Car charger for iPod touch

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Car charger for iPod touch

I've tried to charge my iPod touch with a car charger several times and I've never been able to get it to charge at all. I want to say that I have been able to charge my touch in the car before, but I may be remembering charging my iPod video.

Is there anything about the touch that prevents it from being charged with a car charger? Does it require a special car charger (I'm just plugging the sync cable into one of a couple of different chargers I have with a USB port).

Windows XP

Posted on Aug 9, 2010 12:40 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 9, 2010 6:36 PM in response to Girevik

When the Touch changed from 1st to 2nd generation, the charging circuit for all iPods from that point on changed to a different pin on the dock connector. You'll need to get a new charger for your Touch, or look for an adapter cable to allow you to use your old charger.

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Answer 2

Girevik Author

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Aug 10, 2010 5:01 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean by the "connector" and "charger".

Basically, I have two different adapters I can plut into my car cigarette lighter that has a usb port. One is my cell phone charger that has a usb port, and the other is one I bought specifically for my iPod video. I've tried plugging both my sync cable from my touch and video into them and neither seems to work.

Are you basically saying that I need a new adpter to plug into a cigarette lighter? I would have thought that any USB port that provides power would work with the iPod.

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Answer 3

Aug 10, 2010 10:13 AM in response to Girevik

Let me say it another way then ...

The dock connector on the bottom of your Touch remained the same as your other iPod, but the internal connections changed such that the DC voltage needed to charge the iPod has to be applied to a different pin on the dock connector. The chargers that you have will fit the Touch, but they will not charge it because they are not applying the voltage to the right pin on the connector. The adapter I mentioned transfers the supplied DC to the correct pin on the dock connector, thus it would sit between your Touch and the existing charging accessories that you have.

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Answer 4

Girevik Author

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Aug 10, 2010 11:22 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul

Ok, except that what I use to charge it is the same cable that I use when I hook it up on the computer or an AC adapter that I have (the cable that came with the iPod), and it works fine there...I guess that's what's throwing me.

So basically even though the cable I'm using is the same one I can use to charge it with AC power, I can't use the Apple supplied cord for DC? I guess I'll just hit e-bay for a car charge made for the touch.

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Answer 5

Aug 10, 2010 11:39 AM in response to Girevik

Sorry, I missed that you're trying to use the stock iPod cable. I thought your accessories had an "iPod connector" on them and they were being plugged directly into the iPod -- those types of accessoreis can cause a compatibility problem as I was mentioning.

The stock iPod cable should work fine if it is connected to a USB source that can provide power. If you're plugging the stock iPod cable into a USB port, perhaps the source on the USB side is not functioning or does not provide enough current?

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Answer 6

Girevik Author

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Aug 10, 2010 11:54 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul

I don't know about whether it's enough current, but I do know that both adapters I have to plug the USB cable into will charge my sons' Nintendo DS's, and at least at one point would charge my iPod video. Can you think of any way to test this?

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Answer 7

Aug 10, 2010 1:16 PM in response to Girevik

If the USB port you're plugging into is charging the DS then there is DC present, but trying to test the current limit is not an easy thing to do. Perhaps you have a defective iPod cable? Have you tried using the exact same cable to charge your iPod on your computer?

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Answer 8

Girevik Author

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Aug 10, 2010 1:27 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul

Yes. I have two cables I use regularly....one that came with my video I use at home and one that came with the touch I keep at work. Both work when plugged into the computer, neither works when I plug it into any of the DC adapters that I have.

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Answer 9

Aug 10, 2010 2:30 PM in response to Girevik

Very strange, I would think it would work if there is DC present, but perhaps the Touch now requires a special authentication chip in the charger.

If you still have your old iPod video, would you be able to charge it with these DC adapters? If they can charge your old iPod but not your Touch, did they ever work with your Touch, or is this a new Touch that you're just starting to use? Also, did you recently update the Touch's OS? Just curious if 4.0 could have enabled something that causes the Touch to look for an authentication chip.

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Answer 10

Aug 10, 2010 3:56 PM in response to Girevik

I got 3 differents car chargers but none charge my iPod Touch so went to the apple store and the guy says this new gen of Ipods need more power so I purchase another car charger (now i got 4), is a Griffin car charger an it works Ok..! charges and play the iPod to the car radio.

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Answer 11

Girevik Author

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25 points

Aug 11, 2010 8:34 AM in response to Martin MX

Okay, I wondered if it was an issue of the charger I have just wasn't putting out enough juice for some reason (although that sounds strange too...seems it would pass through all the power from the socket). I guess I'll hit eBay for an iPod touch charger.

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