Device Range Anxiety Fixes
I need to be able to plug in all of my devices immediately, I hate running out of power. Some of my friends have one or two cables available, maybe, and I know of some others who keep every cable coiled up in a Zip-Lock baggie when not in use. Keeps the interior cleaner or something. I am not that guy. I have cables growing out of my Jeep and motorcycles like manly men of yore had chest hair.
I have a splitter on the front outlet (cigarette style), plus another splitter in the plug in the arm rest and then a regular wall-plug USB adapter if I need to actually run the inverter on the front of the arm rest. I then keep extra cables coiled up in pockets around the Jeep. Maxed out I can have up to 8 devices charging (5 if fast charging like cell phones). Seems extreme until you start cataloguing all of the equipment you brought along for the trip and their various charging requirements:
Two-way radio: USB-C for the more modern units, wall plugs for the legacy units.
GPS: My older unit still uses Mini-USB (which is also what I have on my helmet communicator). But it also runs off AA batteries so I tend to also carry a
USB-C battery re-charger: For my headlamps, mini-lantern and anything else which requires AA or AAA batteries.
3500mnAh charger for fancy flashlights: My Nitecore HC33 1800 lumen headlamp is crazy bright, but those specialty batteries require a specialty charger.
GoPro/action camera: Another USB-C
Bluetooth ear piece: Mine still run Micro-USB
Cell phone: USB-C
Garmin smart-watch: Fancy proprietary thingy
Battery backup: USB-C or Micro-USB for the older units.
People in the Apple cult: Proprietary Thundercloud Flashlight or something.
This isn’t even an especially long list but when you consider I’m bringing most of those items just for me, adding passengers only increases the power load.
Therefore, I buy cables and adapters like candy. Here are some I or my friends use.
Right Angle USB cables: The right angles increase legroom and reduce clutter on the dash.
Multi-pack USB-C: Relatively inexpensive, do the job, don’t seem reasonably durable.
USB-C to Micro USB adapter: Most devices are going USB-C but legacy devices will be around for some time. Rather than keep both Mico-USB and USB-C cables around, just carry some adapters. They’re small, relatively cheap and you’ll probably lose two of them immediately, but that’s why a 4-pack is handy.
Lightning to Micro-USB adapter: Just because a fanboy only has their lightning cable doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed to help out.
USB-C to USB Adapter: Handy for when you need to plug in a USB-Drive or other full-sized USB device.
USB-C to Lightning adapter: I might pick on the Apple folks – a lot – but in the end we’re all out there doing our thing together. In the end getting it done is all that matters.
