Charging an Automotive Device

Garmin recommends always using the 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. 

NOTE: Do not use the USB cable to power the Tread® GPS navigator in a vehicle. The Tread devices are not designed to be powered during navigation using a USB cable. They may exhibit unwanted behavior and could result in damage to the Tread device due to inadequate power.

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.

This Video is a Quick and Easy way to Learn about Powering and Charging your Device.

There Are Two Ways to Charge your Automotive Device's Internal Battery:

Charging Options

Use the High-Current Power Cable which came with your device. A full charge may take up to 6 hours 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 Third-party AC adapters may not charge the device. A Garmin-compatible AC adapter can be purchased from Garmin's online store Using a low power source to charge the device may cause it to reboot 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.

Your device will be placed into Standby mode when the power button is pressed and released. Fully power off the device before storing it to preserve the charge on the battery. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds. Then touch Off.

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