How do you charge/store your phone in your leaf?

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jake14mw

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Messages
180
Location
Connecticut, USA
Hi all,

Just got my 2014 SL and am loving it! I am trying to figure out how to keep it neat looking and not having charging wires everywhere. I have an android phone and the other drivers have iphones, so we always need two sets of wires plugged in. I just saw how the usb port is low power, so I guess I won't be using that for phone charging. Does anyone have any good ideas for phone storage/holding/charging? Thanks!
 
USB port charges a single phone just fine, but may be too slow for a tablet. If you need to charge more than one device, or want a faster charging speed, you will need to use a USB to cigarette lighter adapter.
 
I have 12 volt 3 outlet charger so can charge two phones, an electric blanket and a traffic cam (phone charger has 2 USB ports on it) and have done so many times.

As far as wires? Not a lot of options around that. I thought about bundling them but haven't done so and not likely to do so. Having a backseat 12 volt outlet would be "somewhat convenient but the 3 outlet port has like a 4 ' cord on it and once we had traffic cam and 4 cellphones charging at once!
 
Try something like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Anker-4-Port-Charger-PowerDrive-iPhone/dp/B00WHXRGL4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1511746298&sr=8-4&keywords=anker+usb+car

I use a 3-port version make by Omaker that works real well. The Anker products seem good. When my inside phone charger died, I replaced it with a 2-port Anker model that works real well.
 
I'm surprised that I don't see any more elegant ways of mounting a phone in a car. I want a dock that I can easily put the phone in, have it charge, not have wires everywhere, and don't block vents.
 
Try one of these: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BZC262Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can mount it to the top of the dash right behind the left center vent. It will put the phone out just beyond the edge of the dash and to the right of the steering wheel. The cord can run up the left side of the console to the bottom of the phone and is out of the way. It works pretty well, but the heat here causes it to come loose from the dash during the summer when sitting. Most of the time, I just have the phone plugged in and sitting in the passenger seat. When I have a passenger, I just put it in the square pocket behind the shift knob.
 
I place my iPhone in the flat tray behind the cup holders. I have a 2-USB plug adapter in the outlet under the radio. I typically leave a charging cable there, and plug in my phone when I drive. It gets coiled up and put in a cup holder when not being used.

With my case, it's to large for the square behind the shift knob. I keep my change there.
 
^ ^ ^ THIS

The only thing I add is one of those "non-stick" phone pads on the flat surface (I had to trim it a bit to fit)...but I use the built-in USB port in the rare event I need it.
 
I did add some usb ports and a usb magnet port for my phone, I wasn't easy but it works just fine, here are some pictures.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UwjhQQOewwcWgvYG2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TcdF50jBov7xfk5Q2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cv4rWR1TZzwwvEph1

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ehwn2cOk7qjOAS972

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2TlyLRbU65Ziie653
 
jake14mw said:
I'm surprised that I don't see any more elegant ways of mounting a phone in a car. I want a dock that I can easily put the phone in, have it charge, not have wires everywhere, and don't block vents.

The best one I have seen personally is on the Tesla Model 3. All but the cheapest $35k version have an area in the center console where you can slide your phone into a charging port. You can configure that port for whatever phone you have. BUT, it only seems to work with a "naked" phone, or one with a fairly slim case. If it's in an Otterbox or similar, it's too big to fit.

There's another car that has a slot with a built-in Qi charger, but I forget which one it is.
 
RonDawg said:
There's another car that has a slot with a built-in Qi charger, but I forget which one it is.
My Bolt has a slot for Qi charging. It's part of the infotainment package on the Premier trim.

Frankly, I think it's a fail. Big phones and cases may have trouble fitting in it at all. The car doesn't support wireless CarPlay, so I have to use Lightning to USB anyway, which will charge the phone.

And, you basically can't see the phone when it's in the slot since it's so far back.

I only got the infotainment package for the better stereo. I'm not sure the dealer had any Bolt Premiers w/DC FC w/o infotainment package anyway.
 
cwerdna said:
My Bolt has a slot for Qi charging. It's part of the infotainment package on the Premier trim.

I had a 2020 Camaro as a rental car. It has a Qi charger in the back of the covered center armrest, but the flat spot where the phone needs to sit isn't big enough to put my phone there. It is so small, I doubt that any current model phone would fit.

The Chrysler products have some cheaper wireless charging system, not a Qi license, which means that no phones on the market will charge in it without an adapter.

Who designs this stuff?

I have an iOttie phone holder with a suction cup attached behind the radio head that wirelessly charges Qi Android and iPhone.
 
I put the phone into one of the center cup holders, upside down if I'm charging it using a cable to the Leaf's USB port. Waze flips the display if the phone is upside down so you can still read the distance-to-next-turn at the top of the screen. (Apple Maps will flip the actual navigation screen, but not its regular map. Go figure.)
 
For a phone mount I use a Ram Mount X-Grip, I've moved to using these in all my toys that move, only phone mount I've found that isn't garbage. For mounting I cut a lexan disk that get glued to the dash with clear silicon (this comes off with fishing line, and the residue can be removed by rubbing your finger on it). I have it mounted so the phone sits between the center vents.

You can't have your phone in a cup holder here, $368 fine if plugged in (no fine if it's mounted or not plugged in)
https://globalnews.ca/news/5977523/bc-senior-distracted-driving-phone-cup-holder/
 
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