How to Power & use your Garmin GPS From a USB Port or Battery Bank without it going to PC Sync Mode

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 Nearly all new automobiles have USB and USB-c ports now and the bulky cable that comes with the Garmins are out of date in today's world.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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKsr3LlOnd0

Finally someone addressed this issue, Thank you very much

Thank you for this!! Kept me from buying a new gps because my old Nuvi 1300 still works great😃👍🏽

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 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!

Thank you. I can use this w my gps for bicycling and walking in cities where I don’t have experience.

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.

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

thank you so much for the info and also for the link to buy the cable

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?

This is the exact problem I was having, thank you!

thank you sir i was having so much trouble powering up my garmin i thought it was broken .going to buy that cable.

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!!!! 🥰🥰

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.

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?

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?

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

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.