before please direct me to the thread.)

**RootBreaker** · 04-13-2005, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by hotoru

This is a quazi car computer / palm computer post but I cannot find the answers on the palm boards. I am hooking up a TomTom GPS Blue tooth unit with my Palm T3. My question is about what is the best way to power these devices. Right now I have them hooked into the cigarette lighter. But, I plan to move the cords to the fuse box. Should I use always on or key ignition? The TomTom I purchased had only the GPS and the power cord.

If I use always on I am afraid I may drain my battery if not run daily. If I use key ignition I am afraid the GPS battery will run dead if not powered daily. I usually run my car daily but occasionally I go a few days without use. Suggestions appreciated.

( I always enter a new post with trepidation. But, although there is a lot of posts about Tom Tom out there I cannot seem to find the answers I seek. If this has been posted before please direct me to the thread.)

I know it will look tacky... unless you can find a place to hide it...
They have solar car battery chargers... my bud got one and his truck sat for 9 months..went outside and fired it right up....
I bought one but my alternator is bad thus draining my battery faster than this can keep it charged... like 1amp/hr or so charge rate...
can get them at pepboys

**hotoru** · 04-14-2005, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by RootBreaker

I know it will look tacky... unless you can find a place to hide it...They have solar car battery chargers...

Good Sugestion. except I park in a garage

I think I am going to hook it up such that it only powers when the car is on... Hopefully wiil charge the units faster than it uses power.

**PaPP** · 04-19-2005, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by hotoru

Good Sugestion. except I park in a garage

I think I am going to hook it up such that it only powers when the car is on... Hopefully wiil charge the units faster than it uses power.

I would suggest testing that by running your TOM TOM down to a dead battery, then plug it in to the cigarette lighter and use it. That will tell you if it gives enough power. Make sure you use it for more than 10 min though during the test run.

~PaPP~