iPad will not charge when plugged into outlet

G

golftrek

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
86
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Vessel Name
Banjo
Hello, we have a 2008 R25. When plugged into shore power all our appliances work fine with the exception of our Apple iPad. When we plug the iPad into the electrical outlet on Banjo it does not charge. The outlet works fine for anything else plugged in (including our Mac laptop). The iPad charges fine at home. Has anyone else experienced this with an iPad ? Is there a trick to getting the iPad to charge when we are on our Ranger Tug?

Thanks Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo
2008 R25
 
I have another curve ball for you. We were on our R29 and only had a 12v car charger for our Applle toys. The Iphone would charge and the Ipad would not. That's on 12 volts with no shore power.

It's sounding like an Ipad problem.
 
iPads require a much higher charging current than iPhones/iPods. A normal iPhone/iPod charger will still charge an iPad, but very slowly and the iPad will report it is not being charged. The same thing happens when you connect your iPad to a USB port on a computer, it reports it is not being charged but is actually charging at a very slow rate.
There are special high current 12V chargers for iPads, these have a 2 or 2.1A output rating. I have a 12V adapter with two USB charging outputs, one is specially marked for charging an iPad and can supply 2A. The other is standard USB current which I use for other devices, such as the bluetooth GPS receiver I use with my WiFi iPad.

Jim, if you are using the standard Apple iPad charger (which supplies the high current needed for charging) then there is another issue.

Howard
 
Howard is spot on. The iPad has a high power output charger. If you don't use that one then it will take a long time to charge and if you are using the iPad while charging it will never keep up.
 
Sounds like and could be a voltage issue at the marina? Cycles? Hz? Other electrical objects may/will work just fine but some electronics will not. If you are using an adapter to run it, check the incoming voltage and the acceptable tolerance. Also Apple laptops run on 16v so the 12v cord they sell for "airport use" is almost worthless. Good Luck
 
Jim: If you are using the same Apple provided iPad charging USB wire and power brick connected to your R25's 120v outlet as you use at home then something is wrong with the R25's 120v outlet. If you use a case/cover for your iPad ensure the dock end of the wire is properly inserted all the way into the slot. Some iPad case/covers interfere with this making a good connection nigh impossible.

Our iPad's charging 2-prong brick is close to being a 1.25" x 2" x 2" and plugs directly into a 120v outlet. It has a USB connection wire with the slot connector at the other end for inserting into the iPad.

There are two means for charging an iPad.

1) 5w used for the iPad mini and iPhone 5
2) 12w used for iPads and will also charge iPhones and all iPod models -- this is the one for charging your iPad.

The iPad 3 came with a 10w charger. The 12w charger will charge devices quicker.
 
This is the original poster. We are using the iPad charger that came with the iPad when new. We also have one of the iPad 12 volt chargers that does charge, but slowly.

So I guess there is a problem with the marina voltage or the boat's outlets (neither outlet will charge the iPad). What is the best way to trouble shoot these ?

Thanks again.

Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo R25
 
Original Poster again. The Apple folks suggest that there may be fluctuations in the electric current and they suggest we plug the IPad into a surge protector on the boat. We will try this the next time we are on board and report back.

Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo R25
 
Jim,

Just a thought. Have you tried a different USB chord to the iPad? Sometimes the ends where the fitting is to plug in to the iPad can break and if the USB chord is not laying just right then it won't charge. Other thought is to use a volt meter for the outlet but you said earlier that everything else works ok at that outlet. Still sounds like the 2.5 charger is bad or the USB chord has a broken wire only allowing intermittent charge.
 
The iPad charges fine everywhere except the boat so we think it has something to do with the power coming into the boat. Apple says very slight fluctuations in the power will keep the iPad from charging.

Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo
 
Jim: Can you find a boat nearby yours and try their shore power outlet. If that works it points to your boat's outlet as being the issue for you.
 
Might try using a voltmeter set to AC volts in the ac outlet to watch for voltage fluctuations.

We had to do this when we first moved into our house and computer ups kept tripping. Turned out pesky squirrels had eaten half through the center conductor of elec service from pole to meter. Voltage varied from 107 - 124 almost continuously. Power company came right out and replaced.
 
Thanks for all these good suggestions. I will give them a try next time I get on the boat and report back.

Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo R25
 
We went to the boat today and plugged the iPad into a surge protector that was plugged into Banjo's electrical outlet and it charged just fine. So problem solved. Apple says that the iPad is very sensitive to power fluctuations and that is why a surge protector may be needed on a boat. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo R25
 
Good to hear the surge protector resolved the problem on Banjo.

I am thinking a volt meter might be useful to have. I do not yet understand electricity and surges much, so am wondering if there is a particular type volt meter that would be a good one for me to purchase and to learn from.

Thanks in advance.
 
Just to clarify a couple of points:

1./ Surges referred to are in all likelhood voltage surges or spikes NOT power surges NOT current surges.

2./ Interesting to note that a surge bar has helped, further reinforcing pt. 1. However if the protective devices in the surge bar (called MOVs or metal oxide varistors) are conducting regularly, they may eventually burn out - which puts you back to square 1 - please see pt 3./

3./ Getting to the bottom of where/how these voltage spiles or surges are originating is difficult. Depnding upon the time constant (how fast or low the spike is with respect to time) a digital or analogue meter will not help. It may require specialized test gear such as an oscilloscope

As one owner sugggested, try an outlet on another boat, if there still is a problem suggests a general marina problem or at least in that area of the marina

4./ Curious whether or not your shore power runs through via the inverter to the AC outlets - beleive this is standard ABYC practise. Inverters can be noisy. This noise may be upsetting the IPAD charger.

Can you take a separate cheap dc to ac inverter block and connect directly to the ships battery to see if the problem still persists?


With respect to Anne, advice on a volt meter. These are good to have on board . Suggest an inexpensive digital one say less than $100. I have been looking a an inexpensive Sears one. Its a clamp on, which means it can safely measure dc current safely. But as a bonus, it can also measure AC currrent (these tend to be much more expensive).

PLEASE TO ALL BE SAFE !!! when neasuring ac and dc quantities. If you are not completely sure ask one of the Ranger owners who are quite familuar with these measurements. Contrary to to belief dc or 12V battery systems can be dangerous too under the right circumstances. Accidentally briding a metal watch band across +ive and -ive DC terminals resulting in welding your watch to these connections - a permanent handshake.

Regards, Frank "Blue Horizons"
 
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