[timdays]

Question on charging.
When the unit is plugged into the cig lighter in the car, the little red light shows, if the ignition is on or off.
Does this mean that the satnav continually charges or does the charge shut down when the battery is fully charged?
Just wondering if it is a drain on the car battery when the ignition is off.
I did experience this with a car phone one and although the phone had been removed, the power unit was continually searching as it was connected. Result after returning from hols - flat battery.

[ronlizpatsimon]

I too have a nuvi 250. In a standard car electrical system; for the cigar lighter to be used, the ignition switch has to turned one notch (not far enough to cause the actual car ignition light to come on) . In a few cars, the socket is not powered until the ignition is truly on (a poor system as it's not a good idea to have your ignition turned on for long periods without the engine running - e.g. listening to the radio whilst waiting for your wife to come back out from "Matalan"). You cannot overcharge the nuvi, you can have it "on charge" whether or not the nuvi is turned on. For a mobile phone or satnav to run down your battery you would have to have been on holiday for about 3 months! (they use so little electricity). I accept that you did have a flat battery on return from a holiday but this would be for some other reason - such as a battery "on it's last legs" or some other electrical circuit left on whilst you were away - the sidelights perhaps

[timdays]

"In a few cars, the socket is not powered until the ignition is truly on"
Yes, but when it is plugged into the power outlet in the rear of the car, it remains on even when ignition is off.

"For a mobile phone or satnav to run down your battery you would have to have been on holiday for about 3 months! (they use so little electricity)."
Maybe, but I did say a car phone and the duration was 1 month.

"I accept that you did have a flat battery on return from a holiday but this would be for some other reason"
Certainly not what the Jaguar dealer found and when the power source to the control box of the car was disconnected, the problem was never again experienced in 3 years.