Trevin Chow

Many First-gen iPhone owners are discovering that after they upgrade to an iPhone 3G that their existing accessories will not  work.  This includes accessories car chargers , alarm clocks, and in-car chargers like in my friend’s new infinity G37.

Apple decided to change the way the iPhone 3G charges and disabled the 12V Firewire (pins 19 and 20 on the connector) in favor of USB (ping 16 ground and pin 23 5V).  This has royally hosed the entire accessory market with an endless supply of forum messages of people wondering (and outraged) at why their iPhones aren’t charging properly.

I figure it’s only a matter of time before someone create an adapter to “fix” first-gen iPhone accessories.  Until then, here is a list of accessories I know for certain work with the iPhone 3G:

Car chargers and connectors:

• Belkin TuneCast Auto (added 8/7/2008)
• Griffin AutoPilot (added 8/7/2008)
• Griffin Powerjolt car charger
• Griffin TuneFlex Aux (added 8/18/2008)
• Kensington LiquidAux (added 8/18/2008)
• Kensington 4-in-1 auto charger (despite what Kensington says)

Docks and Hubs:

• Apple iPhone 3G Dock
• Apple Universal Dock (you’ll also need a iPhone 3G dock adapter)
• Belkin Tunesync 7 port USB hub

Speaker systems:

• Altec Lansing T612 Speaker system
• Bose SoundDock (older versions don’t work, but all newer ones do)

Battery Packs:

• Kensington Mini Battery Pack

These do not work:

• Alpine 9856
• Alpine KCE-422i Connection Cable
• Apple iPod HiFi
• Belkin Auto Kit for iPod with Dock Connector.
• BlueTouch
• BOSE SoundDock
• Dension ICE
• DLO auto charger
• Homedics SoundSpa
• Kenwood KCA-IP 500 iPod Interface
• Monster car charger
• Monster FM tuner
• Infinity G37 iPod interface
• Pioneer D3
• Pioneer Elite AV receiver VSX-84TXSi
• Scion TC iPod connection
• SIRIUS Soloist Universal Sound System
• Sony XA-110IP iPod Interface Adapter
• Subaru Forester ‘09 iPod connection kit
• USB Fever iPod Direct Cigarette Plug FM Transmitter and charger
• VW OEM iPod adapter

If you have any accessories you know for sure do or do not work, let me know and I’ll add it to the list.