Random Question

Talk2meg00se · 04-12-2012, 11:36 AM

I use the USB port for both flash memory drives (mp3s) as well as to charge various devices.

Does anyone know whether leaving a device plugged into the USB port saps the car's battery? I've always assumed yes, so when the car is off, I pull the device. Still, if the car has a port shut-off feature then I'd prefer not do something that is otherwise not necessary.

THE TECH · 04-12-2012, 11:41 AM

Iirc, the port doesn't stay powered 24/7.

jphughan · 04-12-2012, 12:38 PM

The glovebox port doesn't stay powered when the car is off. As for the console port, it definitely stayed powered for a few minutes after I turned the car off and locked the door, judging by the charging indicator on my mobile hotspot. It might turn off after a longer period of time, but it remained active longer than I was willing to sit there and watch -- and like you I didn't want to just leave it there long-term and potentially drain my battery (or find it had shut off and then not know how long the cutoff is).

newbieguy · 04-12-2012, 12:41 PM

i leave my usb flash drive on my M all the time and never had a problem with the battery being dead. FYI my M sits in the garage in the winter months.

nchan50 · 04-12-2012, 12:47 PM

I always leave mine plugged into the armrest usb and have gone a couple weeks without driving (it's parked in an NYC garage). Never had problems so if there is any power usage its probably minimal.

PhillyNate · 04-12-2012, 04:32 PM

I would only leave a flash drive plugged in. I do this and have had no issues. I don't trust an IPod/phone being left plugged in.

MysticBlue · 04-13-2012, 04:29 AM

I leave an ipod plugged into my center console. It's been there for a couple years, no problems. It gets unplugged once in awhile to synch it with my computer to get new music on it, but otherwise I leave it there permenantly. I know it's not always on/charging becasue I've looked at it before I started the car and the screen is blank, then upon starting the car the screen lights up, as if I just plugged it in. So, the answer to your question is, as far as the center console, it does power down when the car shuts down. Not immediately, but eventually it does.

TVMA Doc · 04-13-2012, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jphughan

The glovebox port doesn't stay powered when the car is off. As for the console port, it definitely stayed powered for a few minutes after I turned the car off and locked the door, judging by the charging indicator on my mobile hotspot. It might turn off after a longer period of time, but it remained active longer than I was willing to sit there and watch -- and like you I didn't want to just leave it there long-term and potentially drain my battery (or find it had shut off and then not know how long the cutoff is).

I suspect that even if it was constant on, it would be more of an issue leaving your car sitting without an alternator charging the battery now and then. The electrical draw from a USB port would take a LONG time to discharge a 12V car battery. I'd suspect that the draw would be not much greater than the battery's self-discharge rate.

Erie Von Otto · 04-13-2012, 10:18 PM

I was thinking about this a few days back. I have a 250gb portable HDD and was thinking about loading up my music on it and plugging it into the usb in the glove so I always have quality tunes available. Its a pain to plug the iPod in and out (use it in the house/office) so it would be easier to just do that. Anyone running an HDD in their glovebox and does it work fine?

BPMSport · 04-15-2012, 01:15 AM

No problem leaving it plugged in.

The terminal will shut off automatically and cut power to that and the snap-in adaptor.

Henri_K · 04-30-2012, 09:58 AM

the USB in the gloovebox doesn't read any music when I plug in my flash drive.. (the one in the armrest works fine). Is it just me who is having this issue? I wonder if there's not enough power supplied to the one in the gloovebox port.

crabman · 04-30-2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

I was thinking about this a few days back. I have a 250gb portable HDD and was thinking about loading up my music on it and plugging it into the usb in the glove so I always have quality tunes available. Its a pain to plug the iPod in and out (use it in the house/office) so it would be easier to just do that. Anyone running an HDD in their glovebox and does it work fine?

If you end up buying a thumb drive like I did to save precious console space dont get one where the tip slides out of the body without measuring it for clearance with the console lid while extended. In my case I already had a dedicated 32 gig thumb drive like that from my last car and plugged it in only to find the lid wouldn't close. Since I have no other use for the drive I took careful measurments and cut the tail end off while it was extended. Put some tape over the end just to keep anything from possibly falling in and called it a day. Only took a minute and salvaged the drive from being tossed in a drawer to never be seen again but if your buying you may as well get one that fits from the get go.

