InstaMapper

is it possible to wire this unit so that the phone stays on 24/7 and have it turn on the phone everytime you turn on the ignition just in case the phone erratically turn its self off.

The phone will stay on long as there is battery juice in the phone.  Once that battery dies, the lightening charger turns the phone back on once ignition is engaged.  (Unline a a conventional 12v constant, the lightening charger turns the phone on.  This cycles the battery as there is a known issue with iDEN devices with USB.

Just received the kit I talked about the the first post.  I will try to get it installed this weekend and I'll let you guys know how it works.

Todd

A couple of minuses:

- Device takes a couple of minutes to turn on the phone after ignition is turned on, even when the phone's battery is fully charged.

- The device generates a clicking noise every few minutes.

I have the module installed under the cup holders in the middle console  of a 2009 Mazda 6 and can't hear any clicking.  If fact, I can't hear any clicking (relays) unless it is in the open, within 36" from my ear and the AC and Radio is off.  As far as taking a long time to start up, it only takes aobut 60 to 90 seconds which I have no problem with.  If there was a better option for $40 or less I would consider it however I don't know of any.  If any one does please share.

Okay, with further testing I have found a problem.  It's not a problem with the GPSlockbox product but a problem with the I425 (or any other Motorola phone with a lithium battery).  Apparently, Motorola has a heat sensitive circuit built into the phones that will not allow the phone to power up if it is hotter than a preset limit.  The problem I have is that here in south Louisiana the temperature in a car can easily reach 150 degrees or more within an hour.  So, if the phone is installed in a console or compartment in the car it could take quite a while for it to cool down before it is allow to turn on.  When mounted in the center console my phone took over 35 minutes before it would power on in the afternoon heat.  However, in the morning when the car was cool it only took about 1 minute and 30 seconds to turn on.  I tested the phone again during the mid day heat this afternoon but this time I had the phone out in the open and it powered on in about 10 minutes since the cars cockpit cooled quicker then the air within the console.

Unfortunitly, this really put a damper on my idea of being able to track my childs driving during the summer months.

PS. the manual for the I425 states the operating tempature is between 14 degrees and 113 degrees fahrenheit.  14 degrees is not a probem here in South Louisiana but keeping a closed up car below 113 degrees is impossible in the summer.

Any Ideas anyone?

Last edited by bissel (2009-06-17 14:16:19)

The trunk is a no go.  Although it is cooler in the trunk than in the cockpit it is still too hot for the Motorola phone.  I have since removed the setup from the trunk and installed it in the glove box next to the AC duct work hoping it would at least cool the phone quicker than when it was in the center console or trunk.  I have also drilled two 1/4" holes in the duct work to allow cold air to enter the glove compatment area.  I guess I should have bought my daughter the Dodege Avenger instead of the Mazda 6 since it had the drink can cooling compartment (or GPS tracking cooling compartment) in the dash, lol.

These posts are very informative .

I live in the hot SE  and experience similar in car temperatures .  I was planning just to keep the  power on  my I425 continuously . I was planning to mount the either in the glovebox , under the dash or in trunk on the underside of the rear shelf .  Will the phone power off if kept in a hot car ?

If I decide to get the device mentioned. I assume that the I can buy the module only
(  http://shop.gpslockbox.com/products/min … e-module-1  )
and use it with my 12v mini USB charger vs buying the kit .

biseel wrote -"PS. the manual for the I425 states the operating temperature is between 14 degrees and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.  14 degrees is not a problem here in South Louisiana but keeping a closed up car below 113 degrees is impossible in the summer."

-Thanks to eveyone

Last edited by rkpatt (2009-07-18 17:21:31)

Bissel -OK . I guess then I will stick to my original plan of hard wiring the phone to an always on circuit as it is the simplest thing to do . I don't see how the device would be very helpful with my application .

BTW - I found some switched  circuits  connected to the power button contacts that might work ( wired to an ignition switch operated circuit )   The switch would be use solely for the on-off circuit and require  the CLA/ 12v car charger  still be connected to always-on on power (?) .  Still,  I may eventually give  one of them a try if the phone locks up in the hardwired always-on circuit. -

See -

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/user-in … odule.html

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/hardwar … rcuit.html

http://www.simprojects.nl/toggle_to_momentary.htm

Search web  for DEI528T pulse timer relay ( longer time duration  )

Wire the relay to the power switch contacts   -

http://www.instructables.com/id/SE7YHG5FIHVM6JI/     (refer to step 8 , 2nd page text and photo - you can view it better after using  the free registration option at the site  )




- Thanks

Last edited by rkpatt (2009-08-04 07:01:34)

FYI, if your cigarette lighter sockets turn on/off with your car (ie. they are only on while the car is running), all you need are the following two items:


Motorola OEM Car charger for i425 ($9.61 w/ shipping)


Mini USB Lightning Harness Adapter ($39.99 w/ shipping)

Installation is trivially easy.  I connected the Motorola charger to the accessory cigarette lighter socket in my Toyota Camry's arm-rest, then connected the Bluewater Wireless "Lightning Charger" to that, and finally connected my i425.  The Lightning Charger automatically turns on the i425 and charges it.  Even when the phone's battery is totally dead, it turns it on successfully within two or three minutes of starting the car (after a minute or two of charging it).   This seems to contradict bissel's experience, with his phone needing 15 minutes to charge before it would turn on.  Maybe it's related to how "healthy" the battery is?  If you leave a Li-ion battery in a really hot car every day, it would lose capacity much quicker than when kept in a cooler environment.

This is exactly what I was looking for, and so far has worked great for me.   I'll post again if that changes.

PS - the previously reported "clicking" sound that comes from the Lightning Charger is pretty quiet.  It's completely inaudible while it's inside my car's armrest or glove box.  Also, unlike the image above, the "Lightning Charger" comes with a right-angle mini-USB adapter, which is even better.

Last edited by Pseudothink (2009-08-02 15:22:50)

rkpatt wrote:

Pseudothink - I wonder why the different  results using the device  (Mini USB Lightning Harness Adapter)   ?  Please do keep us posted . - Thanks

Will do.  My i425 drains its battery every night (it only lasts 10 - 12 hours or so), to the point that it immediately shuts itself off if I try to turn it on.  So far it hasn't failed to start transmitting within 2 to 3 minutes of starting the car.  The Lightning Charger charges the phone for about 1.5 to 2 minutes, before attempting to turn it on (you can hear the "clicks" from it when it tries).  My phone always turns on at this time.

I tried the phone without a battery--of course, it won't turn on (though it tries to).  I'm guessing it needs battery that is at least minimally charged, to successfully turn on.  If your battery is in bad shape, it might not charge enough during the first two minutes.  In this case, it would probably not turn on until the Lightning Charger's next cycle, which is several minutes later, I think.

Btw, I just tried the Bluewater Wireless "Mini-USB Lightning Charger" with an i290, it worked fine (charged & automatically turned the phone on).