Khalid -- I can't thank you enough for solving this problem -- which has been driving me insane since we bought a fancy new truck with a fancy navigation screen, and no cigarette lighter for my older Garmin GPS. My old Garmin has every location we have visited in the last several years, and is so easy for me to fiddle with on my lap while my sweetheart is driving us across the Southwest. I do NOT wish to chat with the onboard maps assistant, as that produces mixed results, is hugely irritating, and also mutes the music system. You are an angel of mercy for providing this video, and a link to the needed product. With gratitude, Lynn
Great job and thank you for that demonstration. Garmin is missing out by not offering their units with a USB cable. Nearly all new automobiles have USB and USB-c ports now and the bulky cable that comes with the Garmins are out of date in today's world. Again, thank you for a great presentation.
I have to say that you provide some of the most concise and knowledgeable videos I've seen - and without any annoying intros. Thank you! In terms of USB cables, there are several different types: 1) Charge only cable. This is a 2 wire cable specifically for charging the device only. 2) Data cable. This is for 2 way communication between the device and the computer. No charging is performed. 3) Data and Charge cable. This is the full USB cable that you can charge and transfer data to and from computer. Have you tried the Garmin Nuvi devices with just the Charging cable? I guess a GTM cable acts the same way, only that it supplies a charge as well as FM traffic data? I have a Garmin Edge for biking and I can use any USB micro cable to charge and/or transfer data. So, Garmin must've corrected this charging issue with newer devices. PS: For anyone wanting to make their own charge only USB cable, here's the link: th-cam.com/video/AKsr3LlOnd0/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the compliments and the valuable info. I have tried the normal 2 conductor charging cable it works for some models but not all. Yes, the newer Garmin units are not as restrictive as the old ones when it comes to (Charge Only Cables), but the legacy devices still gave me a hard time.
Just watched your video...not sure how I found it, but this is exactly what I need to solve my problem!!! I just bought a new car that doesn't have the set-up like my old car, so my GPS, which I absolutely LOVE, didn't work. Thank You, Thank You so so much. I'm ordering this cord now!!!! 🥰🥰
Omg!!!!!!!!! Thank you sooo much. Hopefully you will see this comment because this vid is a year old. My wife bought me a garmin new 6 years ago and since new, it’s done this. Will not charge up at all. Craziness. Thought it was a faulty unit. Battery may not even be good anymore at this point.
I have a Garmin DriveAssist 51 LMT-S. I have the short cable that comes with the unit and I purchased a longer cable. All I have to do is click on the cancel button when it wants to go into PC connect mode then I’m able to play with my GPS, change settings, etc. But neither cable with allow charging. I have to use the 120v plug adapter to charge. Great informational videos. Thanks
This cable will allow you to charge as well. Also the charging depends on the Amperage ( current ) of the USB Port. You need it to be 2.0A or higher. Ideal is 2.5A USB port.
Thank you very much for this invaluable information. Unfortunately shipping from both sources to the UK costs almost as much as the cable itself. I hope Garmin will soon start to supply the cable to all foreign retailers who stock Garmin products.
the garmin Smartdrive 71 ex, model does not need this 3rd party usb cable, when powered on by its supplied USB it will ask you if you want to go into transfer mode or not. Not sure about other garmin models maybe just the newer models now, dunnno
Gosh I was looking for a solution for this problem forever, thanks for such an informative video. The cable is not even that expensive I was thinking it will be like $49.99 or more.
It's plenty expensive, A USB cable should cost $2. The fact that Garmin designed this with the need for a proprietary cable absolutely pisses me off. Glad I've been stealing their maps for the last decade. Jerks.
Thank you for this! Recently used the Zumo XT to navigate a route on motorcycle. I thought by bringing a fully-charged power bank, that I would not run out of battery power on the Garmin but unfortunately, a little over 3 hours in, the unit showed low battery power. Plugging it into the power bank only resulted in file transfer mode which did me no good at all. If I had not of printed out a route map, I would have been SOS.
On the XT (at least with the latest version 6.50) you will get a warning that it will switch to MTP ("Sync mode") once you plug it to a USB power bank and if you press the "Cancel" button, it will continue in navigation mode.
I rented a car in Florida, guess what; no 12V socket only USB port. Garmin has got to get with the program we are in 2022. So i bought the cable works great on a Nuvi 1450. Thank you
Question - I'm using one of these older Garmin GPS's, the one with the external box built into the cord (rectangular shaped). I cut the wire after the box but before the cigarette adapter. I was hoping to hard wire direct to ignition 12v. After cutting, I have three wires. one red, one white and one bare copper that surrounded the red. Two questions, 1) If I do not need traffic updates, do I leave the copper (non coated) empty (not connected)? 2) What if I cut the wire before the box...would there only be two wires there?
Do not hard wire that, because the voltage after the Cigarette Lighter adapter drops to 5V, not 12V. You need to watch the following video linked below to the end, to fully understand how it works th-cam.com/video/YMVhjrJ5bRo/w-d-xo.html
I am curious if you have tried to power this up with a variable power meter to see what voltage point they start up at. I am looking for a GPS that can power up with only 6 volts from a USB port. Appreciate your help!
The DC power output of any USB Port is 5V DC and sometimes it can go as high as 5.5V DC, so 6V might be a little too much for the electronics inside the GPS. Although it seems like 1V shouldn't matter, however the microchips inside the GPS is extremely sensitive and it might damage it. So I don't recommend using a 6V power source.
First of all, thank you so much for all your help. It is greatly appreciated. I wonder why Garmin would sell the many GPS devices without addressing the battery charging problem, without having to buy an additional cable. My two-fold question is: How long to charge the battery using the PC with the mini chip cable? And how long by using the lighter in my car? I'm aware that even with a dead battery, the GPS should still work off my car battery while charging. I recently purchased the basic Garmin Drive 51 Ex. It came with dead battery. When connecting to my PC to charge it, it showed the sync icon (like you said it would). It did charge the battery almost to full, but it took a good 24 hours. I know that's way to long?
You are very welcome, and here are the answers to your questions. 1. The time required to fully charge the Garmin Battery depends on the USB Port current. Older PC's USB 1.0 provides only 500mA current which is not enough to power and charge the battery. So it took 24 hours because the USB port output power was barely enough to provide power to the GPS, a very small portion of power was being used to charge the battery. 2. The newer PC's with USB 2.0 Port can support between 1000mA to 2000mA. At 1000mA which is 1A the Garmin will charge in about 3 to 4 hours when it's also ON, and at 2000mA the Garmin will fully charge in 2 hours when it's ON. 3. With the Chip cable even an older computer with 1000mA USB Port will charge it faster because it will not trigger the PC Sync mode, and you can turn it OFF while charging. 4. The same goes with Car USB Ports, they are usually 2.0A which is 2000mA so it should charge a completely empty battery in 2 hours even if the GPS is ON. Turning the GPS OFF when using a 2A USB port will not expedite the charging process, because there are many other limitations inside the GPS which regulates charging current and duration.
Hi, I am having the opposite problem as my Smart Drive 50 will not connect to my computer, while using the factory cable or any cable. I ordered the cable you suggested just now and I will check it out as soon as I get it. I have not updated my unit in two years and would like to get the maps updated. Any suggestions?
Thanks for this great video. I have a Garmin Drive 52 and if I plug it into a USB connection the screen brightness drops to 70%. It is doing this by design. You unplug it and it goes back to 100%. My USB is 3.1 Amp. I've ordered the cable to see if it cures this problem. It is the same on every USB port I have.
You are very welcome, the answer to your question depends on the brightness behavior of your screen when you are using the original Garmin Cigarette Lighter charger. Does it dim with the car charger?
@@andyw7978 If your USB socket or USB port supports 2.0A then it should support it even at 100% brightness. If it only works at 70% it means the USB port can't supply the required current by the GPS. On most vehicles, the USB Port is 2.0A or 2.5A.
I have powered my Garmin Nuvi GPS’s using a standard USB cable connected to my USB outlet on my motorcycle for years. Haven’t tried it with the Drive models.
Yes that is true for some older models of Garmin Nuvi and StreetPilot devices, however on the newer ones a normal USB Cable will activate PC Sync Mode.
Hello, thank you very much for this video. I have the same issue but I wish relocate the usb port outsider the gps. I wish sold a flex on the motherboard or other. Could you help me with the pinout assignment of the usb port on the motherboard ? My garmin is a 2597 LMT. Thank you.
You can't do that because Garmin uses all 5 pins of the USB Port, but all the extension cables have 4 wires not 5. So the only way you can do that is to custom make an extension cable and connect wire to wire from the Garmin PCB to the Extension connector.
