Iphone charging cable

kendoo

kendoo

Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Messages
877
Age
59
Location
Wallkill, NY
Bike
2016 FJR
Anybody know of any super heavy duty cables that will last? I like to keep my phone mounted on my handlebars to run Waze. Seems like I am constantly having charging issues, not only on the bike but via my wall charger too. I see some on Ebay but thought I would ask if anybody had any experience. I bet I have a dozen defective cables laying around that work intermittently. Frustrating as heck. I don't recall ever having a cable issue with any other phone I've owned (ok, I've probably only owned 4 phones in my life, LOL).
 
My experience has been that the apple factory cables are the most reliable. That being said, I haven't found a cable yet that lasts anywhere that it moves a lot
 
I'm not sure from your post, but is this perhaps for the lightning cable of an iP 5 or newer? Even so-claimed 'Apple Certified' cables are problematic unless they're Apple branded, in my experience. I've gone through half-a-dozen cables on my iP6 before I've 3 that are reliable.

Apple has a scheme within the phone that checks the cable electronics whenever the cable is powered. In my experience, the phone further seems to have a 'memory' of individual cables (unplugging and replugging the same cable doesn't change anything 'today', even if a 'good' cable is plugged in before replugging in the 'bad' cable--further, the same 'bad' cable may work later without issue). Of course, Apple charges the other makers for certifying their cables, therefore Apple gets income from non-Apple-produced cables and keeps the competition's prices higher.

So is the issue really defective cables (as in connector or wire mechanical durability)? Or is it really the same issue many of us experience: the cable-to-phone verification isn't reliable?
 
The charging cord for my city Iphone that came with the phone did not last long as the wires are thin and broke, I got a replacement at Verizon that is twice as thick. Not sure of the brand but it has been working for a few years now.
 
BakerBoy said:
I'm not sure from your post, but is this perhaps for the lightning cable of an iP 5 or newer? Even so-claimed 'Apple Certified' cables are problematic unless they're Apple branded, in my experience. I've gone through half-a-dozen cables on my iP6 before I've 3 that are reliable.

Apple has a scheme within the phone that checks the cable electronics whenever the cable is powered. In my experience, the phone further seems to have a 'memory' of individual cables (unplugging and replugging the same cable doesn't change anything 'today', even if a 'good' cable is plugged in before replugging in the 'bad' cable--further, the same 'bad' cable may work later without issue). Of course, Apple charges the other makers for certifying their cables, therefore Apple gets income from non-Apple-produced cables and keeps the competition's prices higher.

So is the issue really defective cables (as in connector or wire mechanical durability)? Or is it really the same issue many of us experience: the cable-to-phone verification isn't reliable?
Click to expand...

iPhone 5. I get the message about uncertified cables or some such thing. I've tried the OEM, and the cheapies, none last. I just ordered up some braided ones of ebay, suppose to be thicker. Who knows, crappy design if you ask me.
 
I have an iPhone 6 with a Lifeproof case. The original charging cord fit thru the hole in the case perfectly. One month ago I bought a new apple charging cable so that I could keep one in my car or on the bike. It fit very very tightly and I was afraid I would pull the cord off the connector after charging was over. Took the new cable and phone back to the Apple store. The 'genius' correctly id'ed the problem - the new cord would not fit through the hole in the Lifeproof case. I asked to swap it out since the problem was clearly Apple's loose manufacturing tolerances - the white heat shrink(?) around the connection on the new cord was 'fatter' than that of the original cord. After consulting with a brighter 'genius' he agreed to swap the cord, though the replacement too was a tight fit (not as tight though).

Interesting comment on his part: I told him I was afraid the tight fit would lead to separation of the cord from the connector. He said any such problem or even bulging or tearing of the white insulation would be covered under my Apple Care plan and I would get a free cord. Nice....
 
I got some from a company called Anker that, from my experience, are better than OEM. No compatibility issues, and will charge my ipad or iphone 6+ at a whopping 2.0A compared to OEM 1.5A. (test conducted with same charger, same phone, same battery level)
All OEM cables may not be alike, the cables that ship with ipods may not pass as much current as the cables that ship with ipads.
Anyway, no issues with the Anker and the price is right. Cheap enough to carry a spare.
Maybe reinforce the cable where the points of failure occur?

http://www.amazon.com/Certified-Ank...p/B00QGDVIEC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
 
My Wife's Ipad is kinda picky about cables too. I bought some "Amazon Basic" cables that seem to work for her. My Ipod Touch is not so picky, but the case ( Griffin Survivor) will not let me use the Amazon cables. The Amazon cables are seeming to last well.
 
