disaster journey home w w u have done...

[Sarah510]

So, coming back from campsite yesterday, the battery in my phone was low-ish but I wasn't too worried as I had bought a solar charger, which worked perfectly on the drive down, and I was able to charge my phone as I was driving. 2 kids and a dog in the back (just FYI!)

Couldn't get solar charger to work :( Battery getting lower and lower. I tried to get the directions into my memory, but the last bit of the journey is all motorways and junctions, and always rely on google maps to get me home - only lived in the area a few months. Soooo, phone dies about an hour from home. Tried to find the way on the motorway but came off at wrong exit, ended up so lost, miles away from home. Thougth could I charge my phone in mcdonalds - found one, but they said it wasn't allowed (understandably). Went to a petrol station to buy a map - didn't have any. Asked lots of people, nobody knew. Finally found a sign to a town that I've visited a few times, so went there, Its about 10 miles from home. It was pitch dark by now and we'd been travelling for more than 6 hours, so very fraught in the car. I thought I recognised the 'road home', but went wrong somewhere. Finally stopped at another petrol station, no maps again, but asked the lady, and thank god she knew my town. If it wasn't for her I think I'd still be driving round. I learned my lesson anyway. Never ever go out without a map, or backup written directions. I felt so guilty for my poor kids, I feel like I let them down. (and they think that too, rightly so as it was idiotic). I do have a sat nav in the car but it just stopped working one day, for no reason, so I always just use my phone now. Anyway, I dont' think I'm even going to tell my friends/family as I'm so embarrassed at putting us all at risk like that, and putting us through it. A 3.5 hour journey took more than 7 hours :( Voting: UANBU - ok to rely on technology. UABU - always have a map in the car!!!!

yes google wil rerute if you turn off whereit hasnt said or udpate the time of arrival if theyre roadworks/traffic ahead

Pretty much all phones charge at 5v
The car chargers step down the car’s 12v to 5v. If they don’t work in your car, the fag lighter socket, the charger or the cable are faulty.

Both the charger and cables work in that lighter socket on other phones, and the phone charges fine when plugged in to the wall using the same cables. When I looked online to troubleshoot it, other people with this model of phone said they had the same issue. The problem is that you don't get a 5v output with a 2 USB device, you get 5v divided (equally or not) between the two. I've tried shopping on Amazon for one which actually has a 5v output in one cable, but can't find one. If anyone knows of any I'd be grateful as I've got over 2000 miles to do in the next couple of weeks and I'd really appreciate being able to charge my phone en route.

Personally I think, even though using sat nav, you should have a look at a map before journey, as sat nav doesn't give full picture/overview. Also I like to go my chosen route and then let sat nav take over.
I am sorry everyone feels let down; surely it becomes a 'remember that epic journey when we got lost' dining out story?

www.argos.co.uk/product/4724100?clickSR=slp:term:car%20lighter%20adapter:14:40:2
Op you need one of these, it pushes into your cars cigarette lighter and the you can plug the usb end of your phone charger or Sat nav in it

@Fink

*Pretty much all phones charge at 5v The car chargers step down the car’s 12v to 5v. If they don’t work in your car, the fag lighter socket, the charger or the cable are faulty.*

Both the charger and cables work in that lighter socket on other phones, and the phone charges fine when plugged in to the wall using the same cables. When I looked online to troubleshoot it, other people with this model of phone said they had the same issue. The problem is that you don't get a 5v output with a 2 USB device, you get 5v divided (equally or not) between the two. I've tried shopping on Amazon for one which actually has a 5v output in one cable, but can't find one. If anyone knows of any I'd be grateful as I've got over 2000 miles to do in the next couple of weeks and I'd really appreciate being able to charge my phone en route.

Sounds more like amps is the problem not volts. You don’t get 2.5v in each of 2 sockets with two phones plugged in - if you did neither would charge at all. It sounds as if you need a 2.1 amp (or maybe even beefier) charger - they are out there but are more expensive

You'll look back on this & laugh eventually. Just make sure next time you go you at least have a vague idea of the direction you are traveling & the nearest city you are headed for. In our family we dont call it getting lost we refer to it as taking the pretty route.

plug into car cigarette lighter or bring a spare portable charging pack Its not your fault, these things have happen to all of us in our time.
the good thing is you found your way out of the pit, arduous though it was. You should be congratulating yourself. You did well getting home under the circumstances.
It was probably better not to have a map, imagine trying to map read and drive at the same time on your own with fretful kids.

@Hingeandbracket

The charger I have claims to be 2.4 amp in one USB port and 3 in the other. For this reason I've been wary of buying another one because on paper that should be enough. But the feedback on the technical forum I checked (not officially affiliated with the phone company, just techie people chatting) indicated that it was a voltage problem. I don't know, I just know I've never been able to charge it through the lighter socket/USB port in the radio but it's fine in a standard home charger. I wish I could find something to work, I'm a bit anxious in general and I get worried when I go under 90% battery.

I'd have learned the route and junction numbers before leaving. (Generally I practice on google maps if unsure)

And have a phone charger cable in both cars.

And bring a portable phone charger if I'm out all day.

But then I also know the way from the motorway to my home. Assumed everyone did?

Also presumably the 16yo (and likely 12yo) has phones on them?

I'd have used one of theirs or made them get a map up and give me directions.

Everyone should have a map in the car (and know how to read it!). Technology can fail for all sorts of reasons, and having that back up can save a lot of time and anguish. Sorry you've had that awful journey OP, hope you're soon feeling better x

Always have a map and phone charger in car. For long journeys I look up the route to familiarise myself.

i have a map, and before a particularly long journey, print off the route,it does get confusing if my phone doesnt tally with the printed route
but i have relied on my phone in the past and lost internet connection and been burnt!

am surprised the garages had no maps.

we have had some interesting journeys in the past,
no way of charging a phone btw, cigarette light doesnt work!

i remember crying on the way to picking up dd from the airport when we lost internet connection.

Its really odd. As others have said, in car charger, USB or cigarette lighter and learn some basic geography so you arent reliant on Google map's.

These are basic life skills you need to pass on to your children which you don't have....

no, dont rely on technology.
work out the route before hand,
write it down,
have a paper map in the car, and a torch!

I have been known to write driving instructions up my arms when unsure on certain bits and having technology issues.

(I do have a map in the car too!)

Why do the kids think you let them down? Good grief, all sounds a bit much.

There were about 4 basic things that you could have done, all listed.
Laughing at how colleagues think it's 'witch-craft' that someone can find their way to a place.

no way of charging a phone btw, cigarette light doesnt work

Of course it does, providing you have the right cable or adaptor, which can be bought from a petrol station etc in times of desperation.

no, the cigarette lighter actually doesnt work,

not everyone has fully functional cars!

Petrol stations sell phone chargers.

As everyone has already said...all the backup charging options plus cables. You could also leave an old phone in the car in case something happens to yours and you can switch over sim and use Google maps in it.

Anyway, I dont' think I'm even going to tell my friends/family as I'm so embarrassed at putting us all at risk like that,

Why was everyone out at risk because you got lost?