FIXED - Wireless Charging for iPhones with MagSafe

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Old Sep 13, 2022 | 04:34 PM
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FIXED - Wireless Charging for iPhones with MagSafe

I don’t think Acura will ever fix the wireless charging issues so I made my own.

I removed the wireless charger enclosure from the center console. There is a small hole under the wrist rest that you can pop it out.

Under the enclosure I removed the 4 small screws and took the Acura wireless charger out. I purchased a Qi certified fast charger from Amazon. This will charge the iPhone even faster than the one from Acura. Next I used hot glue to hold it in place





next on the passenger side I removed the center console piece below the 12v plug. Then I removed the connector from the 12v plug. You can watch a video on YouTube on how to do this.




I used T-Taps to connect the Konnected 12v to 5V USBC.






I used double sided tape to hold the voltage converter to the plastic housing.



I fished the USBC cable down from the enclosure and plugged it in with a USBC coupler.

Can’t tell you how awesome this is to having a functional wireless charger! All in, I think it cost me $25.
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Old Sep 14, 2022 | 08:54 AM
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Great Job Brandon

Originally Posted by BrandonClaps
I don’t think Acura will ever fix the wireless charging issues so I made my own.

I removed the wireless charger enclosure from the center console. There is a small hole under the wrist rest that you can pop it out.

Under the enclosure I removed the 4 small screws and took the Acura wireless charger out. I purchased a Qi certified fast charger from Amazon. This will charge the iPhone even faster than the one from Acura. Next I used hot glue to hold it in place





next on the passenger side I removed the center console piece below the 12v plug. Then I removed the connector from the 12v plug. You can watch a video on YouTube on how to do this.




I used T-Taps to connect the Konnected 12v to 5V USBC.






I used double sided tape to hold the voltage converter to the plastic housing.



I fished the USBC cable down from the enclosure and plugged it in with a USBC coupler.

Can’t tell you how awesome this is to having a functional wireless charger! All in, I think it cost me $25.
Good to know there is a solution and cudos for figuring it out. Acura/Honda are the worst at implementing fixes to hardware and software so you are probably correct, I don’t think we will ever get a fix from them.

I’m waiting for feedback on how the iPhone 14 pro max will work with the existing pad. Since I lease I won’t be able to do your fix. You have shown that Honda/Acura could make this upgrade fairly easily. I hope they see your solution.
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Old Sep 14, 2022 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Cazman
Good to know there is a solution and cudos for figuring it out. Acura/Honda are the worst at implementing fixes to hardware and software so you are probably correct, I don’t think we will ever get a fix from them.

I’m waiting for feedback on how the iPhone 14 pro max will work with the existing pad. Since I lease I won’t be able to do your fix. You have shown that Honda/Acura could make this upgrade fairly easily. I hope they see your solution.
thanks. Their solution would be replacing the LG wireless charger inside but I assume they’re trying to do it with a firmware update.
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Old Sep 14, 2022 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by BrandonClaps
thanks. Their solution would be replacing the LG wireless charger inside but I assume they’re trying to do it with a firmware update.
I’d like to see them offer a “MagSafe” type wireless charging pad as an option at least. That way IPhone users could opt for that version!
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Old Sep 14, 2022 | 02:49 PM
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Cool stuff, i personally would not have used T-taps, but rather go purchase the connector the OEM charger uses (sourced from a place like https://cycleterminal.com/ and make it plug and play. Pretty great otherwise!


EDIT:

Can't confirm but one of these look right: https://www.cycleterminal.com/250-housing-lance.html
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Old Sep 14, 2022 | 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by thoiboi
Cool stuff, i personally would not have used T-taps, but rather go purchase the connector the OEM charger uses (sourced from a place like https://cycleterminal.com/ and make it plug and play. Pretty great otherwise!


EDIT:

Can't confirm but one of these look right: https://www.cycleterminal.com/250-housing-lance.html
interesting idea. Would want to make a “Y” so you could still use the the 12v socket. Then again, the hot glue wasn’t plug and play but a 3d printer could fix that too.
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Old Oct 30, 2022 | 08:14 PM
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Wow!!! Brilliant job!!!
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Old Dec 18, 2022 | 05:52 AM
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@BrandonClaps , why did you step down from 12v to 5v? Is that all the charger you used is rated for?

