What's with our USB ports!?

Hi there everyone. I've had no problems or complaints with my Tacoma, well, one. What's with the USB ports!? It's never worked quite right, right from the factory. After some Googling it turns out several camry tundra highlander and Tacoma owners have problems with their USB. It used to choose when it felt like charging or syncing a phone, had to plug and unplug several times or turn truck off and on. Also used to charge my e cig, to now being completely dead as a doornail. Pissed me off cause my cig died at work today and the damn truck couldn't, charge it. Nothing charges, not my phone, e cigarette, nothing. I'm an electrician by trade, and an thinking of installing a dual USB port next to the USB aux one off its own 3 amp fuse so it can healthily handle charging whatever I throw at it. Who was the genius who thought .5A was enough power? Not to mention it's our only port so most people will be using a tap (adapter) to get two ports. Most devices take an amp or more @ 5 volts.
In the meantime, what's with these? Does anyone know what fuse is in charge of the USB? Possibly that's popped? Thanks in advance.

 

Yeah the USB port sucks. Not enough power to charge my phone. A lot of people just use the cig lighter with a usb adapter. Or check these threads out for dual USB.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/usb-charging-ports.376146/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dual-usb-charging-outlet-install.381093/

 

Thanks buddy. I just think it looks awful using a 12v to USB adapter, its a 2013 and should have the technology to handle things. I don't really want a big bulky adapter hanging out ready to get torn out by my passenger's leg. If those dual USB ones fitted to size are legit I'll wire up one or two.

 

I believe the USB is for media only. USB - Universal Serial Bus, it is convenient to have power available via USB, but USB is a data exchange first, not a power source.

 

Strangest thing is, most of us have TRDs with 130amp alternators, more than enough to handle charging a piddly phone under full load, hell even the 100 amp non TRD. Unacceptable IMO.

 

Pretty much any USB port you see, whether it's on a receiver to a sound system, on a printer, on a laptop, they all act as buses for 5v power. 4 pins on any usb. Data +, data -, 5V +, 5V -. They just limited it for some stupid reason.

Does anyone know what fuse it is? Or is it pigtailed off other things like the radio?

 

I seem to remember when I installed my heated seats [and thus tearing apart the entire truck interior to put OEM variable resistors in the blank spots near the USB] that the USB was wired to the Radio.

 

Makes sense, so it can communicate with the head unit. Just find it odd it's limited. Thing is, it doesn't even try on some devices. I know if you plug an iPhone for example into a laptop, it limits the current to .5amps. It will still charge, every single time, just twice as slow as 120v to USB adapter @ 1amp. Goofy IMO.

 

Maybe smashing the USB port is in order

 

Nah, it can stay there and take up space. I'll install some real ones. The USB port isn't nearly as stupid and greedy as Apple corporation, so no smashy.

 

With a hammer or a ham sandwich?

 

I got tired of the head unit starting to play the library on my iphone every time I plugged my phone into the USB port so I added my own dual USB outlet for charging in one of the blank spots next to it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/201326140614

 

Just use the plug in 12 volt for charging. Not an issue unless you are hauling around a bunch of drunks.

 

Hadn't seen the ebay item above before, thought the irreplaceable fuse is a drawback.

I chopped up a couple chargers, stuffed them under the dash for hardwired chargers. Kind of a pain, but I couldn't find a high quality unit to hard wire all my chargers from. I used a bunch of connectors so when one breaks I can buy another 12vdc car charger, chop it up and connect it to the existing cables. I am running two amp fuses in each of the hardwired units, pigtailed off a 5amp fused add a tap.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/poindexters-2015-build.385616/

 

They

Fit perfect next to the factory USB and atrac button locations.

 

What does that shown connector plug into?

 

Search Amazon: "Aukey 4.8A / 24W Dual USB Car Charger Adapter for Apple and Android Devices". They sit flush with the face of the lighter socket. They work fine. (I haven't been bothered to test their 2.4A claim, but I kinda doubt it.)

 

I have a usb adaptor that goes into my 12v port

It is really low profile and only sticks out of the port maybe a 1/2 inch?

Though it doesn't solve your usb issue it might be a livable work around

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009O...5-6093520?ie=UTF8&refRID=175Q77G5M2E7F66F5G9K

Same general idea

 

Hadn't noticed that. I guess that if/when the fuse goes I'll either buy a replacement unit for $20 or take out the defective unit and return to the blanking plate.

It's just the pigtail connector. Bare wires at the end for wiring to your truck; the pigtail connector allows you to disconnect the whole thing during installation/removal.