Hello, i have a new Garmin Mini 2…never used. It looks as if I can use a portable power bank for powering the mini. If I am correct, what minimum specs would you recommend for the power bank? I’m assuming it must have the ability to output 12V? Do you have a power bank you recommend? Thank you in advance. Buzz
Hello, If your Garmin Mini 2 uses Mini USB Port for power then yes you can use this cable with a battery bank. Most USB Ports put out 5V DC so the USB 1, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 Battery banks also put out 5V DC at different currents. A good Battery bank would be a Name Brand battery bank and not a no-name generic brand. The reason is that the generic ones overstate their battery capacity and you usually get much less than what is advertised. For example, a good brand would be ANKER, or Belkin. Thank you
Question. Is a 2,000 mAh battery to big for a 61 LMT-s? I have one I bought for a Navi 50 LM which has the right plug for a 61 and I wondered if it is to big for the 61 if it needs one. I am not sure it needs one, yet.
I have tried larger battery packs and as long as they physically fit and the plug is the same they work just fine. I have switched batteries between similar Garmin devices without any issues. The have to be similar series, for example Garmin Drive 60/61/65 or Nuvi 200/205/255/265
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 ok, if I need one I will get a Garmin battery for it. I got it and it works fine, so far. I have it updated on my router and set up. I have not tied into my iPhone, yet. Will do tomorrow. I am letting it charge up, now. It is a nice unit. It does not like a regular power cord but does like my TA-20.
Hello mine has similar problem,a short cable the original for the PC when I use it in the car it does the job but it's to short to reach the windscreen , when I extended it with male female usb extension it worked a few times then stopped . A few days ago I bought a longer version to the short but it is not working, What may be the problem? Would this cable sort it out? Thanks
This is easily fixed with a firmware update, but Garmin never had an interest in identifying this as an"issue" probably because the only instance in which you would use it as a GPS is while driving. Interestingly I own a 265W and sometimes randomly, by playing with the two way button to power it up, in a few instances it did power in GPS mode while connected to a USB charger.
The firmware fix may work for some models, but not for all. Yes without this proprietary cable you could still get it to load in normal GPS mode, but it's hit or miss. You have to turn it on and off multiple times to make boot normal.
I noticed the same with my Rino 755t at first. In a data port it reflects sync status but if I move it to one of the "fast charge" ports on my USB hub it charges just as it would plugged into the wall. It's the same for my battery packs as well, all of them charge it. Interesting.
Does it work fully?. Full brightness capabilities and all?. Cause my issue has been for long that it was not getting locked into PC mode trying with the USB, but more that the GPS didn't "like" getting power that way and the battery eventually still ran out after a bit as it doesn't charge fast enough and strong enough to keep up with the power consumption of the device and the brightness couldn't go above half either. It only worked as normal through the DC outlet. So does this cable work on providing full comparable utility to the DC outlet?
Hi, in your case the problem is not only in with your USB cable type, but also the USB Port that you are using. In order to get full functionality your USB port must be at least 2.5A, but 3.0 Amps recommended. Also I need to know the exact model number of your Garmin GPS, to give you a more targeted answer.
Khalid: question. When I connect my 'Nuvi 2639 LMT' to my Win/10 PC, the 2639 boots, displays 'PC Sync' icon, and then immediately powers-off. It remains powered-on for approximately 30-35 seconds from when I touch the power-on switch. Any thoughts on how I can keep the 2639 powered-on, so that I can update the maps, etc through Garmin Express?
Hi, this usually happens when the battery inside the GPS is either defective or not fully charged at the time of updating procedure. On some computer the USB port doesn't have enough current to support both powering the GPS and updating it at the same time. So you must fully charge the battery before updating it. If the battery is defective and can't be charged try using a USB 3.0 port which has more DC power to accomplish the map updating task with a dead battery.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Again, thanks for your reply. This is feedback to your possible solution. I run a Win/10 Dell desktop PC (model: xps 8700). I reviewed the original Dell specs (PDF), verified which USB ports were 3.0, and plugged my 2639 cable directly into a 3.0 port. The 2639 behaved exactly as described in my original post. When I disconnected my 2639 from the PC and powered it up stand-alone, the battery icon shows all green. I appreciate your attempt to diagnose my 2639 connectivity issue. Have a great day.
@@ChuckTremain@ChuckTremain You are welcome; try updating it with a Mac Computer if you have one; if that also fails, there could be a hardware issue with your device. Here is how you do it on a Mac www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/nuvi2509-2609/EN-US/GUID-AB01F4C7-F1B1-4169-BC92-A222FF8344EC.html
Does the Garmin Dash Cam usb mini cigarette power cable have 4 or 5 wires? Regular USB mini turns it into pc mode. Is there a way to modify a regular usb mini?
The Garmin DashCam 20 has two wires going to it when using Mini USB Car Charger, and Five Wires when using USB PC Sync Cable. I don't know of any way to modify standard cable to prevent it from going to PC Sync mode. The BGI-USB1 is the only one that I know of that works. Thank you
Hi T.T. Will the Nuvi 52 overcharge if left on charge for prolonged periods? No info on that on the Garmin website and they won't answer questions on this unit if you call them!
The battery will not overcharge and once the battery is full the current flow to the battery will drop to zero. To confirm this you can fully charge it, then run it from the battery, then press and hold the battery icon for 30 seconds. It takes you to the Diagnostic page. On this page look at the charging current it should be zero since the battery is discharging, now plug in the external power and you will see the current flow charging the battery and it drops to zero when the battery is at 100%
I was wondering if you could make a video on how to hardwire that particular cable from the GPS to a power source. Such as for a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Hello, I have a Garmin Montana 750i that has a micro USB connection, will the BGI-USB1 Cable with Mini to Micro USB Adapter Cable work with this unit as it is being used on an ATV. The ATV has both a USB and 12V connection on it
You will need to use the USB Port on the ATV but you also need to get the Micro to Mini USB adapter with the BGI-USB1 Cable. Here is the link www.mcssl.com/store/buy-green-inc/bgi-usb1-cable-with-mini-to-micro-usb-adapter-cable
Would this cable allow me to have my Samsung phone as a larger screen to my Garmin Montana 680 while the GPS is running. I want to have a larger screen mounted on a All Terrain Vehicle.
Do you happen to know if Garmin makes a handheld that uses USB C instead of USB mini? I'm trying to keep all my electronics the same plug wise. Thanks!
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 I have always wondered if garmin did or not because all the garmin devices i have ever used had mini usb but then again i have only used garmin nüvi devices
Can someone confirm if cutting the green and white wire would work on Garmin Dash Cam 20? I am getting "USB Mass Storage" message when using regular USB mini b cable inside the car.
I haven't had any success with cable modifications, but it's worth a try since the cables are so cheap you can sacrifice a cable to find out if it works for your Garmin Dash Cam.
This works as Power / Change / and Traffic Antenna For the Following Garmin Models 55LMT 56LMT 65LMT 66LMT 2457LMT 2497LMT 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT DriveSmart 50LMTHD
I have a whole lot of GPS units, cables and adaptors, and I found out that anything under 10 watts puts my GPS units into PC link mode, whereas 10 watts and above will start charging your GPS units. So it is based on the available power into the GPS units.
A friend of mine gave me two old garmin's 255w and when I plug them in they both say system locked slide power button to left. After I do that the Garmin symbol just keeps cycling over and over and says updating Maps? Do you have any idea what is going on with both of these units.
Hi, first you need to use Garmin WebUpdater.exe and fully update the firmware, once the firmware is fully updated, use GarminMapUpdater to update the maps and it should work fine.
I have a Garmin Drive 5.1. I have found with the ordinary USB cable pluged into the car USB power port, it initionaly displays the computer sink mode, but after 30 seconds of the power being turned on it starts up as normal and I can use the map. This is also true if i plug it into a power board. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your input, that method works with very few models of Garmin. Also some people have reported that in the middle of a rout the PC Sync could be re-triggered.
I have a 2597. Plugged into my Imac. Downloaded Garmin Express. The computer will not recognize the garmin. Deleted everything off the Garmin. Updated the imac. Still nothing. Any suggestions?
That means your GPS is not set to Mass Storage. Here is what your need to do. On you GPS you need to go to the volume screen, and then click on the upper right corner of the Garmin screen for 15 seconds. Now you will have a advanced diagnostic screen, from this screen choose scroll down and choose MTP Settings, then Chose Mass Storage and click Save. Now your computer should see it.
