Center bin organization, any tips? Anyone use a qi charger in there?

Discussion in 'Clarity' started by Mark W, Sep 28, 2018.

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  1. Mark W

    Mark W Active Member

    CT
    How do you guys keep your center bin organized? I hate messy charge cords dangling everywhere. Has anyone made some sort of holder that holds a wireless qi charger in the right spot so that you can just place your phone in and it charges? Anyone bought something that holds coins and fits? Thanks!
     
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  3. jdonalds

    jdonalds Well-Known Member

    My phone has wireless charging but I don't use it. It only works if the phone is laying flat on the charger. I put a stick on metal plate on the back of the phone case, then use a magnetic mount in the car (and other places like my boat). That way its dead simple to simply stick the phone on the magnetic mount. The mount we use can be tilted in different directions. It can also be removed because it is stuck on a metal plate which is glued to the console. The lower half of the mount is also magnetic.

    As for the cable we use a magnetic connector in the microUSB or USB-C port. The USB charge cable stays plugged into the car. We grab the cable and in one second it attaches itself to the phone. This way we can pick the phone up and use it with the charge cord magnetically attached. It doesn't stop charging when we pick it up. Leaving the car we just push the charge cable off the magnetic connector and pick up the phone. Our cable isn't dressed so it lays on the passenger floor but that can be remedied.

    [​IMG]

    I don't have a photo right now showing the charge cable but you can see the small magnetic insert on the bottom of the phone.
    [​IMG]
     
    Kailani likes this.
  4. WP_20180928_02_21_52_Pro.jpg
    This is what I did on my Jeep. A $10 gooseneck holder (direct plug to the 12V socket) + ripped a $3 wireless charging pad from 99c store. The clamp needs enough depth to accommodate an additional 0.5cm charging plate (without case)
    (I used to use the Nokia wireless charging pad which takes 12V input, I hardwired it to a 12V gooseneck holder)

    Been using wireless charging since before old Nokia was gone, not going back to wired charging.
    Haven't done anything for Clarity as my wife used iPhone 6. She finally ditched iOs and upgraded to Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S that has wireless charging, will see what I can do. Unfortunately, still needs to use the USB cable for using Android Audio. So, the benefit of wireless charging is less here.

    Haven't really tried as I don't like magnetic holder. I have read that you can't use wireless charging if you have metal plate or metal ring on the back of the phone.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2018
  5. Mark W

    Mark W Active Member

    CT
    Thanks for the suggestions. I used to have a phone holder so I could see it, but I have kids driving now, so I don't want them to be distracted. I'm hoping Android Auto will work well enough so that I don't have any need to see my phone. All others in the family have iphones. I'm hoping to fashion something in the bin where I can place the phone in an indent that will put the wireless changer in the right spot on the phone to charge.
     
  6. Sandroad

    Sandroad Well-Known Member

    A wireless qi charger is an oxymoron because the charger has to be plugged in with a cord. In the car, I've tried 2, a flat Belkin that did not work in that under-console space because the phone slide around, and a clamp-type cradle iPhone mount with qi charging capability that did not work because it took up too much windshield space. I just plug my iPhone into the USB that provides Apply CarPlay and charging capability and don't worry about the cord. I really like Apple CarPlay.
     
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  8. What good about wireless charging is you don't need direct contact of the phone and the charger.

    If just to lay the phone flat, I can imagine something like the original Nokia DT-901 Fatboy Pillow will do, you can pretty much DIY by stuffing a wireless charging pad into a small pillow or bean bag. Or cut a sticky silicone pad and put it on top of a flat charger.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2018
  9. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    My iPhone 7 doesn’t wireless charge and I don’t like the bulkiness of adding it. But I’m also lazy and hate plugging and unplugging my phone every tine I get in and out of my wonderful Clarity. I wanted a charger like on my night table that you just set the phone into without fiddling with the cord.

    So here is the solution I found for $20. It’s a spring loaded phone holder with a lighting charging port at the bottom. You just push your phone upward against the spring loaded top holder and then lower it into the charging port. It’s quick and easy to do one handed and the reverse gets your phone out. Here’s pix and URL. Sorry but all the pix are in Adobe.

    https://www.amazon.com/SINJIMORU-Charging-including-Lightning-Charging/dp/B00MLZZ7KA
     

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  10. lanb

    lanb Active Member

    Does the magnetic usb-c cord support Android auto ?
     
  11. Mark W

    Mark W Active Member

    CT
    This looks well designed. Does it work with a bulky case on the phone? Only problem for our family is that we have many different iphone models. On which model of iphone did they switch away from the lightning connector? Can you post a picture of it mounted in your Clarity?
     
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  13. dalbeck

    dalbeck Member

    PA
    For under my center console I purchased a very small lightning cable on Amazon which I just keep plugged in. Added the Honda mat, with 2 sticky pads to keep the phone from moving. In my armrest, I added a small trash can for paper and straw wrappers etc.
    IMG_0778.jpeg IMG_0779.jpeg
     
  14. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    It will work with a case. The only limiting factor I’ve found is how thick the case is at the bottom. If it’s too thick, the male lightening connector can’t plug in all the way. I shaved a little off mine so it would plug into a charging stand by my bed and it works fine with this car charger. I like it because I hate to plug and unplug all the time. This one makes it one handed easy.

    Instead of a trash can in the center glovebox, I bought this. It fits in the cup holder and has a spring loaded door so it keeps everything neat.
    A176C7A9-A35A-4B95-B214-DCBB85B62488.jpeg
     
  15. jdonalds

    jdonalds Well-Known Member

    Yes. Check this out https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071Y7J5WW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    and the USB-C adapter that goes with the cable https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07873TPV7/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Attaching the cable to the magnetic adapter is about as easy as can be. Both the cable and adapter are magnetic. It aligns itself as soon as you get the cable end close to the phone. Watch this...
     
  16. lanb

    lanb Active Member

    Thanks jdonalds !
     
  17. Ghaleon

    Ghaleon New Member

    This is the first I've seen the magnetic usb cables. Out of curiosity has anyone tried any of the iPhone variants with CarPlay with any success?
     
  18. ZedFez

    ZedFez Member

    Don’t know squat about Android auto while wireless charging in Clarity, but The car doesn’t support wireless apple CarPlay right? So wireless charging = no CarPlay. Hope I’m wrong. Would love to add wireless charging option.


    Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
     
  19. Mark W

    Mark W Active Member

    CT
  20. turtleturtle

    turtleturtle Active Member

  21. jdonalds

    jdonalds Well-Known Member

    We have a magnetic mount and use a magnetic cable. Both are quick to use and the phone can be used while charging.
     

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