04-12-2012, 11:36 AM	#1
Talk2meg00se Captain 102 Rep 660 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Random Question - USB Port I use the USB port for both flash memory drives (mp3s) as well as to charge various devices. Does anyone know whether leaving a device plugged into the USB port saps the car's battery? I've always assumed yes, so when the car is off, I pull the device. Still, if the car has a port shut-off feature then I'd prefer not do something that is otherwise not necessary.
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04-12-2012, 11:41 AM	#2
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Iirc, the port doesn't stay powered 24/7.
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04-12-2012, 12:38 PM	#3
jphughan Brigadier General 594 Rep 4,488 Posts Drives: '16 Cayman GT4 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	The glovebox port doesn't stay powered when the car is off. As for the console port, it definitely stayed powered for a few minutes after I turned the car off and locked the door, judging by the charging indicator on my mobile hotspot. It might turn off after a longer period of time, but it remained active longer than I was willing to sit there and watch -- and like you I didn't want to just leave it there long-term and potentially drain my battery (or find it had shut off and then not know how long the cutoff is). __________________ '16 Cayman GT4 (delivery pics, comparison to E92 M3 write-up) Gone but not forgotten: '11.75 M3 E92 Le Mans \| Black Nov w/ Alum \| 6MT (owned 5/2011 - 11/2015)
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04-12-2012, 12:41 PM	#4
newbieguy Private First Class 14 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 11' Space Gray E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	i leave my usb flash drive on my M all the time and never had a problem with the battery being dead. FYI my M sits in the garage in the winter months. __________________ 11' E92 M3 Space Grey 09' E92 M3 Space Grey - Gone but not forgotten
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04-12-2012, 12:47 PM	#5
nchan50 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 2009 JzB/FR e92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I always leave mine plugged into the armrest usb and have gone a couple weeks without driving (it's parked in an NYC garage). Never had problems so if there is any power usage its probably minimal.
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04-12-2012, 04:32 PM	#6
PhillyNate ENTHUSIAST 135 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: 2010 Porsche Cayman Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Porsche Cayman [0.00]	I would only leave a flash drive plugged in. I do this and have had no issues. I don't trust an IPod/phone being left plugged in. __________________ "what I'm driving here...is an ending." Jeremy Clarkson 2010 Carrara White Porsche Cayman 6mt 2014 Whiteout Toyota GT-86 6mt(Sold 05/23/15) 2011 Alpine White BMW M3 6mt ZCP Coupe(forced retirement 06/06/14) 2008 Alpine White BMW 328i 6mt Coupe(retired 06/21/11)
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04-13-2012, 04:29 AM	#7
MysticBlue Lieutenant Colonel 369 Rep 1,887 Posts Drives: '20 M5C, '09 M3 DCT Coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Eastern Oregon... They call 'em rigs here iTrader: (0)	I leave an ipod plugged into my center console. It's been there for a couple years, no problems. It gets unplugged once in awhile to synch it with my computer to get new music on it, but otherwise I leave it there permenantly. I know it's not always on/charging becasue I've looked at it before I started the car and the screen is blank, then upon starting the car the screen lights up, as if I just plugged it in. So, the answer to your question is, as far as the center console, it does power down when the car shuts down. Not immediately, but eventually it does. __________________ M5C 20% tint, Xpel full front, partial sides and rear. Spacers, 15mm front, 12mm rear. Turner Motorsport Oil Cooler Guard. M3: Active Autowerke filter, Dinan underdrive pulley, Dinan full exhaust and software, 3.45 Differential, Springs, Brakes, Dinan/HRE wheels, 275/30-19 w/10mm spacer, 295/30-19 w/3mm spacer, painted front reflectors, 30% tint, Escort 8500i & Lidar Jammer, LUX H8 V5 halos, Euro rear foglights, 3M ClearBra.
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04-13-2012, 10:18 PM	#9
Erie Von Otto DT///M 149 Rep 1,370 Posts Drives: 2014 F31 Touring Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rocket City, AL iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 BMW Touring [0.00]	I was thinking about this a few days back. I have a 250gb portable HDD and was thinking about loading up my music on it and plugging it into the usb in the glove so I always have quality tunes available. Its a pain to plug the iPod in and out (use it in the house/office) so it would be easier to just do that. Anyone running an HDD in their glovebox and does it work fine? __________________ "With great power comes great responsibility." -El-Superbeasto
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04-15-2012, 01:15 AM	#10
BPMSport BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3387 Rep 7,541 Posts Drives: Harrop M3 / F10 M5 / F82 M4 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (9) Garage List 2000 BMW M5 [0.00] 1990 BMW 735i Turbo [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [7.50] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M5 [0.00]	No problem leaving it plugged in. The terminal will shut off automatically and cut power to that and the snap-in adaptor. __________________ -----\| Like us on Facebook \| Instagram \|\| Tuning Information \| Remote Coding \|----- ----Visit us at www.BPMSport.com - Emotion. Driven. \| Toll Free: (888) 557-5133----
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04-30-2012, 09:58 AM	#11
Henri_K Private 15 Rep 58 Posts Drives: Alpine White 2010 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Michigan iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW M3 [6.84]	the USB in the gloovebox doesn't read any music when I plug in my flash drive.. (the one in the armrest works fine). Is it just me who is having this issue? I wonder if there's not enough power supplied to the one in the gloovebox port.
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