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Solution for USB drawing too much power?

Discussion in 'Prius v Audio and Electronics' started by Krellan, Sep 21, 2012.

  1. Krellan

    Krellan Junior Member

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    I have a 2012 Prius v Five (without ATP).

    Is there a solution for the "USB drawing too much power" error message that appears when I plug in a newer USB device (such as an iPad or iPhone) to the car's USB port, for the Internet data link?

    Unfortunately, I can't tell the device not to try and pull so much power. So, that renders the device incompatible with the data link.

    An old phone, one that draws less power, works just fine, so I know it's not a problem with the USB port.

    My workaround now is to use a cigarette lighter adapter to give me USB charging. This works just great, plenty of power. However, this means i can't use the Internet data link, to get live traffic (a must-have feature for me, on my long commute).

    Is there some kind of funky USB cable I can build that would split up the connection, to connect the data wires to the car's USB port, but connect the charging wires to the cigarette lighter's USB port instead? That would be rather cool. However, would it work? I'm concerned about the possible difference in the ground reference, I don't want to connect two separate circuits together and zap something.

    An alternative solution is a powered USB hub. Is the car's data link compatible with hubs? Or, does the car's data link just see the first USB device plugged into it, and ignore the rest?

    If a powered USB hub is the way to go, are there any USB hubs out there that can power themselves from a cigarette lighter? Unfortunately, all the car USB hubs that I've seen aren't true hubs, they're merely chargers. They don't actually act as USB hubs, they just provide charging, so they won't work to make the data link. A little inverter and a desktop "wall wart" adapter for a traditional powered USB hub sounds like overkill to me, but is it the only way?

    Thanks for any help that you can provide!

    Josh
     
  2. MarathonMarty

    MarathonMarty Prii 4-timer

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    Something is wrong with your USB set-up. I have a v-Three and I have used an i-pad 3, an i-pod touch and my wife's iphone, all by USB connection and I get no such message. They work perfectly and I use my new i-pad with Entune whenever I go on trips. I would be taking the vehicle into the dealer if you can't use an "i" device via USB.
    Good luck.
     
  3. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    On our Pv5, I get the same "USB drawing too much power" message with a Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone device. Since WP7.5 doesn't support SPP and USB "draws too much", the phone can't be used as an audio source or internet link -- even though track and timing info passes through BT. Frustrating!
     
  4. Krellan

    Krellan Junior Member

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    I'm glad to see somebody else back up my story. It's not just me who's having the problem.

    More background: My iPhone has a "Mophie" battery case. It has an extra battery, and it converts the connection to Micro-USB. I have the appropriate cable. It works fine everywhere else, *except* the Prius. It gives the error message about drawing too much power.

    The exact wording is "Power consumption of USB device too high. USB device will therefore be turned off."

    Very rude, Toyota!

    The nearby cigarette lighter port, with USB cigarette lighter adapter, works perfectly to supply power. Unfortunately, I have no way of getting *power* from this source while also connecting *data* to the car's built-in USB port. Has anybody discovered a workaround for this? I wonder if I could build my own USB cable which would split it somehow, or would that cause more problems?
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    It would be interesting to know what is the Prius' max current limitation and how that compares with a typical PC USB or USB 2.0 port, which supplies up to 1000mA.

    I have never gotten a complaint about the Nokia from any laptop or desktop.
     
  6. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Here is a previous thread where someone said he resolved that issue by using a "factory cable": Entunes and iPhone 4s | PriusChat

    It may be that the Prius v USB port shuts down if a device draws more than 1.5A which is the "new" (2011) European Commission standard for the maximum output of USB phone chargers.

    I just looked and saw that the maximum output of my USB phone chargers is 1A but is 2A for my USB tablet charger. My cell phone has an internal charging limit of .5A regardless of which charger is used which makes for slow charging but is supposed to prevent damage to the phone during charging. My Nokia cell phones seem to eat as much power as is available - super quick charging though.
     
  7. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    Annoying (same on my Prius 3) but I think it is just a defect in Prius. Probably a computer setting somewhere since it is likely not a real "too much power draw" situation since same devices work fine on all kinds of other USB compliant devices from netbooks to laptops to 12v car adapters.

    I don't use it and just plug in a USB adapter into the 12V outlet and charge from that when I need it.

    I set the phone up for Bluetooth for everything else so don't need to the USB.
     
  8. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    Hi all. I've asked around as this is not my area of specialty....here's what I've found out on a number of Entune/headunit questions I’ve seen floating out there:

    Our tests have shown iPhone 5 works just fine with Entune. The phone is rated as partially compatible on the Toyota compatibility site because although you can receive a text message and have the system read it out-loud to you, you can’t easily respond to it using the custom responses like other fully compatible phones allow.

    Also, for anyone having any trouble using their latest Apple device…if you previously had an Apple device and backed it up using iTunes, then synced a new device with it and your Entune isn’t working…we recommend you delete and reinstall the Entune app. There was also an Entune app update that went out this week that should solve this so for those having trouble that saw this update via your phone, that should help.

