Charge problem tomtom910
About six years ago I have purchased a tomtom910 navigation device. The apparatus can be fixed to the wind screen of the car by an adapter, with a suction cup. I possess two wind screen adapters and a desk adapter. When connected to the adapters the battery of device is charged and communication has been made possible with other devices. The navigation device operated satisfactory for a long time. However, several month ago one of the wind screen adapters starts a problem with charging the device. The connection with the power supply seems to be interrupted. In the beginning the connection could be restored by hitting the device. However, gradually more and more hits were needed to continue the charging process. Finally, the navigation device was charged with the desk adapter and the wind screen adapter was only used to hold the navigation device. After some time, however, also the second wind screen adapter and the desk adapter starts manivesting the charging problem. This was a trigger to look at the internet if more people are struggling with this problem. It was amazing to see that so many forums are devoted to this problem and that so many people have the same problem with their device. Unfortunately no clear solution could be found at the forums. And since the device is quite old the factory support has been stopped. Therefore I have spend a day to analyse and solve this problem. Firstly the tt910 was dismantled some what, so that the connector could be better examined. It was found that there was a good contact between the poles of the connector and the board. Next it was found (by covering contacts with tape) that the contacts at the end of the connector are needed to supply charging power. However, also the circular ground contact of the antenna is a ground connection.
It was clear that the problem has been caused by bad contacts between the poles of the connector. As can be seen at the photographs the contacts of the device are surrounded by a rectangular case. The problem is that contacts at the end of the adapter are pressed down by the short wall of the case (due to deformation? of the case in time). Three modifications are carried out to improve the connections.
1) the contacts of the navigation device has been lifted up some what.
2) the short walls of the rectangular case are cut off for some part.
3) the outer contact strips of the adapter are bended vertically and moved a little horizontally in the direction of the center of the connector.
Probaly not all actions are necessary. I think 1 and 3 are already helpful.
In one of the adapters it was found that the ground contact strip was disconnected and also the circular ground contact of the external antenna was not optimal. This has been improved by placing a drop of tin solder on it.
Finally all adapters are working properly now.
This comment is relate to this toppic
UPDATE: An additional opportunity has been created to connect the device to a power source. Two wires of a canibalized USB extension cable are soldered to a plus and minus point at the board in the interior of the device. A connection with a mini USB plug is now possible. A universal 5V adapter can now be used. Since the contacts at the board are small the soldering iron had to be modified somewhat.
Because the battery has a live time for only three hours the device was not suitable for using during biking. This problem is solved by making a simple electronical cirquit which modifies the output of the dynamo of the bike in a stabilized 5V direct current. At a speed of about 10 km/hr sufficient power is generated by the dynamo.
The adapter for the wind screen of the car has been modified somewhat, so that the navigation device can be connected to the bike easily.
homemade adapter navigation device
A dash board adapter has been made for a tomtom start 60 navigation device. A special feature available in the cabin of the Fiat Ducato has been used. A clipboard is integrated with the dash board, which can be moved up for holding paperwork. By means of a bended metal sheet the adapter is pinned if the clipboard is in closed position. The navigation device can now be placed or removed without operating the suction cup.
Since the space underneath the clipboard is just above the radio it was easy to make a power supply. A 12V power line has been used which is on only when the radio is on. A DC-DC converter has been applied for generating a voltage of 5V. A USB cable with a mini USB connector is direcly connected to the 5V power supply. Actually the navigation device requires a micro USB connector. However, it is not so convenient to use this connector and the special shape of the micro connector prevents the use of universal cables. Furthermore experience with another device was that the micro usb is rather sensitive for damaging. Therefore an additional short cable with a micro/mini connector has been applied, which has been fixed permanently to the device by means of tape.
UPDATE: Recently I am the owner of a 3D printer. One of the projects was to manufacture a new adapter for the navigator.
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