Several years ago, I purchased a Garmin GPS device...I used it for work and about less than two months later, the power Cord that attaches to the unit broke off inside the plastic casing. This amongst other things that went wrong with the GPS device convinced me to buy TOMTOM and never looked back!!
Both brands have some good and some bad things about them. Garmin's annual research and development funds alone are more than TomTom's total annual sales. Garmin makes GPS devices not only for cars, but for Water Navigation, Underwater Diving, Air Navigation, Hiking, Land Navigation, and Street Navigation. In addition to that, they also have an advanced line of navigation devices for the military.
The USB cable is not your problem, and this will make no difference in your situation. What you need to do is plug in your USB cable to a USB Power Outlet with a 2.5A Current Rating. Anything lower than 2.0A will cause screen darkness on some models of Garmin GPS.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 do I understand you correctly, that: USB-A (power supply) -> Mini-USB (Garmin) requires your special modified cable to prevent sync mode while USB-C (power supply) -> Mini-USB (Garmin) does not require any modification ?
@@SuspiriaX No matter the source of the power if it's a USB-C port, a USB-A port, or a 5V Battery in any case if the connector that goes inside the GPS is a Mini USB port it must have the modification. Some exceptions include Garmin StreetPilot C330 which doesn't need any special USB cable. Also, those models on which the power goes to the cradle, and not the GPS itself, will work on normal unmodified cables. For example Garmin Nuvi 2360
I assume, this cable and a cellphone battery bank would enable me to take my Garmin "Drive 51" along on my kayak and get me back out of spooky cypress swamps alive. A fully charged unit can run for an hour on its own, plus the battery bank.....any problems doing that? ANY SPECIFIC BATTERY BANKS REQUIRED?
Hi Khalid, thanks for this info. I have this cable now and it works great. Wondering if you would have an idea on this issue…. The newer model Garmin 66 EX has moved away from the mini usb and now uses a usb c connection. Unfortunately, I don’t see a Garmin cable with traffic that’s usb c and I would like traffic on it. I tried using a mini usb female to usb c male cable adapter on the standard Garmin mini usb traffic cables ( both a GTM 36 and GTM 60) and neither worked. The adapter says it’s for both data and power. It’s the quianlink 2 pack of adapters for $6 on Amazon. Wonder if you have any ideas how to get the classic Garmin traffic mini usb cables to work with the usb c on the Garmin 66EX. Thanks!
Greetings, for the Garmin DriveSmart 66 you can only use the live traffic using the Garmin App on a Paired Smartphone. This is what it says on Garmin's website "Avoid delays with access to live traffic and weather using the Garmin Drive app on your paired smartphone." www.garmin.com/en-US/p/721098/pn/010-02469-00
Many thanks. However, I am quite sure that the cable(s) I have USED to work fine and allowed charging while using the GPS, then recently stopped. In an case, I'll get a new cable for sweetie and myself!!!
Is the cable compatible with older Garmin devices such as the Nuvi 1390? My older 1390 came with a thick cable and cigarette lighter adapter, which I assume the cable is so thick because of live traffic updates? Thank you and great video by the way!
No problem, and the answer is "Yes" it will work with the Garmin Nuvi 1390, however it will not provide Traffic Data, for the traffic info you must use the original thick cable which is GT25 or GT26.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Then as far as I am concerned, the new cable is useless. When I have it in my car I want to be able to have LIVE TRAFFIC updates. So I will just continue to use the large cable that plugs into a normal power outlet.
@@patrickoneil6304 Yes this will only provide traffic data for Garmin GPS units with model numbers ending with the letter T. For example Garmin Nuvi 2350LMT
Unfortunately they don't have Traffic Receiver, but they do make one with Traffic Antenna for those Garmin models that have an internal Traffic Receiver and only need an Antenna. So basically that would mean it will replace Garmin TA10 and Garmin TA20 cables.
Hi Khalid, in this video you say the shipping is free when buying the cable from the supplier as listed. When ordering it I was being charged $3.00 and change. I backed out of the order. Have things changed, are you now charging a shipping charge. JB
Yes I have, you can power it and charge the battery while using it. However you will not get traffic info with this cable because your Garmin's model number does not end with LMT. Hypothetically speaking if you had a Garmin Zumo XTLMT then you would also get traffic condition updates with this cable.
I am sure by "Code" you mean cable, if so the answer is unfortunately "NO". This cable has a micro chip inside which will block the PC from syncing with the Garmin. So for normal updates you can use the standard cheap Mini USB cable which you can buy for 99 cents. like this one www.ebay.com/itm/294339218602
So surprising, this is my problem but in reverse. when connected to iMac with the original Garmin USB cable, my old Nuvi 40 starts ready to navigate adn battery charges. No way I can have it connect in "PC" mode. For that, I have to connect it to an old Asus laptop running Windows 10. Then it syncs PC. For use in my car, I plug it in the 12v using the original 12v Garmin cable. works flawlessly. As for the battery, 40 minutes is the maximum time I can get it from. Clues?
The battery should last more than 90 minutes, so it probably needs to be replaced. Most Garmin Applications are designed for PC, but some that are made for both Mac and PC, the PC version is much more stable and reliable. So I recommend using your old Asus laptop to get all the updates.
Great info, much appreciated. I have a questions as well, I have a Garmin DriveSmart 65 and the onboard battery never has charged! Plug it into the car and works fine, turn off car and gps goes into shutdown mode. Plug it into a USB wall charger with their cable, updates everything fine but also does not charge battery. Was there something I had to do when new to get it to charge? Older person here so bear that in mind :-)
Thank you, so the issue that you are having is most likely due to a bad ( defective ) battery pack inside the GPS. However before we jump to that conclusion I recommend that you do a battery diagnostic on it. Here is how you do that th-cam.com/video/B8KIPNjC284/w-d-xo.html
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Buying one of these from USA would cost me £30 in the UK including postage which is a hell of a lot for a cable. If I could use a data blocker instead it would cost me just £5 and I could use a normal data link cable with the data link being suppressed by the circuitry in the data blocker. I can see no apparent reason why it should'nt work unless you advise to the contrary.
@@henrybyrd5402 I have never used a data blocker so I can't weight in one way or the other. I do know that these cables have a special type of Resister SMD Chip that will fool the Garmin GPS into believing that it is connected to a cigarette lighter port by a original Garmin Cable. So if the Data Blocker worked for you I would really appreciate it if you could kindly share the results with me.
On my Garmin 610 I just go to settings and select "Spanner" on start up instead of "Serial". Spanner starts in normal interface mode and serial starts in PC mode.
Cut a strip of electrical tape about 3mm wide. Carefully insert this into the satnav end of the cable, all the way in so it covers the middle 2 of the 4 pins. It is fiddly and might take a few attempts. Now the satnav will only see power (2 outermost pins) and won't enter pc mode. Edit... this works on my nuvi 42.
Great Tip, however instead of using a tape which works on and off, you would be better off to cut the cable and only connect the two power wires and not the rest. Although this trick will only work on some models of Garmin not on all, it is still cheaper than buying a twenty dollar cable. FYI, the power wires inside the cable are the " Black and Red" where the Data wires are white and green.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 not true, I carefully sliced the outter cover on the wire and inside was only two wires: black and white...the wire that attaches to the accessory output in a car - which my nuvi 1300 thinks is a computer sync cable. ( The reason I'm here looking for a solution).
If it only flicked once and then turned OFF, it could be the power plug or USB Port, because even if you have a dead battery the GPS should power ON with external power.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 TY took card off. USB mini connector falls off..looks like it was soldered at one time. Difficult to determine where soldered originally.
@@nour_electro9252 What you need to do is first fully charge the battery, then do the following. 1. Turn the unit completely OFF and unplug the power cord. Completely off not just standby 2. Putt your finger at the bottom right corner of the screen and keep your finger there as you turn it back ON 3. Continue to keep your finger in there for about 30 seconds or more until you get Clear All User Data message 4. Remove your finger from the bottom right corner and press YES , the unit restarts and you will have all the settings and data back to factory default
I have now had a chance to test a USB Data Blocker. This one is called a “Portapow.” It fits between the USB socket and the USB lead and adds another 30mm. Its main purpose is to stop data transfer when using potentially unsafe charging points. I believe this particular one is a UK product. The good news is that is does work on the Garmin. The bad news is that it takes a bit longer to start the map finder when connected to the car USB socket. When it is powered up, it still thinks that it is connected to a computer initially and shows this on the screen. It takes a full minute longer than the Cigar lighter connection to enter map mode and to start the charge. Cigar lighter connection - 25 seconds only. This is not so important if you are using an external charging point, where it seems to work perfectly, albeit with a minute's delay. I don't know if it is still charging during this delay. I haven't been on along car journey yet to ascertain if the charge is slower. I hope this is useful.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Sorry, I meant to include the price. It was £4.50 ($6.39) from Amazon UK. I will let you know next time I use it on a long journey to see if it holds a charge throughout. I also forgot to mention that my Garmin is a 1490.
