Ideas for USB battery pack that charges only when vehicle is on

[TravisH]

I'm trying to come up with an idea for a jetpack/hotspot device that will be powered by a USB battery pack when the vehicle is off and when the vehicle is on, it will charge the battery pack, which would still keep the jetpack on. The jetpack I'm looking at does have a battery built in which should last a few hours but my goal is for it to stay on for ~24 hours.

What I'm trying to do is give my Blackvue dash cam internet service for cloud uploading. They have an LTE addon piece but doesn't work with Verizon.

I was thinking of just getting a big portable battery pack that takes 5v or 12v input and putting it in the center console and giving it switched power. Then plug the jetpack into it let it use the internal battery and the pack and see how long it lasts.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Richard320]

Put a battery with an isolator and B+ power and then step it down. You'll have internal battery, plus portable battery, plus a few amps off the starting battery. You can get these isolators that monitor the charge voltage and cut off when the alternator is off or when you hit some lower voltage. https://www.etrailer.com/Battery-Charger/Redarc/331-SBI12.html

 

[CJW]

The term you're looking for with regards to the USB battery pack is "passthrough". That will allow the device you want to run (camera) to run simultaneously while the battery pack charges as well as when the vehicle is off.

If you can determine how much power your camera will draw, it will help you determine how large of a battery pack you'd need.