Battery Life on Tablet

Sean Carter

Sean Carter

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Hello

I run navionics on a Neocore NC1E which is fine but under battery alone I get about 90 mins. Plugged in to USB it just about maintains battery level.
I know that a GPS chip and navioics use more power than most.

Has anyone got any experience with tablets that have a much longer battery life and/or still charges under USB when running navionics.

Sean
 
Sean Carter said:
Hello

I run navionics on a Neocore NC1E which is fine but under battery alone I get about 90 mins. Plugged in to USB it just about maintains battery level.
I know that a GPS chip and navioics use more power than most.

Has anyone got any experience with tablets that have a much longer battery life and/or still charges under USB when running navionics.

Sean
Click to expand...

90 minutes on the battery is extreme. I've used 10" Lenovo tablets, available for less than £100, batteries lasted several hours using OpenCPN.
 
The battery will degrade with age but as said above, look for a 2A charger or if it will take it, one of the new gen high W chargers, Q3 or something.

My 6year old iPad Pro is used every day, with and without MemoryMap charting software, lasts a upto a day now.
 
Is there a way to blank the display? As I understand it, the display is about the heaviest consumer of battery in most tablets so if you can easily switch it on and off (and have it still useful!) that could help too.
 
Sean Carter said:
Hello

I run navionics on a Neocore NC1E which is fine but under battery alone I get about 90 mins. Plugged in to USB it just about maintains battery level.
I know that a GPS chip and navioics use more power than most.
Click to expand...
How many amps does your USB charger kick out? I have a dual 1 and 2.5 amp one onboard and the 2.5 amps charges everything at speed.
 
I had a similar problem with my tablet, which I have mounted in the cockpit as a chart-plotter. I first replaced the 2.1A USB socket with a Q3 USB socket - that didn't seem to make much difference. I then replaced the cable with one that was marketed as either Q3 or fast charge (can;t remember which). That made a bigger difference and solved my problem.
 
How much do you want to spend? Surely that is a critical question.

I love my Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, now it has LineageOS on it (I know someone else here hates it), but it was quite expensive (Amazon currently have it £50 off though, which seems like quite a good deal).
 
If you need a new tablet try London Chartplotters and talk to them about your requirements
Londonchartplotters

But I suspect plugged into USB maintaining charge may be as good as you are going to get .
 
Don't LondonChartplotters offerings tend to be a bit budget?

I'm not sure that they'll be much of an upgrade from OP's current one, which was recently selling for around £100.

Any tablet with USB-C will be able to charge quickly, and faster than the battery flattens, (proved a proper USB-C charger is used) but I'm not sure how widespread that feature is yet.
 
Our galaxy tab A 10.5 lasts several hours running nacionics unplugged and charges back up fine while in use. Not expensive and has USB C.
We do use a Garmin glo to provide GPS over Bluetooth, which gives more consistent accuracy and may consume less power.
Our old Nexus did fine but after a lot of use (abuse) started to die (battery and screen).
 
Sean Carter said:
Hello

I run navionics on a Neocore NC1E which is fine but under battery alone I get about 90 mins. Plugged in to USB it just about maintains battery level.
I know that a GPS chip and navioics use more power than most.

Has anyone got any experience with tablets that have a much longer battery life and/or still charges under USB when running navionics.

Sean
Click to expand...
I use navionics on a chinese unbreakable waterproof phone...runs all day and will build charge if plugged in.. (Cubot king kong )

There is a thread on here about a lock down project which related to an android radio which is powered directly and is visible in day light...

I have an old lenova tablet running opencpn which works most of the day on one charge, although I would usually only use that for precision navigation.
 
Your neocore is meant to have a 10 hr plus battery life.
I have a samsung galaxy tab S. 2014 was when they first came out.. Last year running nav with gps and screen on it got to the point where more power was being used that what the charge could deliver.
Bought a new battery and its like new again.. My biggest problem is the micro usb leads. They only seem to last a few months then produce a pitiful charge. It is more so with my phone.. No idea why these leads fail so soon but must have got through more than 10.. Even £20+ leads dont seem to last that long, but a lot longer than the cheap ebay ones
 
My Son's latest phone fast charger draws close to 10A so is potentially close to the limit that some car wiring looms can deliver. One is talking about fully charging a suitably compatible phone or tablet in about 15 minutes!

Richard
 
All USB charging cables are not equal! Had similar issue on my tablet, which suddenly dissappeared when I tried another cable. WMMV
 
Sean Carter said:
Hello

I run navionics on a Neocore NC1E which is fine but under battery alone I get about 90 mins. Plugged in to USB it just about maintains battery level.
I know that a GPS chip and navioics use more power than most.

Has anyone got any experience with tablets that have a much longer battery life and/or still charges under USB when running navionics.

Sean
Click to expand...
Hi Sean,

Check the charging cable.I have to check litterally every one for amps...Even thick leads sometimes only allow .6 amp.Try buying a charging cable rated at at least 2.1 amps.
ebay sell a dc-dc 12v to 5v step down waterproof modddule with usb,,3amp for about 3 pounds,which is the best power source for the boat.Hard wired in.

Since ive done both these checks,i have not had a single tablet not gaining charge,even when busy,

If you have both usb cable and power supply of at least 2 amps,you should gain charge,If not,,the tablets battery looks likely to be the problem.

regards

steve
 
londonchartplotters said:
Hi Sean,

Check the charging cable.I have to check litterally every one for amps...Even thick leads sometimes only allow .6 amp.Try buying a charging cable rated at at least 2.1 amps.
ebay sell a dc-dc 12v to 5v step down waterproof modddule with usb,,3amp for about 3 pounds,which is the best power source for the boat.Hard wired in.

Since ive done both these checks,i have not had a single tablet not gaining charge,even when busy,

If you have both usb cable and power supply of at least 2 amps,you should gain charge,If not,,the tablets battery looks likely to be the problem.

regards

steve
Click to expand...
Some neocores only take .6 amps via the usb..they have a extra pin chargeing port,which is really the one to use.steve
 
KompetentKrew said:
Don't LondonChartplotters offerings tend to be a bit budget?

I'm not sure that they'll be much of an upgrade from OP's current one, which was recently selling for around £100.

Any tablet with USB-C will be able to charge quickly, and faster than the battery flattens, (proved a proper USB-C charger is used) but I'm not sure how widespread that feature is yet.
Click to expand...
HIya,, we make sure the usb cables we use will charge testing the amp draw on every one.and supply a 3 amp waterproof boat supply for tablets,which is twice as powerfull as needed.The tablets stay charged. fully in use if plugged in.regards


steve
 
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