I have a Nuvi 50lm. I cut the green wire and white wire of the usb to mini cable. It went into PC mode then after 1 minute worked as normal with map showing etc and was charging (lightning ⚡ through green battery bars) Very Happy! Garmin should address this issue.
Not for all Garmin gps. I used nuvi 2689. First it go to pc mode and if you wait little big longer it can ready to use. It doesn’t change internal battery but it can still use if you let attach usb cable.
After 10 years i decide to use my Garmin Nuvi 200 I charging it in PC's USB is charging but i'm not sure if is right to do. Isnt it? I also order new battery for better. Thanks a lot for helping me!
It only works with the Dezl OTR700 if your car has a USB Port that supports 5VDC 2.5A or 3.0A and it will NOT work it it has 5VDC 1A, 1.5A, or 2.0A USB Ports.
Thanks for your reply ! I use it in a semi truck. Pretty sure it’s traffic receiver is inside the unit since the power cord just plugs into the power supply port, “aka” cigarette lighter plug. So would it work as long as I use a 2.5 amp usb 12volt power supply plug ? Thanks! Gregg
I connected my Garmin to my computer. It gives you 17 seconds to reject pc sync mode. I reject and goes into battery charging mode. You have to disconnect from pc to get the battery status. Once it is disconnected the battery drains very quickly. For hiking and such I would take a few battery banks and your cable. Tnx
One problem using an USB port to power a GPS is USB 1 &2 will only provide 100 ma of power to the GPS. The newer USB 3.0 will provide 1.0 amps of power but not many cars support 3.0 ( blue plug). I am not even sure my USB electric strip I use for my tablets will properly power my power hungry Garmin GPS. The micro USB cables from Dollar Tree do not have the video cables and only contain power conductors. They may work in an USB 3.0 connector.
The Garmin GPSMaps 66i takes a Micro USB Cable, not a mini USB Cable. So this cable works on it nly if you use a Mini, to Micro USB Adapter with it. The adapter is provided free of charge with the purchase of the cable, but you have to ask for it at the time of purchase since it is not normally included.
Yes any USB cable can charge your Garmin to Full, however this is the only one which will also allow you to use it while it's being charged from a USB cable. Other cables will put the Garmin in PC Sync Mode while charging. The duration to get the battery from zero to full charge depends on the source USB Port. If you plug this cable to a 1.0 Amp USB port it will take 2 hours to charge, If you plug it into a 2.0 Amp USB Port it will charge in about an hour or so. The exact charging time may very from model to model depending on the battery capacity.
I have had my Nuvi 1350 for prob 10 years or longer and don't remember having this issue until recently (I use this on one of my motorcycles, but maybe once a year). This cable you mention wouldn't help me because I need to plug into a 12V adapter (cigarette lighter port). I have the OEM cable that came with the unit, but even plugging that into an outlet thinks it is a PC. I am going to try another firmware update I guess as mentioned in the comments.
Because the original Garmin Car charger has that chip inside which prevents it from going to PC Sync mode. If you use a generic car charger it will most likely go to PC Sync Mode.
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Khalid -- I can't thank you enough for solving this problem -- which has been driving me insane since we bought a fancy new truck with a fancy navigation screen, and no cigarette lighter for my older Garmin GPS. My old Garmin has every location we have visited in the last several years, and is so easy for me to fiddle with on my lap while my sweetheart is driving us across the Southwest. I do NOT wish to chat with the onboard maps assistant, as that produces mixed results, is hugely irritating, and also mutes the music system. You are an angel of mercy for providing this video, and a link to the needed product. With gratitude, Lynn
Thank you for your kind words, I truly appreciate it!!
Great job and thank you for that demonstration. Garmin is missing out by not offering their units with a USB cable. Nearly all new automobiles have USB and USB-c ports now and the bulky cable that comes with the Garmins are out of date in today's world. Again, thank you for a great presentation.
Thanks for your appreciation and your kind words!
They do now but the cable is a few inches long, way too short to reach most usb centres in the car.
@@raindancertheheartmindconn8523 how long is the cable - asking to see if it reaches my motorbike USB
I have to say that you provide some of the most concise and knowledgeable videos I've seen - and without any annoying intros. Thank you!
In terms of USB cables, there are several different types:
1) Charge only cable. This is a 2 wire cable specifically for charging the device only.
2) Data cable. This is for 2 way communication between the device and the computer. No charging is performed.
3) Data and Charge cable. This is the full USB cable that you can charge and transfer data to and from computer.
Have you tried the Garmin Nuvi devices with just the Charging cable? I guess a GTM cable acts the same way, only that it supplies a charge as well as FM traffic data? I have a Garmin Edge for biking and I can use any USB micro cable to charge and/or transfer data. So, Garmin must've corrected this charging issue with newer devices.
PS: For anyone wanting to make their own charge only USB cable, here's the link:
th-cam.com/video/AKsr3LlOnd0/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the compliments and the valuable info. I have tried the normal 2 conductor charging cable it works for some models but not all. Yes, the newer Garmin units are not as restrictive as the old ones when it comes to (Charge Only Cables), but the legacy devices still gave me a hard time.
Just watched your video...not sure how I found it, but this is exactly what I need to solve my problem!!! I just bought a new car that doesn't have the set-up like my old car, so my GPS, which I absolutely LOVE, didn't work. Thank You, Thank You so so much. I'm ordering this cord now!!!! 🥰🥰
You're welcome!
Omg!!!!!!!!! Thank you sooo much. Hopefully you will see this comment because this vid is a year old. My wife bought me a garmin new 6 years ago and since new, it’s done this. Will not charge up at all. Craziness. Thought it was a faulty unit. Battery may not even be good anymore at this point.
Hopefully the battery is still good, but if it isn't, no worries, checkout my battery replacement video for your specific Garmin.
Finally someone addressed this issue, Thank you very much
My pleasure
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i like your fixing
I have a Garmin DriveAssist 51 LMT-S. I have the short cable that comes with the unit and I purchased a longer cable. All I have to do is click on the cancel button when it wants to go into PC connect mode then I’m able to play with my GPS, change settings, etc. But neither cable with allow charging. I have to use the 120v plug adapter to charge. Great informational videos. Thanks
This cable will allow you to charge as well. Also the charging depends on the Amperage ( current ) of the USB Port. You need it to be 2.0A or higher. Ideal is 2.5A USB port.
Thank you. I can use this w my gps for bicycling and walking in cities where I don’t have experience.
Yes but you also have to have a USB Battery bank.
Thank you for this!! Kept me from buying a new gps because my old Nuvi 1300 still works great😃👍🏽
Great to hear!
Thank you very much for this invaluable information. Unfortunately shipping from both sources to the UK costs almost as much as the cable itself. I hope Garmin will soon start to supply the cable to all foreign retailers who stock Garmin products.
You are very welcome, and yes I agree with you. In addition to that the new VAT Taxes makes it impractical to buy something from the States.
the garmin Smartdrive 71 ex, model does not need this 3rd party usb cable, when powered on by its supplied USB it will ask you if you want to go into transfer mode or not. Not sure about other garmin models maybe just the newer models now, dunnno
Gosh I was looking for a solution for this problem forever, thanks for such an informative video. The cable is not even that expensive I was thinking it will be like $49.99 or more.
You are very welcome, the cable has some type of a micro chip in it that makes the GPS Think it is connected to a original Garmin Power Cable.
It's plenty expensive, A USB cable should cost $2. The fact that Garmin designed this with the need for a proprietary cable absolutely pisses me off. Glad I've been stealing their maps for the last decade. Jerks.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH What can I say, Garmin is a greedy compay I guess
Sorry but a 20$ cable is expensive. Old Garmin like Nuvie 40 and up models are worth 20$ in 2023 though they still do the work.
Thank you for this! Recently used the Zumo XT to navigate a route on motorcycle. I thought by bringing a fully-charged power bank, that I would not run out of battery power on the Garmin but unfortunately, a little over 3 hours in, the unit showed low battery power. Plugging it into the power bank only resulted in file transfer mode which did me no good at all. If I had not of printed out a route map, I would have been SOS.
You are very welcome!