    As for those receiving the overheating message, this is a message that your phone generates (not Toyota) when the device senses an issue. We have been able to replicate this, but only when an aftermarket cable is used. Apple detects an aftermarket cable and prompts the phone to send this message. We have not replicated this using an Apple cable. It’s more likely to occur when you’re battery is running low and or when the device is running a number of apps. Obviously the solution/recommendation is to switch to a factory cable.

    Hope that helps shed a little light on the subject. We are looking at future improvements to our USB ports in general that may help these types of encounters in future vehicles.

    Erica Gartsbeyn
    Prius Product Manager
    Toyota USA
     
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  9. slazerow

    slazerow New Member

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    I wish that Erica/Toyota would address the issue that many of us are having with the prius V not being able to answer calls via bluetooth when using iphone 5. This is an extremely annoying problem.

    iPhone 5 Bluetooth phone problem | PriusChat
     
  10. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    slazerow,
    Can you give me more details so I can try to help? What type of headunit do you have (display audio or the premium hdd?)? Does the phone work with BT when dialing out but doesn't receive incoming calls? Have you taken it to your dealer? Please elaborate.

    Thanks,
    Erica
     
  11. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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  12. slazerow

    slazerow New Member

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    Erica,
    I have a Prius V model 5 w/nav (non ATP). The bluetooth will dial out fine, but if I receive a call (push "answer call" on screen), the music turns off for a second and then come right back on so I can't get the call. I need to push the "transfer call to phone" button on the screen, then push the "handsfree" button on the screen and it will work like it used to. I called Toyota customer service who said they have not completed testing the iphone 5 , but I have not taken my car to the dealer yet. I noticed a few similar complaints on this forum as well as the Apple user forum. There are a lot of iphone 5 users out there and I am wondering whether they are having similar problems with their incoming calls. By the way, I suspect that this is a bluetooth headunit issue rather than an iphone Entunes app issue. We would very much appreciate your help to resolve this problem.

    Read more: http://priuschat.com/threads/iphone-5-bluetooth-phone-problem.116668/#ixzz2Ajo6wpSf
     
  13. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    This is your problem, when you plug a Mophie case and it's Iphone friend, together, they pull too much current.
    The Mophie case is either a 1500ma or 2000 ma LiPo battery and charger which is 1.5 amps and 2.0 amps respectively!
    There are cigarette lighter to USB power adapters that will handle the extra current the Mophie requires.
    I have a Mophie, love the idea of a complete spare charge when you need it!
     
  14. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    slazerow,

    OK, I checked. This is something that our team is aware of. It appears that other manufacturers are also encountering the same issue with the iphone 5. We are gathing data and investigating. I would recommend that you take your car to the dealer to officially log the issue with them. The more data logged, the easier it may be for us to resolve.

    Thanks for your patience,
    Erica Gartsbeyn
    Prius Product Manager
    Toyota USA
     
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  15. PiPi

    PiPi Junior Member

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    I have a similar problem with the USB, the ipad works no problem.

    But when I plug in a USB flash drive, the music plays and everything wroks, but it shutsdown after 20~30 mins while driving. it just pause and doesnt do anything.

    I tried to unplug and plug it back in, it will just keep searching even if I put a different one in there.

    After I shutdown the car and turns it back on, it continues to play from where it left off like nothings happened.

    This keeps happening and not a hit or miss issue.

    is there any setting there is to stop USB from freezing after 20~30 mins of usage while driving?

    Thanks!
     
  16. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Does your screen turn blue ?
     
  17. PiPi

    PiPi Junior Member

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    No it doesnt. The screen looks like regular with pic on the left and running time for the song.

    Its like its PAUSED and wont play anything. The screen still responds to my touch commands.

    Just stops playing and doesnt matter what I select it just wont play again for the USB only until I turn off the car and restart the car. Other BT and SAT and AM/FM is fine.

    Thanks!
     
  18. ilusnforc

    ilusnforc Member

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    I had an adapter y-cable that came with my old HTC Mogul phone on Sprint. It has a Mini-USB connector on the phone and the adapter had 2 Mini-USB connectors on it, one you plug the USB cable from your computer into so the phone will sync and the other is intended for an A/C charger for faster charge than the 0.5A supply from the computer's USB port. I wonder if they make those in Micro-USB for newer devices. The adapter looked like this:
    [​IMG]
     
  19. gregogarrison

    gregogarrison New Member

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    I am experiencing the same issue with my iPhone 5 if I use the USB port to connect via Etune and stream Pandora. The music will play for 30 min + or - then the phone overheats and shuts down. It is very warm to the touch. My greatest concern is frying the phone. I can use the blue tooth fine along with the 12 volt adapter but the benefit of etunes is not having to pickup your phone to switch stations. 2013 Prius Plug in
     
  20. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

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    I understand the frustration associated with getting your Apple phone to work with a product that Apple doesn't have control over. Hint... Hint... It's the phone... :cautious: