Strange question for those of you with Blaupunkt Bremen SQR46s

[david05111]

Hey gents-

I'm considering picking up an SQR46 DAB for my SC. I know there are loads of threads that talk about it, but I'm looking at something VERY specific and I'm not sure anyone on here knows. But maybe one of you could test it for me.

I have a Rennline Phone mount with the magsafe charger and I've been trying to figure out how to run somewhat clean/stealth power to it. Right now, I've managed to run the cable in a discreet place behind the dash. I had planned to put a hidden USB block behind the dash and run power directly off the battery with another small fuse box up front.

But when I started looking closely at the Blaupunkt in pictures, it turns out that it has both front and rear USB connections. Both of them are USB A, and funnily enough, the Rennline magsafe charger cable is also USB A.

So, I'm wondering if I plugged the magsafe charger cable into the Blaupunkt whether or not it would actually get power. I'm not sure if the head unit constantly sends power through that rear cable and if it can power a magsafe, without it being plugged into a phone (and recognizing it as one).

Basically, I don't care at all if the rear USB is functional at all for actually playing music. I just care if it can power the Rennline charger. The only way I can think to test this, aside from ordering the head unit and just testing it myself, is to ask if any one of you have both and either have it set up like this or are willing to test it for me and report back.

[Mark Salvetti]

This Bremen thread on the Rennlist 928 board says that the rear USB will charge an iPhone, so I think you should be OK with your plan.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/1153763-modern-classic-blaupunkt-bremen-sqr-46-dab-16.html

Mark

[ccallana]

I tried plugging my Pixel into the back USB and it didn't seem to provide enough amperage to charge while using the phone.. I didn't measure it with anything, but it is likely just a 1A or less port.

I use a port in my cig lighter socket now to keep the phone charged... much more current

[Mark Salvetti]

Originally Posted by ccallana

I tried plugging my Pixel into the back USB and it didn't seem to provide enough amperage to charge while using the phone.. I didn't measure it with anything, but it is likely just a 1A or less port.

I use a port in my cig lighter socket now to keep the phone charged... much more current

That's a good point. I dug into the manual, and there is a hard to find note that states max USB output is 5V/1A.

Mark

[david05111]

Originally Posted by ccallana

I tried plugging my Pixel into the back USB and it didn't seem to provide enough amperage to charge while using the phone.. I didn't measure it with anything, but it is likely just a 1A or less port.

I use a port in my cig lighter socket now to keep the phone charged... much more current

Originally Posted by Mark Salvetti

That's a good point. I dug into the manual, and there is a hard to find note that states max USB output is 5V/1A.

Mark

Ah that probably won't work then. Thanks fellas, back to plan A

[GH85Carrera]

When I plug my iPhone in, I just use the front port. It charges and I can play music from the phone, as I use the turn by turn GPS maps and the voice comes through the car speakers. It does charge my phone. I have never tried the rear port with my phone. I have a 16GB USB thumb drive with all the music from my many CDs set up to play random songs.

[david05111]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

When I plug my iPhone in, I just use the front port. It charges and I can play music from the phone, as I use the turn by turn GPS maps and the voice comes through the car speakers. It does charge my phone. I have never tried the rear port with my phone. I have a 16GB USB thumb drive with all the music from my many CDs set up to play random songs.

Yeah I know I could do that, but that's not really my focus. If I'm going to charge the phone, I'm going to do it in the rennline mount. And if I'm going to listen to music off it, it'll be via bluetooth. I just need a way to power the rennline mount (USB) and want to do it behind the dash. That's why I was hoping the headunit might be able to do it.

I plan on putting something like this in the cigarette port for passengers to charge their phones and to monitor battery health.

[Mark Salvetti]

It might still be worth trying the rear port. There are people that say it works, despite the 1 amp rating. The front works for Glen, the rear should be the same.

Mark

[david05111]

Originally Posted by Mark Salvetti

It might still be worth trying the rear port. There are people that say it works, despite the 1 amp rating. The front works for Glen, the rear should be the same.

Mark

Maybe. The Rennline manual does state "Some USB outlets only output 500mA, which is not enough amperage to power your wireless charger..."

So maybe 1 amp would do it. I imagine it would be dog slow if it worked, but I'll keep it in mind as a possibility. Head unit and speakers are in "acquire" pipeline over the next few months, so I might wait 'til I get before trying another solution

[jrwilson]

I ended up running a dedicated 12V USB charger installed behind the fuse box and ran the wire from behind the clock.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by david05111

Maybe. The Rennline manual does state "Some USB outlets only output 500mA, which is not enough amperage to power your wireless charger..."

So maybe 1 amp would do it. I imagine it would be dog slow if it worked, but I'll keep it in mind as a possibility. Head unit and speakers are in "acquire" pipeline over the next few months, so I might wait 'til I get before trying another solution

David05111 -- I have a bremen and an iPhone 15pro -- I can confirm that, while connecting the Bremen's rear port usb connector to my rennline charger (or directly to my iPhone 15pro) will cause my iPhone 15pro to show it's charging, the battery's percentage of charge increases at an (at best) glacial pace. SO, while using the Bremen's rear connection as a power source for my iPhone may prevent it from further discharging, it doesn't provide any meaningful additional power while connected.

[80s old school]

Slightly off topic, but where can you buy these radios now? I bought one for my 1988 a couple of years back and I could only find it new off ebay and it came from a stereo shop in Great Britain.

I want to put one of these in another car, but finding it hard to find one.

[ccallana]

Amazon has them in stock.....

[darrin]

David05111 -- update -- just got back from a drive and tried charging my iPhone 15pro via the Rennline mount's wireless charger, feeding it from the Bremen's rear usb receptacle. While my phone showed that it was "charging," its charge percentage dropped by 2% by the end of my 30 minute drive.

[david05111]

Originally Posted by darrin

David05111 -- update -- just got back from a drive and tried charging my iPhone 15pro via the Rennline mount's wireless charger, feeding it from the Bremen's rear usb receptacle. While my phone showed that it was "charging," its charge percentage dropped by 2% by the end of my 30 minute drive.

Darrin, thanks so much for testing that. It's nice to know what the bottom line is. I figured that if it was only putting out that sort of power, it wouldn't be enough to competently charge it. But it's nice to know that for certain.