On the XT (at least with the latest version 6.50) you will get a warning that it will switch to MTP ("Sync mode") once you plug it to a USB power bank and if you press the "Cancel" button, it will continue in navigation mode.
@@Quick_Fix I’ll have to check that out on my new zumo xt. Thanks
@@Buszzbait69 Did this power cable work on your Zumo XT after selecting "cancel"?
@@johnscott9829 yes it did work so I was able to download routes via usb.
thank you so much for the info and also for the link to buy the cable
You are very welcome!
thank you sir i was having so much trouble powering up my garmin i thought it was broken .going to buy that cable.
Glad I could help
I rented a car in Florida, guess what; no 12V socket only USB port. Garmin has got to get with the program we are in 2022. So i bought the cable works great on a Nuvi 1450.
Thank you
Thanks for sharing, I agree Garmin should ship every new GPS with the USB Power option.
Question - I'm using one of these older Garmin GPS's, the one with the external box built into the cord (rectangular shaped). I cut the wire after the box but before the cigarette adapter. I was hoping to hard wire direct to ignition 12v. After cutting, I have three wires. one red, one white and one bare copper that surrounded the red. Two questions, 1) If I do not need traffic updates, do I leave the copper (non coated) empty (not connected)? 2) What if I cut the wire before the box...would there only be two wires there?
Do not hard wire that, because the voltage after the Cigarette Lighter adapter drops to 5V, not 12V. You need to watch the following video linked below to the end, to fully understand how it works th-cam.com/video/YMVhjrJ5bRo/w-d-xo.html
I am curious if you have tried to power this up with a variable power meter to see what voltage point they start up at. I am looking for a GPS that can power up with only 6 volts from a USB port. Appreciate your help!
The DC power output of any USB Port is 5V DC and sometimes it can go as high as 5.5V DC, so 6V might be a little too much for the electronics inside the GPS. Although it seems like 1V shouldn't matter, however the microchips inside the GPS is extremely sensitive and it might damage it. So I don't recommend using a 6V power source.
Ordered this cord and it really works! Thank you!
You are very welcome!
What is the cord make model ?
This is the exact problem I was having, thank you!
Glad it helped!
Just what I was looking for! Thanks!!!
Glad I could help!
First of all, thank you so much for all your help. It is greatly appreciated. I wonder why Garmin would sell the many GPS devices without addressing the battery charging problem, without having to buy an additional cable. My two-fold question is: How long to charge the battery using the PC with the mini chip cable? And how long by using the lighter in my car? I'm aware that even with a dead battery, the GPS should still work off my car battery while charging.
I recently purchased the basic Garmin Drive 51 Ex. It came with dead battery. When connecting to my PC to charge it, it showed the sync icon (like you said it would). It did charge the battery almost to full, but it took a good 24 hours. I know that's way to long?
You are very welcome, and here are the answers to your questions.
1. The time required to fully charge the Garmin Battery depends on the USB Port current. Older PC's USB 1.0 provides only 500mA current which is not enough to power and charge the battery. So it took 24 hours because the USB port output power was barely enough to provide power to the GPS, a very small portion of power was being used to charge the battery.
2. The newer PC's with USB 2.0 Port can support between 1000mA to 2000mA. At 1000mA which is 1A the Garmin will charge in about 3 to 4 hours when it's also ON, and at 2000mA the Garmin will fully charge in 2 hours when it's ON.
3. With the Chip cable even an older computer with 1000mA USB Port will charge it faster because it will not trigger the PC Sync mode, and you can turn it OFF while charging.
4. The same goes with Car USB Ports, they are usually 2.0A which is 2000mA so it should charge a completely empty battery in 2 hours even if the GPS is ON. Turning the GPS OFF when using a 2A USB port will not expedite the charging process, because there are many other limitations inside the GPS which regulates charging current and duration.
Greetings to you sir and many thanks for this video. I used to have a BIG HEADACHE about this and now it's gone!!
I am glad it helped you, thanks for your feedback.
Hi, I am having the opposite problem as my Smart Drive 50 will not connect to my computer, while using the factory cable or any cable. I ordered the cable you suggested just now and I will check it out as soon as I get it. I have not updated my unit in two years and would like to get the maps updated. Any suggestions?
Hi, in that case there could be loose connections in your GPS USB Port. Watch this video to see what I mean th-cam.com/video/wQrUM2iUz_8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this great video. I have a Garmin Drive 52 and if I plug it into a USB connection the screen brightness drops to 70%. It is doing this by design. You unplug it and it goes back to 100%. My USB is 3.1 Amp. I've ordered the cable to see if it cures this problem. It is the same on every USB port I have.
You are very welcome, the answer to your question depends on the brightness behavior of your screen when you are using the original Garmin Cigarette Lighter charger. Does it dim with the car charger?
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 The cable fixes the problem with 70% screen brightness on Garmin Drive 52 models. I bought a cable and tried it.
@@andyw7978 If your USB socket or USB port supports 2.0A then it should support it even at 100% brightness. If it only works at 70% it means the USB port can't supply the required current by the GPS. On most vehicles, the USB Port is 2.0A or 2.5A.
I have powered my Garmin Nuvi GPS’s using a standard USB cable connected to my USB outlet on my motorcycle for years. Haven’t tried it with the Drive models.
Yes that is true for some older models of Garmin Nuvi and StreetPilot devices, however on the newer ones a normal USB Cable will activate PC Sync Mode.
Hello, thank you very much for this video. I have the same issue but I wish relocate the usb port outsider the gps. I wish sold a flex on the motherboard or other. Could you help me with the pinout assignment of the usb port on the motherboard ? My garmin is a 2597 LMT. Thank you.
You can't do that because Garmin uses all 5 pins of the USB Port, but all the extension cables have 4 wires not 5. So the only way you can do that is to custom make an extension cable and connect wire to wire from the Garmin PCB to the Extension connector.
Hello, i have a new Garmin Mini 2…never used. It looks as if I can use a portable power bank for powering the mini. If I am correct, what minimum specs would you recommend for the power bank? I’m assuming it must have the ability to output 12V? Do you have a power bank you recommend? Thank you in advance. Buzz
Hello, If your Garmin Mini 2 uses Mini USB Port for power then yes you can use this cable with a battery bank. Most USB Ports put out 5V DC so the USB 1, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 Battery banks also put out 5V DC at different currents. A good Battery bank would be a Name Brand battery bank and not a no-name generic brand. The reason is that the generic ones overstate their battery capacity and you usually get much less than what is advertised. For example, a good brand would be ANKER, or Belkin. Thank you
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 thanks so much
Question. Is a 2,000 mAh battery to big for a 61 LMT-s? I have one I bought for a Navi 50 LM which has the right plug for a 61 and I wondered if it is to big for the 61 if it needs one. I am not sure it needs one, yet.
I have tried larger battery packs and as long as they physically fit and the plug is the same they work just fine. I have switched batteries between similar Garmin devices without any issues. The have to be similar series, for example Garmin Drive 60/61/65 or Nuvi 200/205/255/265
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 ok, if I need one I will get a Garmin battery for it. I got it and it works fine, so far. I have it updated on my router and set up. I have not tied into my iPhone, yet. Will do tomorrow. I am letting it charge up, now. It is a nice unit. It does not like a regular power cord but does like my TA-20.
Hello mine has similar problem,a short cable the original for the PC when I use it in the car it does the job but it's to short to reach the windscreen , when I extended it with male female usb extension it worked a few times then stopped .
A few days ago I bought a longer version to the short but it is not working,
What may be the problem?
Would this cable sort it out?
Thanks
Yes this cable will sort it out and you will never see the PC SYNC ever again. See the customer feedback on this cable.
www.ebay.com/itm/333716621477
This is easily fixed with a firmware update, but Garmin never had an interest in identifying this as an"issue" probably because the only instance in which you would use it as a GPS is while driving. Interestingly I own a 265W and sometimes randomly, by playing with the two way button to power it up, in a few instances it did power in GPS mode while connected to a USB charger.
The firmware fix may work for some models, but not for all. Yes without this proprietary cable you could still get it to load in normal GPS mode, but it's hit or miss. You have to turn it on and off multiple times to make boot normal.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 What models does it work with?
@@kanisanvaseekaran4361 It works with any model which has a Mini USB Port, not a Micro USB Port. Examples are Nuvi 200, 265W etc.
And here I thought it was my cable!! I’ve tried every cable!
Happy to help!
I noticed the same with my Rino 755t at first. In a data port it reflects sync status but if I move it to one of the "fast charge" ports on my USB hub it charges just as it would plugged into the wall. It's the same for my battery packs as well, all of them charge it. Interesting.
