[Dennis J]

Just got a new 2016 Rebel, love the truck and was wondering if there is a way to charge things like a cell phone or other devices while the truck is turned off. Tried all the outlets I could find but none seem to stay on when not running.

Dennis

 

[lmeavtitn]

No, I don't think there is. My buddy ran a cigarette lighter right off the battery with a switch to turn off the constant on power when he didn't need it but be careful doing that. I know he has had to get his truck jumped quite a few times because he was changing his lap top with the motor off.

 

[johnj]

Dennis[/QUOTE]

- You can always install a lighter socket that isn't powered off with the rest of the equipment, and plug a USB charger into that when needed.

If you want to avoid wiring....

- Some newer chargers can put out more than the old standard 1 Amp. Higher current can charge your devices faster while you drive, providing that your devices can handle it. Some newer phones charge in under an hour like this, at 2+ Amps. More info at this site.
- You could get a solar USB charger and toss it on your dash or wherever the sun's coming in. You can see by the reviews in the linked site that there are some very good ones out there.

And then there are battery options - multiple charging so you're always loading up another battery.
- You could get a second battery for your phone and charge it separately while driving. (If your phone allows you to swap batteries.)
- You can get one of the portable "battery chargers" that is actually a battery itself. Many of these carry enough power to recharge a phone more than once.
- Some cell phones can have an extra battery snapped to them. Either it's built in by the manufacturer, or by a company that makes a case designed to support it.

 

[TheGreatRam]

You can just keep a high capacity portable battery charger in the car so you don't have to constantly recharge the pack. Just not sure how it does in a hot vehicle in the summer.

 

[Dennis J]

thanks for the replies. My older 04 Ram was able to do this and had no problems with it. As a photographer I always need to recharge batteries when on the move, especially when doing Drone photos were batteries only last for about 20 min each and I need to recharge on the job where there is no place nearby to plug in.

 

[Stackin]

That's kinda upsetting to hear.. my Jeep has a constant cigarette lighter in there, extremely helpful

 

[VaderRebel]

I thought the USB port in the console was constant power. I use the other power port/cigarette plug in the lower open part because I don't need a constant power source, worried I'll forget and drain the battery.

 

[johnj]

I thought the USB port in the console was constant power. I use the other power port/cigarette plug in the lower open part because I don't need a constant power source, worried I'll forget and drain the battery.

My USB is not constant power, but I have a 2015. Don't know about the 16's.

 

[En2dirt]

There is a USB port under the center console that is powered while truck is off. There is a little round flip down door that covers it on my 2015.

 

[VaderRebel]

There is a USB port under the center console that is powered while truck is off. There is a little round flip down door that covers it on my 2015.

That's the one.

 

[johnj]

Odd. Mine shuts off with the truck. Annoys the wife because she's always charging her cell phone. Only reason I know, because I use a dumb phone and it only needs charging every 6-8 days.

 

[VaderRebel]

Odd. Mine shuts off with the truck. Annoys the wife because she's always charging her cell phone. Only reason I know, because I use a dumb phone and it only needs charging every 6-8 days.

You're talking about the USB port next to the SD card reader or the power port in the lower front of the console?

 

[johnj]

You're talking about the USB port next to the SD card reader or the power port in the lower front of the console?

The USB port that's part of the card reader multi-port device, with the pop-off cover inside the console top compartment.

 

[En2dirt]

The USB port that's part of the card reader multi-port device, with the pop-off cover inside the console top compartment.

That's odd. Not sure why they would change that for the 2016's.