When choosing a suitable 12V USB adapter for your vehicle, you must consider the plug size, output voltage, and output current range. The problem is that having two devices from the same manufacturer does not guarantee that the power supply for one will work with the other.
This was originally a huge problem for the cell phone industry, so to be common to people to have drawers, full of obsolete wall warts and 1 car adapters .
That all changed when manufacturers adopted 12V USB adapters as the de facto standard. While there are still limitations, most mobile devices today can be charged with a 12V USB adapter.
12V USB adapters, 12V sockets and additional sockets
USB is almost universal, but 12V USB adapters rely on another ubiquitous technology to work: 1 socket accessory . If you’ve never used a 12V USB adapter, you might be wondering if you can plug it into your cigarette lighter or if you need a dedicated accessory socket. The answer doesn’t matter.
Difference between sockets for accessories and cigarette lighters in that you cannot plug the cigarette lighter into an accessory socket. As long as the socket itself is not damaged in any way, you can use your 12V USB adapter in any of them.
Finding the correct USB charger connector
Connect the universal charger to a cable that has a standard USB plug (upper left) on one end and an appropriate USB C, mini, micro, or lightning plug on the other end.
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Some 12V USB adapters have a built-in USB cable. If you want this type of adapter, then you need to select the correct connector type. Look at the table above and match your phone’s connection type with the one shown.
Universal USB chargers can be used with any high quality USB cable. When you purchase a universal 12V USB adapter, you will find that it has a standard USB type A receptacle, which will look like the receptacle shown in the upper left corner of the illustration.
If you’re buying a universal 12V USB adapter, you’ll also need to buy a compatible cable. Find a cable with a USB Type A connector on one end. (This type is pictured in the top left corner of the picture above.) The other end should match the charging port on your phone and will usually look like the USB-C, USB mini or USB micro connectors pictured above.
Apple and Amperage
While some devices require more current than others to charge and work with a 12V USB adapter, Apple devices work differently. They rely on a different method for determining compatibility with » charging port » with high current or USB 12V car adapter.
If you have an Apple device that you want to use with a 12V USB adapter, you’ll need to find one specifically designed for Apple devices.
While you can find car USB adapters specifically for Apple, there are also adapters with two USB ports — one for Apple and one for Android devices. If you’re using a combination of Apple and other devices, then one of these universal 12V USB adapters is the right choice.