Yes that is possible with the Rino 755 series but with most other Garmin units it will go with PC Sync mode without the special cable.
Thank you for this video!
You are very welcome!
Does it work fully?. Full brightness capabilities and all?. Cause my issue has been for long that it was not getting locked into PC mode trying with the USB, but more that the GPS didn't "like" getting power that way and the battery eventually still ran out after a bit as it doesn't charge fast enough and strong enough to keep up with the power consumption of the device and the brightness couldn't go above half either. It only worked as normal through the DC outlet. So does this cable work on providing full comparable utility to the DC outlet?
Hi, in your case the problem is not only in with your USB cable type, but also the USB Port that you are using. In order to get full functionality your USB port must be at least 2.5A, but 3.0 Amps recommended. Also I need to know the exact model number of your Garmin GPS, to give you a more targeted answer.
Khalid: question. When I connect my 'Nuvi 2639 LMT' to my Win/10 PC, the 2639 boots, displays 'PC Sync' icon, and then immediately powers-off. It remains powered-on for approximately 30-35 seconds from when I touch the power-on switch. Any thoughts on how I can keep the 2639 powered-on, so that I can update the maps, etc through Garmin Express?
Hi, this usually happens when the battery inside the GPS is either defective or not fully charged at the time of updating procedure. On some computer the USB port doesn't have enough current to support both powering the GPS and updating it at the same time. So you must fully charge the battery before updating it. If the battery is defective and can't be charged try using a USB 3.0 port which has more DC power to accomplish the map updating task with a dead battery.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Many thanks for taking the time to respond! I will give it a try!
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Again, thanks for your reply. This is feedback to your possible solution. I run a Win/10 Dell desktop PC (model: xps 8700). I reviewed the original Dell specs (PDF), verified which USB ports were 3.0, and plugged my 2639 cable directly into a 3.0 port. The 2639 behaved exactly as described in my original post. When I disconnected my 2639 from the PC and powered it up stand-alone, the battery icon shows all green. I appreciate your attempt to diagnose my 2639 connectivity issue. Have a great day.
@@ChuckTremain@ChuckTremain You are welcome; try updating it with a Mac Computer if you have one; if that also fails, there could be a hardware issue with your device. Here is how you do it on a Mac www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/nuvi2509-2609/EN-US/GUID-AB01F4C7-F1B1-4169-BC92-A222FF8344EC.html
Does the Garmin Dash Cam usb mini cigarette power cable have 4 or 5 wires? Regular USB mini turns it into pc mode. Is there a way to modify a regular usb mini?
The Garmin DashCam 20 has two wires going to it when using Mini USB Car Charger, and Five Wires when using USB PC Sync Cable. I don't know of any way to modify standard cable to prevent it from going to PC Sync mode. The BGI-USB1 is the only one that I know of that works. Thank you
Hi T.T. Will the Nuvi 52 overcharge if left on charge for prolonged periods? No info on that on the Garmin website and they won't answer questions on this unit if you call them!
The battery will not overcharge and once the battery is full the current flow to the battery will drop to zero. To confirm this you can fully charge it, then run it from the battery, then press and hold the battery icon for 30 seconds. It takes you to the Diagnostic page. On this page look at the charging current it should be zero since the battery is discharging, now plug in the external power and you will see the current flow charging the battery and it drops to zero when the battery is at 100%
I was wondering if you could make a video on how to hardwire that particular cable from the GPS to a power source. Such as for a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
I need to know the exact model of the GPS that you have.
Hello, I have a Garmin Montana 750i that has a micro USB connection, will the BGI-USB1 Cable with Mini to Micro USB Adapter Cable work with this unit as it is being used on an ATV. The ATV has both a USB and 12V connection on it
You will need to use the USB Port on the ATV but you also need to get the Micro to Mini USB adapter with the BGI-USB1 Cable. Here is the link www.mcssl.com/store/buy-green-inc/bgi-usb1-cable-with-mini-to-micro-usb-adapter-cable
Would this cable allow me to have my Samsung phone as a larger screen to my Garmin Montana 680 while the GPS is running.
I want to have a larger screen mounted on a All Terrain Vehicle.
Unfortunately no, this is only a power cable it will not allow any video transfer.
Dose this cable come in different links? A shorter one would be great for motorcycles.
Yes when you place the order you can leave a note and tell us exactly what length you need it to be
Do you happen to know if Garmin makes a handheld that uses USB C instead of USB mini? I'm trying to keep all my electronics the same plug wise. Thanks!
Yes they do, for example Garmin DriveSmart 66
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 I have always wondered if garmin did or not because all the garmin devices i have ever used had mini usb but then again i have only used garmin nüvi devices
Thank you for the information.
No problem
Can someone confirm if cutting the green and white wire would work on Garmin Dash Cam 20? I am getting "USB Mass Storage" message when using regular USB mini b cable inside the car.
I haven't had any success with cable modifications, but it's worth a try since the cables are so cheap you can sacrifice a cable to find out if it works for your Garmin Dash Cam.
I have "traffic" on my new Garmin. Does this cable support the traffic feature also ?
This works as Power / Change / and Traffic Antenna For the Following Garmin Models
55LMT 56LMT 65LMT 66LMT 2457LMT 2497LMT 2557LMT 2577LT 2597LMT DriveSmart 50LMTHD
I have a whole lot of GPS units, cables and adaptors, and I found out that anything under 10 watts puts my GPS units into PC link mode, whereas 10 watts and above will start charging your GPS units. So it is based on the available power into the GPS units.
Yes that trick works on some models, but not all. This cable will work for all Garmin Units which uses a Mini USB port for power.
A friend of mine gave me two old garmin's 255w and when I plug them in they both say system locked slide power button to left. After I do that the Garmin symbol just keeps cycling over and over and says updating Maps? Do you have any idea what is going on with both of these units.
Hi, first you need to use Garmin WebUpdater.exe and fully update the firmware, once the firmware is fully updated, use GarminMapUpdater to update the maps and it should work fine.
I have a Garmin Drive 5.1. I have found with the ordinary USB cable pluged into the car USB power port, it initionaly displays the computer sink mode, but after 30 seconds of the power being turned on it starts up as normal and I can use the map. This is also true if i plug it into a power board. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your input, that method works with very few models of Garmin. Also some people have reported that in the middle of a rout the PC Sync could be re-triggered.
I have a 2597. Plugged into my Imac. Downloaded Garmin Express. The computer will not recognize the garmin.
Deleted everything off the Garmin. Updated the imac. Still nothing. Any suggestions?
That means your GPS is not set to Mass Storage. Here is what your need to do. On you GPS you need to go to the volume screen, and then click on the upper right corner of the Garmin screen for 15 seconds. Now you will have a advanced diagnostic screen, from this screen choose scroll down and choose MTP Settings, then Chose Mass Storage and click Save. Now your computer should see it.
I have the Nuvi 2595LMT when using the original car adapter sometimes it displays the pc sync symbol, could this mean my power cable has gone bad.
Hi, no the cord is not bad, the USB port on the GPS is bad and needs to be repaired. I have a guidance video on that too if you are interested.
Several years ago, I purchased a Garmin GPS device...I used it for work and about less than two months later, the power Cord that attaches to the unit broke off inside the plastic casing. This amongst other things that went wrong with the GPS device convinced me to buy TOMTOM and never looked back!!
Both brands have some good and some bad things about them. Garmin's annual research and development funds alone are more than TomTom's total annual sales. Garmin makes GPS devices not only for cars, but for Water Navigation, Underwater Diving, Air Navigation, Hiking, Land Navigation, and Street Navigation. In addition to that, they also have an advanced line of navigation devices for the military.
I’m trying to power my Zumo XT with USB but it won’t go above 40% brightness while on usb. Will this get me around that issue?
The USB cable is not your problem, and this will make no difference in your situation. What you need to do is plug in your USB cable to a USB Power Outlet with a 2.5A Current Rating. Anything lower than 2.0A will cause screen darkness on some models of Garmin GPS.
I was having this problem when trying to power my Garmin from the USB socket in my van, thankyou. A bit expensive though :-(
Yes it is a little bit too expensive but I am sure the prices will come down like anything else.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 I found a seller on Ebay that does them for £10 posted :-)
@@phil955i That's great hopefully it works for you.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 ha ha yes, fingers crossed
Hi,
Is there also a special car charging cable from USB-C to Mini-USB ?
(without yet another adapter piece)
You can use any standard USB C to USB A Cable, you don't need a special cable.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 do I understand you correctly, that:
USB-A (power supply) -> Mini-USB (Garmin) requires your special modified cable to prevent sync mode
while
USB-C (power supply) -> Mini-USB (Garmin) does not require any modification ?
