garmin edge 500: charging while riding

[Massimiliano Poletto]

Has anyone gotten an Edge 500 to operate while plugged in to a USB battery pack?

Thanks,
max

[Lee Millon]

Yes. I use a JAVOedge product  http://www.amazon.com/JAVOedge-Portable-Battery-2100mAH-Lithium-ion/dp/B001QKI2MG and one of those retractable mini usb cables that has no data pin -- just for charging no data transfer.

Good luck!

Lee

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[Denise Primrose]

I have something similar but takes AA batteries. The problem I had with it is getting the plug to stay in the Garmin. I even taped it but couldn't get it to stay. And due to the location of the plug the Garmin 500 it must be mounted on the handle bar which takes up real estate you may need for other things like handle bar bags, lights, etc. Another thing, it must be turned on at the start of the ride or your Garmin will reset. I found this out on the DMD (!) as was still not able to capture the whole ride due to the plug constantly falling out.
 
My solution was to finish a double in under the 18hr battery life of the Garmin... Any solutions to the plug issue... anyone?

Denise Primrose

 

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Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:51:44 -0700
Subject: Re: [SFRandon] garmin edge 500: charging while riding
From: lvmi...@gmail.com
To: max.p...@gmail.com
CC: sfra...@googlegroups.com; calr...@googlegroups.com

[John Guzik]

Max,

I've gotten the Edge 500 to work with the Gomadic emergency re-charger found at

http://www.gomadic.com/garmin-edge-500-portable-aa-battery-extender.html 

I've run this setup somewhat successfully on doubles, 300K, 400K and 600K. As you have found out the 500 batteries last about 14-16 hrs before giving up the ghost. With this I can easily keep the batteries charged for 40hrs. (Did on the SFR 600K)

As you've also found out the unit will not normally run while charging. The reason why is that the Edge 500 (and it appears only the Edge 500) looks for a certain resistance between ground and the unused pin on a mini-USB (Normal USB has 4 pins, mini has 5 which according to the spec should be NC). The GoMadic charger and others have the resistor in place, so the Garmin charges while working. Most chargers do not have this resistor. This website for the Nuvi cable is reported to work for the 500, haven't tried it yet, but it gives the basic idea:

http://pinouts.ru/GPS/garmin_nuvi_power_pinout.shtml

Couple of downsides. The Garmin has problems as the recorded data gets longer. After about 20hrs it can easily get confused (It appears the memory is too full). If you are willing to deal with a "break" in your recording it works OK. This appears to be mostly when the unit is charging. Fortunately the Gomadic can charge the Garmin 20-25% full in about 20 minutes. I find that if I charge around the controls the battery life is pretty unlimited. Then again I don't know how long you are in the controls as you usually are long gone before I arrive.

Another drawback (at least with the 2.x version of the Garmin software) is that tcx files that are larger than about 50K cause the Garmin to reset when exiting certain pages. The way I've solved this is to break the TCX files up by control point. I load the next part of the route while in the controls. This allows turn by turn instructions for my rides.

As stated elsewhere there mini-USB plug is under the unit, which requires space in order to plug the unit in. There are mini-USB plugs that are right angled, but I shied away from these as I'm unsure if the mini-USB cable cares all 5 pins through (most do not). 

I previously mounted the Garmin on the handlebar, but this took away valuable real estate. As stated elsewhere you do have to watch the plug coming undone. Just something to watch out for. If you have been charging the 500 all long it shouldn't be a real problem. Just fix it in the next control.

I bought a k-edge garmin handlebar mount. Haven't tried hooking up the GoMadic yet. But there should be plenty of room for the plug. I'll try it tonight and let you know. At about $50 it is an expensive answer, but I plan on using this with a dyno-hub charger. If need be I'll make the cable myself. 

John

On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 11:41 AM, Massimiliano Poletto <max.p...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Honeycutt, William N]

Search amazon.com for “Duracell Instant USB Charger with Lithium Ion Battery/Includes Universal Cable with USB and mini USB”

[Massimiliano Poletto]

I actually own this product. When it is connected to the Edge 500 with
the supplied USB cable, the
GPS unit enters charging mode and stops recording and displaying data.

