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You can’t charge the iPhone 3G on iPod Audio Systems

First I want to say that my experience purchasing an iPhone at an Apple Store in Pittsburgh, PA was excellent. All has gone well, except for the following problem:

I tried to connect my new 3G iPhone to my car audio system just as I did with my previous iPod Touch and, before that, my iPod mini. I was surprised that I got a message that my new iPhone was not compatible with the charging system. I thought it was something strange I might have been doing, until I saw this post on Apple Gazette:
http://www.applegazette.com/iphone/you-cant-charge-the-iphone-3g-on-ipod-audio-s ystems/#comment-83490

I have this exact same problem. Cannot charge on previous iPod charging systems! Apple or someone else, please help. This is an extremely odd connection problem We'll likely need some help from Apple on this one.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Alan

iPhone 3G, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 11, 2008 11:29 PM

Reply
161 replies

Jul 13, 2008 9:23 AM in response to Marianco1

I have exactly the same problem, car audio adapter from Dension, works 100% with ipod, and iphone first generation. But my 3G, does not charge anymore !! and it gives an anoying error message (charging device not supported, u know :-(which can't be cleared / ignored.
So, i opened the connector, and removed the 12v signal of the connector, which helped me get rid of the error message. Then i tried connecting 5v signal on the pins which should be suited (you can find the pin layout on the net), but that part it did not get working.
I anyone has any tips, suggestions, please let me know.

Jul 13, 2008 9:56 AM in response to alanpgh

I am experiencing the same issue using the built-in iPod cable in my Scion xB. Charging worked fine with my previous iPhone, and now it doesn't work at all with the iPhone 3G. When combined with the reduced battery life, this is a serious problem.

We need a fix! My old iPhone battery was always topped up, because I could leave it plugged into the car. Now it's always low, because listening to music in the car drains the battery instead of charging it.

Not cool, Apple. I hope this can be fixed with a software update; if not, we need a hardware solution. Either way, you need to do something. This is unacceptable.

Jul 13, 2008 10:42 AM in response to A A P L

A A P L wrote:
You might want to consider researching before you buy something.


Of course. How silly of me. I should have read that big type in the Technical Specifications where it says: "iPhone 3G is not compatible with existing iPod chargers or accessories. Apple no longer supports any existing method of in-vehicle charging."

Oh wait, that's not there. It doesn't say anything about that, does it? So the only way for people to find about the issue and come up with a solution would be... oh, that's right, "ranting in the forums."

It's nice that you don't care that your $260 iPod connector kit has been crippled. I'm not so happy about it.

You can’t charge the iPhone 3G on iPod Audio Systems

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