@@SuspiriaX No matter the source of the power if it's a USB-C port, a USB-A port, or a 5V Battery in any case if the connector that goes inside the GPS is a Mini USB port it must have the modification. Some exceptions include Garmin StreetPilot C330 which doesn't need any special USB cable. Also, those models on which the power goes to the cradle, and not the GPS itself, will work on normal unmodified cables. For example Garmin Nuvi 2360
Can this cable also be used to transfer data from the PC to the GPS ??.
I’m hoping to find ONE cable to do both.
Unfortunately, this is not for data transfer, this will only work for charging and for powering up the GPS.
I assume, this cable and a cellphone battery bank would enable me to take my Garmin "Drive 51" along on my kayak and get me back out of spooky cypress swamps alive. A fully charged unit can run for an hour on its own, plus the battery bank.....any problems doing that? ANY SPECIFIC BATTERY BANKS REQUIRED?
Yes that is correct, and any battery bank will work as long as the battery bank USB port has at least 1.5A current, 2A recommended.
Does the bgi-usb1 cable work with the Garmin drive 52?
Yes it does with both Garmin Drive 52 and 52LM
The Drve 52 gives option to choose when connecting to a USB port. And, the 12v cigarette adaptor supplied does not go to "sync" mode.
Thanks for the info, I wish Garmin had that option on all of them.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 It's an evolutionary process. It'll never be as good as it will get (in this case anyway) 😉
@@N269 Well Said!
Hi Khalid, thanks for this info. I have this cable now and it works great.
Wondering if you would have an idea on this issue….
The newer model Garmin 66 EX has moved away from the mini usb and now uses a usb c connection. Unfortunately, I don’t see a Garmin cable with traffic that’s usb c and I would like traffic on it.
I tried using a mini usb female to usb c male cable adapter on the standard Garmin mini usb traffic cables ( both a GTM 36 and GTM 60) and neither worked. The adapter says it’s for both data and power. It’s the quianlink 2 pack of adapters for $6 on Amazon.
Wonder if you have any ideas how to get the classic Garmin traffic mini usb cables to work with the usb c on the Garmin 66EX.
Thanks!
Greetings, for the Garmin DriveSmart 66 you can only use the live traffic using the Garmin App on a Paired Smartphone. This is what it says on Garmin's website "Avoid delays with access to live traffic and weather using the Garmin Drive app on your paired smartphone." www.garmin.com/en-US/p/721098/pn/010-02469-00
Thanks for quick response Khalid.
I’m hoping they come out with a compatible traffic cable at some point.
Does this adapter cord actually charge the battery if left plugged in?
Yes it will charge the battery just like you would expect from the normal Garmin car charger.
Many thanks. However, I am quite sure that the cable(s) I have USED to work fine and allowed charging while using the GPS, then recently stopped. In an case, I'll get a new cable for sweetie and myself!!!
You are very welcome, and my kind regards to you and your sweetie 😃
Is the cable compatible with older Garmin devices such as the Nuvi 1390? My older 1390 came with a thick cable and cigarette lighter adapter, which I assume the cable is so thick because of live traffic updates? Thank you and great video by the way!
No problem, and the answer is "Yes" it will work with the Garmin Nuvi 1390, however it will not provide Traffic Data, for the traffic info you must use the original thick cable which is GT25 or GT26.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Then as far as I am concerned, the new cable is useless. When I have it in my car I want to be able to have LIVE TRAFFIC updates. So I will just continue to use the large cable that plugs into a normal power outlet.
@@patrickoneil6304 Yes this will only provide traffic data for Garmin GPS units with model numbers ending with the letter T. For example Garmin Nuvi 2350LMT
That’s great! But, is there a version that has the traffic receiver?
Unfortunately they don't have Traffic Receiver, but they do make one with Traffic Antenna for those Garmin models that have an internal Traffic Receiver and only need an Antenna. So basically that would mean it will replace Garmin TA10 and Garmin TA20 cables.
Hi Khalid, in this video you say the shipping is free when buying the cable from the supplier as listed. When ordering it I was being charged $3.00 and change. I backed out of the order. Have things changed, are you now charging a shipping charge.
JB
Thank you for your business
Thank you for sharing this fix! Have you tried this with the Zumo XT? Thanks again! 👍😊
Yes I have, you can power it and charge the battery while using it. However you will not get traffic info with this cable because your Garmin's model number does not end with LMT. Hypothetically speaking if you had a Garmin Zumo XTLMT then you would also get traffic condition updates with this cable.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Awesome! Thank you! 👍
Is there a micro USB options for the Garmin devices that have Micro USB ports?
There is a $2 Mini to Micro USB adapter that can be included free of charge if you mention it at the time of purchase.
My battery for garmin dezl 780 trucks did not charge both in my truck or in home. Can you help me please
You will need to replace the battery on it. You can get the battery from ebay for reasonable prices.
On my Garmin Montana 680. Go to set-up, system, interface, garmin spanner. If it's on spanner it will charge. Has worked for me.
That's good to know, thanks for sharing.
Finally! It works for me as well. Thanks Mike, not easy to find this info surfing on the web. Great Man!
Hi again. Can I use the this cord to upgrade my maps on Garmin Express on my computer?
I am sure by "Code" you mean cable, if so the answer is unfortunately "NO". This cable has a micro chip inside which will block the PC from syncing with the Garmin. So for normal updates you can use the standard cheap Mini USB cable which you can buy for 99 cents. like this one www.ebay.com/itm/294339218602
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 thanks.
Hi I have a Garmin Drive 51...will this cord work with it?
Hi, Yes it will on both Garmin Drive 51, and 51LMT
So surprising, this is my problem but in reverse. when connected to iMac with the original Garmin USB cable, my old Nuvi 40 starts ready to navigate adn battery charges. No way I can have it connect in "PC" mode. For that, I have to connect it to an old Asus laptop running Windows 10. Then it syncs PC. For use in my car, I plug it in the 12v using the original 12v Garmin cable. works flawlessly. As for the battery, 40 minutes is the maximum time I can get it from. Clues?
The battery should last more than 90 minutes, so it probably needs to be replaced. Most Garmin Applications are designed for PC, but some that are made for both Mac and PC, the PC version is much more stable and reliable. So I recommend using your old Asus laptop to get all the updates.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Thanks sir. Yep, battery is probably dead.
Great info, much appreciated. I have a questions as well, I have a Garmin DriveSmart 65 and the onboard battery never has charged! Plug it into the car and works fine, turn off car and gps goes into shutdown mode. Plug it into a USB wall charger with their cable, updates everything fine but also does not charge battery. Was there something I had to do when new to get it to charge? Older person here so bear that in mind :-)
Thank you, so the issue that you are having is most likely due to a bad ( defective ) battery pack inside the GPS. However before we jump to that conclusion I recommend that you do a battery diagnostic on it. Here is how you do that th-cam.com/video/B8KIPNjC284/w-d-xo.html
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 thanks, I'll check it out
@@bcasey101 You are very welcome
May i ask question. For Garmin Nuvi 1460 is work with this cable?
Yes it does work for the Garmin Nuvi 1450, 1460, and 1490
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Thank you so much....
@@ariefbudiman5738 No problem!
I can't get one of these in the UK. Can I use a "Charge only" USB lead or a "Data Blocker" USB adapter with the same result?
Yes you can here is the link www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333716621477
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Buying one of these from USA would cost me £30 in the UK including postage which is a hell of a lot for a cable. If I could use a data blocker instead it would cost me just £5 and I could use a normal data link cable with the data link being suppressed by the circuitry in the data blocker. I can see no apparent reason why it should'nt work unless you advise to the contrary.
@@henrybyrd5402 I have never used a data blocker so I can't weight in one way or the other. I do know that these cables have a special type of Resister SMD Chip that will fool the Garmin GPS into believing that it is connected to a cigarette lighter port by a original Garmin Cable. So if the Data Blocker worked for you I would really appreciate it if you could kindly share the results with me.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Okay mate. I will go ahead with the data blocker and let you know the result.
@@henrybyrd5402 Thank You!
Thanks for the info 👍
No problem!
On my Garmin 610 I just go to settings and select "Spanner" on start up instead of "Serial". Spanner starts in normal interface mode and serial starts in PC mode.
That is good to know, thanks for sharing. Unfortunately not all models of Garmin will offer that option.
Cut a strip of electrical tape about 3mm wide.
Carefully insert this into the satnav end of the cable, all the way in so it covers the middle 2 of the 4 pins. It is fiddly and might take a few attempts.