[C. Duque]

I know this won't solve your issue but it is worth noting the
GlobalSat GS-580P and Timex Cycle Trainer, both similar in features to
the Garmin 500, work while plugged into an external charger. I have
not have the opportunity to use my GlobalSat GS-580P on anything pass
its ~18 hr battery life but I plugged it to a cheap ($5) 4 AA usb
charger and the unit kept on recording and charging at the same time.
I did a review a couple of months ago but have not updated it with
this information.
http://bike.duque.net/review-the-gs-580p-bike-computer.htm

Carlos

[John Guzik]

Max

Hmm, mine works pretty good. I know that Rob Redmond also owns this unit and reports it is working as well.

Must have changed the cable. Which is a real bummer this unit works pretty good, and fits well with my other batteries. I'll have to take care of mine as it might not be replaceable.

Let me know if you find a unit that does work as your not the first person to ask this question.

John

On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 2:51 PM, Massimiliano Poletto <max.p...@gmail.com> wrote:

[John Guzik]

Oops,

Sorry thought you were replying to my email. In that case the GoMadic still  might work. And at 20 bucks it's worth a try. BTW: I got mine on amazon.

John

[Massimiliano Poletto]

Hi everyone, many thanks for the advice. I ended up ordering a
JAVOedge. Curious to see how it goes!

John, I'd seen the Russian site with the pinout diagrams, but a bit
too busy right now to deal with a soldering iron. $30 and 5 minutes
was the right solution this time.

I'm surprised about the memory issues you mentioned. So far I've
stored a couple 300Ks on there no problem. But I don't use TCX files
for navigation (I just use the device to record my ride), so I have no
experience on that front.

Best,
max

[Massimiliano Poletto]

Quick update: if you don't have the tools or inclination to short pins
4 and 5 on a generic mini-USB plug, then you can purchase the
following charger:
http://www.amazon.com/Rocketfish-USB-Car-Charger-Most/dp/B005FMIL2M

I bought one today at Best Buy and confirmed that the cable allows
operation while charging. Combined with a high-capacity USB battery
(the JAVOedge mentioned earlier in this thread, for example, has a
capacity of 2.1Ah), it should allow the Edge 500 to operate for >70
hours with no recharge. Plenty for a 600K, and even enough for a brisk
1200.

$14 for a cable is silly, but it works and it saves time.

Thanks again to everyone who responded with help and suggestions, and
especially to Kley for pointing me in the direction of car GPS
accessories.

max

On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 11:19 PM, Massimiliano Poletto

[Ken Shoemaker]

I used a similar solution: Fry's had a car USB charger for $3.99 in a
discount bin and I just cut off the 12v plug and was just left with a
coiled cable with two wires with the shorting USB plug. The two wires
in the cable weren't color coded so I used a DVM to determine positive
from negative before I cut them.

I then use the 9V battery clip with a 4xAA battery pack that I use with
the Denotte light. For a pre-dawn start, I run the light until the sun
comes up and then switch over the battery pack to the GPS at a
convenient time. After the battery back is dead, I switch batteries and
plug the batteries back into the light, ready for the dark again. This
usually leaves enough charge in the GPS for at least a 400k if I use
reasonable fresh rechargeable NiMH batteries.

You will want some strain relief on the wire joint. Also note that I am
an electrical engineer so my skills with a soldering iron are likely
suspect :-)

Ken

>>>>>> Search amazon.com for �Duracell Instant USB Charger with Lithium Ion
>>>>>> Battery/Includes Universal Cable with USB and mini USB�

[Paul S]

Since a couple of people have mentioned the mounting fixture, I will add this: The Bar Fly is pretty good, although I don't ride with a bag in front of my bars. I reviewed it at http://exm.nr/QyoonS. Rotating the computer by 5 degrees in the mount maintains a secure clamp while allowing insertion of a micro USB cable.

Paul