aftermarket wireless phone charger

Here's a YouTube video of someone installing the SCP Automotive version of this charger:

 

That’ssssss a lotta money.

 

I have one of these on order (takes a while from China). I had saw the SCP one before, but it's way too expensive for what it is. Found this one on aliexpress and decided to give it a shot (even though it is also a bit too pricey for what it is).

I'll post some thoughts once it arrives and I get it installed.

 

Maybe:

 

Got my Aliexpress shelf charger and it does NOT come with it's own 12V socket. Seems like you're meant to reuse the built-in, but I couldn't get that thing to budge, so I ordered a replacement from Outmotoring for like $14 after shipping. Otherwise the install is pretty simple.

I actually have two USB ports (1 USB-A and 1 USB-C). The USB-C is the one that's removable and I'm able to re-use into the shelf, so I'm losing the USB-A port that's built-in to the existing spot, but not a big deal.

I had to "modify" the 12V power to the included harness with the aftermarket shelf. The included harness 12V plug (where your existing 12V power plugs into the harness) is too small to fit, so I just pulled the pins out of the OEM plug and stuck them in which worked fine.

Charger seems to work well and my phone didn't stop charging the whole way into work this AM. We'll see this evening how well it actually charges since my phone was already at/near 100% this morning.

I'll take some pictures soon to show.

 

Speaking of the armrest phone oven, has anybody actually contacted their provider to register the LTE signal booster?

 

I was going to, for shiggles, but after realizing i'd never actually use it I didn't bother.

I did "test" it a few times and I'm lead to think it may actually do something, though it could've been coincidence. When I was showing a bar or two I'd slap my phone in and it'd show an extra bar on occasion.

 

Once I get the replacement 12V socket I'll post some pics with instructions. It's really not very difficult at all.

 

I did, with Verizon. Don't ask me any details about that process, because it was so long ago...

Of course, it is exceedingly rare that I actually put my phone in there once I learned how much it bakes my phone.

 

So not so great news on the aftermarket shelf Qi charger.

Left work yesterday with my phone at 74%. It's hot out (~90F) and had preconditioned my SE for about 10 min before I left. Stuck my phone (iPhone 12 Pro) on the shelf when I got in. Noticed it did stay "charging" the whole commute home (~48min), but when I got home it was pretty darn toasty and still at 74%. Was using CarPlay the entire commute. Unlike the OEM armrest charger my phone didn't stop charging due to heat, and it didn't freeze/etc, but it didn't gain any charge and was still a bit toastier than I'd like.

I'm going to continue testing (ie - leave for work with lower battery on the phone and have the car not as warm inside since it's early AM) to see, but this aftermarket solution may not actually be a great charging solution.

If it still isn't performing super well I may work on gutting it and trying a magsafe solution using it instead. (My experience with a true magsafe charger in my i3 was great fast charging without as much heat, even with CarPlay.)

 

That sounds pretty normal for Qi charging. It's at most 15 W and at best 80% efficient, so it's a slow charging standard and rather wasteful. Doesn't surprise me using CarPlay drains battery about as fast as Qi can charge.

MagSafe is more efficient because the magnet ensures proper charging coil alignment.