I have same problem, use my phone on the handle bars as well.
I bought a cable made by "Energizer". (think I got it at a flying J while on the road). so far this cable has outlasted all other cables.
It is heavier than the conventional cables. I use it everyday when not riding at the house..
 
Ken you gotta use a certified cable I run mine on the bike all the time and haven't had any issues with it. I have an uncertified one in my office and it worked for months then all of a sudden I started getting the message. Just get a good certified cord and you should be fine.
 
Speaking of iPhone lightning charging cables, what are you using to provide the power? Powerlet or other? I am considering the riser plate cover with the powerless socket. Much of the info I'm reading on the MCL site is pretty dated. Is that still the best route or something better been developed more recently? If the cables you are using have a limited usable life, I'd hate to spend $50 on the Powerlet cable if it isn't going to last. http://www.powerlet.com/product/powerlet-straight-plug-to-apple-iphone-5-12-charging-cable/633. Thanks
 
I find the 'lightning' cables to be of dubious longevity across the board. Apple-branded are good for the most, but still inadequate, time. Off-brand ranges from okay to awful.

Personally I just treat them as disposable. The "best" most expensive ones last 6 months tops. The cheap junk lasts 3 months at 15% the price. So I just order the cheap ones by the handful, keep spares on hand, and dump 'em the moment they seem iffy.

That's for my kids who have iOS phones. I'm android all the way, and my cords last pretty much forever... Just sayin.
 
I've had one Iphone cable for my 6 for about 3 years and no signs of trouble. If you grab it by the cord to unplug it, of course its gonna give up the ghost. Funny, I have a 35 year old original fiberglass Little Giant Ladder, Milwaukee tools that are just as old, and dozens of other tools that my friends go through in a year. Mine last decades. And I use them all often and hard - but rebuild and maintain them as necessary. "This little axe is the best axe I've ever had, replaced the handle three times and the head twice. Yes sir, best axe ever made....."
 
I have a iPhone 7. My employer gave me a cable that looks like it's covered in aluminum braid like a miniature steel braided brake line.
It's very durable though I have to admit it only travels around with me in my knapsack. But six or seven months on and it's holding up fine.
It's not big dollar as it came in a crinkly plastic bag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've used the same Lightning cables from my first iPhone to my current one— about fives years on the same cables for home bike and car. It's easy to find quality MFi cables that are even more studly than the Apple Lightning cables.

My Helibar riser has a powerlet socket. I have a 12V cigarette lighter in it and a 4.2A dual port USB adapter in that. I use a 1' Lightning cable to connect to my phone in a cradle mounted on the Helibar's RAM ball. Treat the cable with a modicum of care and it'll last a good long while.

The only Lightning cable that's ever failed on me is one of the Amazon Basic cables. The plastic base broke up and I repaired it with shrink tubing. There are nylon braided cables which are very sturdy if you want something more stout.


KCJones said:
That's for my kids who have iOS phones. I'm android all the way, and my cords last pretty much forever...
Click to expand...

Yeah I think I see the problem. I think kids see cables as disposable too especially if they're not paying for them. I'm Apple all the way and my cords pretty much last forever too. Just sayin'.
 
I'll 2nd the vote for Anker cables. Much more durable and have had no issues running one from a USB charging plug to the phone and keeping my phone charged on many rides. Will be using the same setup during ButtLite next month so it will be put through its paces over 6 days. Happy to report back if there are any issues....
 
KCJones said:
I find the 'lightning' cables to be of dubious longevity across the board. Apple-branded are good for the most, but still inadequate, time. Off-brand ranges from okay to awful.

Personally I just treat them as disposable. The "best" most expensive ones last 6 months tops. The cheap junk lasts 3 months at 15% the price. So I just order the cheap ones by the handful, keep spares on hand, and dump 'em the moment they seem iffy.

That's for my kids who have iOS phones. I'm android all the way, and my cords last pretty much forever... Just sayin.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Of the four iPhones I've owned, and a half dozen more that the family has owned with lightning cables I've only experienced two bad ones. Overall, I have the impression they're actually pretty robust. The first failure was an official Apple one that one of my daughters somehow manged to pull the lightning plug part of the way free of the cable on. The other was an aftermarket one that did not work fresh out of the package. In my experience they tend to get lost before they wear out or fail. I hate the Apple ones because they are so short. The 6' Monoprice ones I've been using are much more convenient and heavier duty than the Apple ones.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom