Charging an Automotive Device

Garmin recommends always using the vehicle power cable packaged with your device or a Garmin-branded AC power charger. Full power will ensure your device gets the best signals from GPS satellites and traffic updates. 

Third-party cables or adapters may not charge the device or put it in the proper state to receive updates.

The provided vehicle power cable MUST be used in the vehicle in order for the device to operate and charge the battery simultaneously. 

The device cannot be charged by a USB cable in the vehicle unless the provided vehicle power cable was a USB cable and adapter.  The device's Owner's Manual contains more information under Specifications.

When connected to a computer or vehicle via USB cable, your device may present a message stating "The attached cable cannot currently charge your device."  This behavior is normal.  While the device does receive enough power from the computer or vehicle to remain powered on and to operate, it does not receive enough power for the battery level to increase.

There are Two Ways to Charge Your Automotive Device's Internal Battery:

Use the vehicle power cable that came with your device. A full charge may take up to 6 hours All devices come with a vehicle power cable to charge the device This is the recommended method for charging your device.

Use a Garmin-branded AC power adapter accessory, such as a wall power adapter. A full charge via a Garmin AC power adapter may take 3 to 4 hours When you plug the device into an AC charger and push the button to turn it “off”, the device will remain on enough to charge the battery, then fully suspend or turn off Use the port directly on the device when charging indoors Third-party AC adapters may not charge the device. A Garmin-compatible AC adapter can be purchased from Garmin's online store See  Using Third-Party AC Chargers, Cables, and Other Accessories with Garmin Automotive Devices for more information. Note: Place the unit screen side down when charging to reduce stress on the device's USB port.

Temperature can affect the charging of a device. The battery won't charge if it registers a temperature of 0°C (32°F) and below or 45°C (113°F) and above. See Charging Factors for an Automotive Device for more information about the effects of temperature on your device.

The battery will not drain when an automotive device is connected to external power.

See How Can I Tell Whether My Automotive Device is Charging? to ensure your device is charging properly.

A Garmin AC adapter or replacement cable can be purchased at Garmin’s online store.