Now the satnav will only see power (2 outermost pins) and won't enter pc mode.
Edit... this works on my nuvi 42.
Great Tip, however instead of using a tape which works on and off, you would be better off to cut the cable and only connect the two power wires and not the rest. Although this trick will only work on some models of Garmin not on all, it is still cheaper than buying a twenty dollar cable. FYI, the power wires inside the cable are the " Black and Red" where the Data wires are white and green.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 not true, I carefully sliced the outter cover on the wire and inside was only two wires: black and white...the wire that attaches to the accessory output in a car - which my nuvi 1300 thinks is a computer sync cable. ( The reason I'm here looking for a solution).
@@downtownlife This cable will fix your Garmin's PC Sync issue www.mcssl.com/store/buy-green-inc/garmin-mini-usb-power-and-charge-cable-
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 You missed the whole point of his post.
@@jeffconnors4631 Thank You
Will this work on the BMW Motorrad Navigator VI?
No this is only for Powering Garmin GPS, it is not for PC SYNC or Map update.
What if I don't have an charger and it is lost, do I need to buy the Wire/ I don't have that much money...
If you lost your charge it is cheaper to get the charger from eBay than it is to get this BGI-USB1 Cable.
Hi it flickered once is it battery inside the gps? Or bad power connector on back of gps.
If it only flicked once and then turned OFF, it could be the power plug or USB Port, because even if you have a dead battery the GPS should power ON with external power.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 TY took card off. USB mini connector falls off..looks like it was soldered at one time. Difficult to determine where soldered originally.
Thank you very much for the information I have the same device 2585tv I want to know the value of the charger volt, please, please help
Hi, the charger is 5V DC 2A or 2000mA
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Thank you very much how can factory reset this device please
@@nour_electro9252 What you need to do is first fully charge the battery, then do the following.
1. Turn the unit completely OFF and unplug the power cord. Completely off not just standby
2. Putt your finger at the bottom right corner of the screen and keep your finger there as you turn it back ON
3. Continue to keep your finger in there for about 30 seconds or more until you get Clear All User Data message
4. Remove your finger from the bottom right corner and press YES , the unit restarts and you will have all the settings and data back to factory default
I have now had a chance to test a USB Data Blocker. This one is called a “Portapow.” It fits between the USB socket and the USB lead and adds another 30mm. Its main purpose is to stop data transfer when using potentially unsafe charging points. I believe this particular one is a UK product. The good news is that is does work on the Garmin. The bad news is that it takes a bit longer to start the map finder when connected to the car USB socket. When it is powered up, it still thinks that it is connected to a computer initially and shows this on the screen. It takes a full minute longer than the Cigar lighter connection to enter map mode and to start the charge. Cigar lighter connection - 25 seconds only. This is not so important if you are using an external charging point, where it seems to work
perfectly, albeit with a minute's delay. I don't know if it is still charging during this delay. I haven't been on along car journey yet to ascertain if the charge is slower. I hope this is useful.
Thanks for the update, and how much does the Data Blocker cost. Also please let me know the real life test, as to how it works in a long journey.
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Sorry, I meant to include the price. It was £4.50 ($6.39) from Amazon UK. I will let you know next time I use it on a long journey to see if it holds a charge throughout. I also forgot to mention that my Garmin is a 1490.
@@henrybyrd5402 Great! Thank you
I have a Nuvi 50lm. I cut the green wire and white wire of the usb to mini cable. It went into PC mode then after 1 minute worked as normal with map showing etc and was charging (lightning ⚡ through green battery bars) Very Happy! Garmin should address this issue.
Not for all Garmin gps. I used nuvi 2689. First it go to pc mode and if you wait little big longer it can ready to use. It doesn’t change internal battery but it can still use if you let attach usb cable.
Thanks.
After 10 years i decide to use my Garmin Nuvi 200 I charging it in PC's USB is charging but i'm not sure if is right to do. Isnt it? I also order new battery for better. Thanks a lot for helping me!
Hi, yes you can charge it through a computer USB Port but it will charge much slower than it would with the Garmin's original Car Charger.
Sir, do you know if Amazon has this cable available?
Unfortunately I don't know if it is available on Amazon, but you can get them from the two links I put in the description of this video.
I use a Dezl OTR700. Don’t see or couldn’t find it on the list. Will it work on it? Thanks!!!
It only works with the Dezl OTR700 if your car has a USB Port that supports 5VDC 2.5A or 3.0A and it will NOT work it it has 5VDC 1A, 1.5A, or 2.0A USB Ports.
Thanks for your reply ! I use it in a semi truck. Pretty sure it’s traffic receiver is inside the unit since the power cord just plugs into the power supply port, “aka” cigarette lighter plug. So would it work as long as I use a 2.5 amp usb 12volt power supply plug ? Thanks! Gregg
@@greggwarland8986 The power source of a USB Port should be Standard which is 5V at 2.5A-3.0A. Not 12V if you apply 12V it will damage the GPS unit.
There is none available. Is there any where else I may find such a cable. Thank you for the info you released in this video.
You are very welcome, Try here www.ebay.com/itm/333716621477
I’m sorry, I don’t see where the cable info is listed. Not TH-cam savvy, I guess. Could someone please share that info? Thanx!
www.mcssl.com/store/buy-green-inc/garmin-mini-usb-power-and-charge-cable-
I connected my Garmin to my computer. It gives you 17 seconds to reject pc sync mode. I reject and goes into battery charging mode. You have to disconnect from pc to get the battery status. Once it is disconnected the battery drains very quickly. For hiking and such I would take a few battery banks and your cable. Tnx
Great tip, thank you
If Garmin GPS is plugged into car lighter socket, does it charge as well? Thanks!
Yes it will
Thanks your Guide about operating Garmin 2597LTM taught me a lot.
Thanks much, it was helpful.
You're welcome!
Great work! Thanks
My pleasure!
One problem using an USB port to power a GPS is USB 1 &2 will only provide 100 ma of power to the GPS. The newer USB 3.0 will provide 1.0 amps of power but not many cars support 3.0 ( blue plug). I am not even sure my USB electric strip I use for my tablets will properly power my power hungry Garmin GPS. The micro USB cables from Dollar Tree do not have the video cables and only contain power conductors. They may work in an USB 3.0 connector.
The Garmin Nuvi 50LM does not have a Micro USB port, you need to buy the Mini USB cable.
Does anyone know if this cable would work with Garmin gpsmap66i and gpsmap64st ?
The Garmin GPSMaps 66i takes a Micro USB Cable, not a mini USB Cable. So this cable works on it nly if you use a Mini, to Micro USB Adapter with it. The adapter is provided free of charge with the purchase of the cable, but you have to ask for it at the time of purchase since it is not normally included.
Will this work with the Garmin 52 ex?
It works with GarminDrive 52 ex, and Garmin Nuvi 52, but I haven't heard of Garmin 52 ex.
Hi, great post- you know more than Garmin support. Is there anywhere in Europe I can get one of these ?
Thank you, and yes you can get it from eBay UK or eBay Germany here is the link www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333722938034
@@TECHNOLOGYTIPS101 Appreciate that.
Hi,
do you think this will work with Nuvi 2597LMT ?
Hi, yes it will, as a matter of fact, I personally tried it on that model and it worked great.
Can any usb to usb cable charge your Garmin from empty to full? If so, in how long?
Yes any USB cable can charge your Garmin to Full, however this is the only one which will also allow you to use it while it's being charged from a USB cable. Other cables will put the Garmin in PC Sync Mode while charging. The duration to get the battery from zero to full charge depends on the source USB Port. If you plug this cable to a 1.0 Amp USB port it will take 2 hours to charge, If you plug it into a 2.0 Amp USB Port it will charge in about an hour or so. The exact charging time may very from model to model depending on the battery capacity.
I have had my Nuvi 1350 for prob 10 years or longer and don't remember having this issue until recently (I use this on one of my motorcycles, but maybe once a year). This cable you mention wouldn't help me because I need to plug into a 12V adapter (cigarette lighter port). I have the OEM cable that came with the unit, but even plugging that into an outlet thinks it is a PC. I am going to try another firmware update I guess as mentioned in the comments.
These are the symptoms of a bad USB Port on the GPS watch this video to fix it th-cam.com/video/wQrUM2iUz_8/w-d-xo.html
Then why does the unit work when plugged into the cars power supply and being charged?
Because the original Garmin Car charger has that chip inside which prevents it from going to PC Sync mode. If you use a generic car charger it will most likely go to PC Sync Mode.