Resonate ChargePlus USB charger
Last time around, we gave you a brief rundown on the Resonate ChargePlus Advanced and a detailed DIY on how to install it on your motorcycle. It is now time to see how it fares in terms of performance. How effective and convenient is it to charge different devices in real world, and how different is the performance from that of a conventional wall charger?
As it was time for us to bid farewell to the Mahindra Mojo, we decided to get the Resonate ChargePlus installed on the newest member our long term fleet - the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. As I planned to tour extensively on this motorcycle, it would also give me an opportunity to test out the utility of the Resonate ChargePlus in different environments. The Resonate ChargePlus that you see in these pictures is an advanced version of the one we had installed on the Mojo. The Resonate ChargePlus ‘Pro’ comes with a unique mount which allows you to set up the charger right next to the mirror. This saves you the hassle of sticking a permanent mount on to the body of your motorcycle. In terms of specifications, the ChargePlus Pro gets an IPX8 waterproof rating, which is a level higher than the ChargePlus Advanced. The rest of the product specifications are identical.
With my phone as the guinea pig, I first assessed the time taken by the wall charger to charge the device from 15 per cent to 30 per cent, and then tried the same thing again with the Resonate ChargePlus. The result was surprising. While the wall charger took 35 minutes, the Resonate ChargePlus did the same job in just 23 minutes. This is thanks to the intelligent 2A fast charging technology of the charger. However, present it with a larger and more power hungry device like an Apple iPad and the charging time goes up significantly. While the wall charger took 40 minutes to charge the iPad by 15 per cent, the Resonate ChargePlus took 82 minutes. Nevertheless, I was quite content with the performance of the Resonate ChargePlus.
When it comes to convenience, you do have to get yourself a cell phone mount as the Resonate ChargePlus doesn’t ship with one. Placing the phone is a tank bag is also very convenient, as long as you take this into consideration while installing the charger. Though Resonate ChargePlus ships with two cables for your Android and Apple devices, these are too short in length and we would recommend using your own USB cables.
The charger also worked when the bike’s ignition is turned off, which makes things easy for you when you are touring or camping. Also, the generous three metre length of the cable means that you can unmount the Resonate ChargePlus from your bike and carry it along with you into the tent to charge your electronic device. To prevent a device from completely draining the battery, the Resonate ChargePlus comes with a system that automatically cuts power once the battery voltage falls to 12.1 volts (the bare minimum voltage required to start a motorcycle). It also comes with a ‘delay charge’ safeguard which pauses charging for a few moments after you turn on your motorcycle, preventing your device from getting damaged by the spike in current.
I recently went on a 2,400 kilometre trip to Karnataka and this presented me with the right opportunity to test out the ChargePlus’ utility in the real world. And well, the ChargePlus didn’t disappoint! It worked faultlessly throughout my journey, keeping me from getting stranded in the countryside. I hadn’t been through these parts of Karnataka before, and as such I had to frequently refer to my phone to get directions around the small villages. With the GPS and data connection constantly draining my battery, the ChargePlus came handy as it kept charging up my phone. The only bit of precaution I had to take was to stop charging my phone every time it rained. Though the ChargePlus is water proof, my charging cable wasn’t.
So now that we have established the Resonate ChargePlus’ credentials the question is, is it worth its Rs 2,200 price tag? Well, any touring enthusiast can give you an elaborate lecture on the importance of having a USB charger on your bike. Spend a few minutes on Google and you will find several cheaper options to Resonate ChargePlus. Sure, they will get the job done, but none of them will offer the kind of features, robustness and safety attributes that the Resonate ChargePlus does. So if you have a premium motorcycle and like to stay on the road for extended periods of time, then going for the Resonate ChargePlus makes all the sense.
Photography by Kapil Angane
Click here to read Resonate ChargePlus motorcycle USB charger Introduction
Click here to read Resonate ChargePlus USB charger – DIY installation
Click here to read Sena 3S Bluetooth Headset & Intercom Communication System Review
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