I have an Anker MagSafe charger I use that has input ratings of 5v, 9v, and 12v.

I want to do something similar, because the wireless charger in my 21 TLX doesn’t work as well.
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Old Dec 18, 2022 | 06:47 AM
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Originally Posted by ijm5012
@BrandonClaps , why did you step down from 12v to 5v? Is that all the charger you used is rated for?

I have an Anker MagSafe charger I use that has input ratings of 5v, 9v, and 12v.

I want to do something similar, because the wireless charger in my 21 TLX doesn’t work as well.
i purchased 6 wireless chargers for testing, the biggest issue is the wireless charging through the distance of the plastic and a phone case. This was the only one that worked with the distance.
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Old Dec 18, 2022 | 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by BrandonClaps
i purchased 6 wireless chargers for testing, the biggest issue is the wireless charging through the distance of the plastic and a phone case. This was the only one that worked with the distance.
good to know, thank you.

I’ll have to do some testing with the Anker unit I have, as I like it for it’s powerful
magnet (a complaint I’ve seen for some other brands).
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Old Mar 7, 2023 | 11:55 AM
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Great idea but a lot of work for me.
I wonder though, could I just take the Apple MagSafe pad that came with my 14 Pro Max, attach it to the surface of the cars pad, and plug it into the USB in the center console outlet. A little shitty having the cable there but that should work, right?
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Old Mar 7, 2023 | 11:59 AM
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I hope no one has been holding their breath. It’s March, 2023, and there is no sign of a fix. No compatibility between my 2021 TLX and my 14 Pro Max. If I want it fix it probably means buying a new car!
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Old Mar 7, 2023 | 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Hihopes
Great idea but a lot of work for me.
I wonder though, could I just take the Apple MagSafe pad that came with my 14 Pro Max, attach it to the surface of the cars pad, and plug it into the USB in the center console outlet. A little shitty having the cable there but that should work, right?
yep, that's what I do. Pretty sure I had to use the 12volt cigarette style power in the console (would need to confirm it has been a while) for the power source as the USB didn't provide sufficient power.



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Old Mar 7, 2023 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by alexdv1
yep, that's what I do. Pretty sure I had to use the 12volt cigarette style power in the console (would need to confirm it has been a while) for the power source as the USB didn't provide sufficient power.



yes I’m sure you are correct about the power supply
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Old Apr 16, 2023 | 08:54 PM
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Brandon love the ingenuity, which MagSafe pad did you use that worked the best.
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Old May 1, 2023 | 03:18 PM
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charging pad

what did you use to pop the pad? have not had any luck getting it out.
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Old May 16, 2023 | 06:10 PM
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Ended up making a custom one…

https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-mdx-.../#post16886549
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Old May 21, 2023 | 09:21 PM
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I use this MagSafe charger, works like a charm and way better than the built in one.
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Old Sep 19, 2023 | 09:34 AM
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New member. Did a search and found this thread. I have a 2023 MDX A-Spec and this is the only issue that I have with my car.

I read recently that iPhones own something like 65 percent of the US phone market and many use a mag safe case. It is surprising to me that Acura wouldn't fix this issue.
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Old Sep 19, 2023 | 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by augie05
New member. Did a search and found this thread. I have a 2023 MDX A-Spec and this is the only issue that I have with my car.

I read recently that iPhones own something like 65 percent of the US phone market and many use a mag safe case. It is surprising to me that Acura wouldn't fix this issue.
The best solution would be to have a charging pad with a larger charging coil section or a charging pad accessory that users could opt for that has MagSafe charging. Just an idea.
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Old Sep 28, 2023 | 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by BrandonClaps
Pretty sick -- not into the red, but if someone wanted to order one what would that look like? Assuming it could just be just plugged into the port in the center console instead of splicing any wiring?
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Old Nov 19, 2023 | 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by joeliu2003
Pretty sick -- not into the red, but if someone wanted to order one what would that look like? Assuming it could just be just plugged into the port in the center console instead of splicing any wiring?
color could be black. Probably $50
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