First Look at Premium Charging Plate

[CommodoreAmiga]

Quick question: Would exposed pucks be an option people want?

Yes, I would probably prefer this on the basis that:
1) Easier visual target
2) Best charging performance
3) Best magnetic "hold"

It's not a deal-breaker for me, though, as long as the magnetic hold is reasonably strong so that putting the phone in the correct position is easy/repeatable and the phone stays charging while driving normally (not true of stock wireless charging pad).

Side note: Visible pucks allows some personalization via dbrand skins, or similar.

Sponsored

 

[kylealden]

Yes, I would probably prefer this on the basis that:
1) Easier visual target
2) Best charging performance
3) Best magnetic "hold"

It's not a deal-breaker for me, though, as long as the magnetic hold is reasonably strong so that putting the phone in the correct position is easy/repeatable and the phone stays charging while driving normally (not true of stock wireless charging pad).

Side note: Visible pucks allows some personalization via dbrand skins, or similar.

To this point... I could get behind an etched circle to help "aim" the alignment. Definitely don't feel strongly - the current design (no "aim" affordance) is already by far my favorite of the available options or concepts I've seen.

 

[windblowlc]

We are going to offer a presale sometime this week. Let me talk to Wrinks and get you a good timeline. I have been producing the bases and soldering chargers already. But we do need to request the veener from our manufacturer.

Also this product requires the most hands on work to finish. PLEASE PLEASE. Be patient with us on this one. s00nish is a side hustle for both of us, and between our families and our "actual work" we do the best that we can.

Please, could we see a Rivian Yellow base if you're currently printing the bases, and preferably on a black plate?

 

[Sojhinn]

Please, could we see a Rivian Yellow base if you're currently printing the bases, and preferably on a black plate?

No yellow in stock. Ordered some though.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

@Sojhinn Would you be able to elaborate on why the plate can't be flush, like the stock rubber mat?

 

[Sojhinn]

@Sojhinn Would you be able to elaborate on why the plate can't be flush, like the stock rubber mat?

Yup. Changing out the base creates some interesting situations with how things sit. If we have stuff rest on top of our base we either have to create a way to have the plate lock into place (using double sided tape or another method) or have to deal with the plate moving around or lifting when the phone is moved.

My first design incorporated what we see now, due to the "we want flush movement", I spent the time accurately mapping the curves of the wood on MY truck. When I created the plate it fit perfectly flush with my truck and it looked great. It was perfectly level with the bottom of the curve and sat in the vertical location of the OEM wood. But applying this to someone elses truck the less than mm differences made the plate look like an add-on instead of something that belonged there.

If you look at the rubber map the way to overcome this, is that the rubber slopes to a knife edge and covers the very bottom of the wood. So that the differences are hidden. If you look at our classic plate or any aftermarket charging plate you will see we do do the same thing, but since most of our plates are 3d printed (or otherwise) we can't go to a knife edge properly. (Inherent issue with the manufacturing at our disposal). So now instead of a knife edge we go up a mm or so and we have a nice tiny little wall along the edge the charging plate. I REALLY did not want that tiny wall on this plate.

However, the bottom of the wood has stayed fairly even across different trucks and suv's. So instead of making a wall or having lifting issues, the plate goes underneath the OEM wood and rests on top of the base. This means the plate doesn't lift when removing the phone, it means we have a completely clean edge with existing oem materials, we have more space for taller phones, and we can expand the usable space since we removed the existing OEM charger.

Is flush possible? Yup. But it creates a few more problems than the "look" of non-flush. And again, everyone so far in team flush who has seen this in person, has stated how much better it looks. And never brought it up again. @SeaGeo Can chime in here. As well as @Wrinks .

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

Interesting. Really makes me hope we can reach a point where integrating either the stock rubber mat or a replacement for it is feasible.

Edit: Or perhaps some screw-in feet/standoffs so that there is a couple mm of adjustability in the product so it can be fine-tuned to be flush in all trucks?

 

[SeaGeo]

Is flush possible? Yup. But it creates a few more problems than the "look" of non-flush. And again, everyone so far in team flush who has seen this in person, has stated how much better it looks. And never brought it up again. @SeaGeo Can chime in here. As well as @Wrinks .

Confirmed team flush, and confirmed I really like the look of the inset in @Sojhinn's truck.

 

[Sojhinn]

Interesting. Really makes me hope we can reach a point where integrating either the stock rubber mat or a replacement for it is feasible.

Edit: Or perhaps some screw-in feet/standoffs so that there is a couple mm of adjustability in the product so it can be fine-tuned to be flush in all trucks?

Feet idea is neat. But I really want to keep things as simplified as possible. For the OEM rubber mat: We need a stronger charger. The magsafe won't work through the rubber either (I tried).

 

[donguanella]

So instead of making a wall or having lifting issues, the plate goes underneath the OEM wood and rests on top of the base.

I was on team flush but now looking back at your pictures this seems like a really clever solve to create a constant across the variability of that wood trim in everyone's car. Looking forward to seeing this in person!

How difficult is installation knowing that your assembly consisting of base + plate has to go under the trim? What needs to be removed?

 

[Wrinks]

Was also team flush - but I'm currently rocking this plate in my truck and am loving it. Would I still love a rubber mat that was completely flush like the OEM one? Yes. If that aesthetically was 10/10 for me, this is a solid 9.5. The lip is a non-issue once you get it plugged in. I will say that getting this installed is DEFINITELY a more involved process than "remove rubber mat, drop top plate in" - but the fact that my USB-Cs are totally available now for whatever else in the center console, plus I have this rad topo map wood plate instead makes up for that more involved process and means that I'm using that area for my phone essentially 100% of the time I'm in the truck, as opposed to 5% of the time before.

 

[Sojhinn]

I was on team flush but now looking back at your pictures this seems like a really clever solve to create a constant across the variability of that wood trim in everyone's car. Looking forward to seeing this in person!

How difficult is installation knowing that your assembly consisting of base + plate has to go under the trim? What needs to be removed?

I'm hoping to make a video today or tomorrow. Maybe my daughter can help me. But in my opinion its not bad. Definitely more involved than our classic plate, but there are a few things we did to make it easier.

 

[AYAYRON]

Ok, I was assuming the same as all of you. Maglock works well through the veneer. Charging: Seems to be working similarly as exposed.

Oh I meant to tell you there are apps to run on the phone that show you the approximate charging speed, I say approximately because I recall it gives you a different spec that’s not 15 amps or 30 amps so you have to do some math, but, essentially I recommend testing with the phone under 30% in airplane mode, run the test with exposed puck then let the phone run back down to the same starting % and run test again.


This is the app I’ve used before to test charging speed

 

[Sojhinn]

Link to install video:

Link to Pre-Orders: https://s00nish.com/premium-rivian-phone-charger/

Happy to answer questions.

A few things I want to highlight: You can purchase separate top plates if you would like to experiment with stains or sealers. Each complete kit includes a DC-DC buck charger that frees up the USB in the center console. (No more wires running there and it frees up the ports for other things). If you want to use your own Magsafe pucks... that's fine! Just order the premium charger without our charging pucks. I have been using the Apple Masgsafe chargers for the past few weeks with no issues; whereas @Wrinks has been using the Jaux ones. If you would like anything customized let us know in the notes, and we can let you know if its possible.

You can also see in the video that I ended up using some steel wool to remove the sheen. I think it does a good job, and I am really happy with the end result. This was a lot of work and I am hoping you are as happy with it as I am.

 

[Jger928]

Link to install video:

Link to Pre-Orders: https://s00nish.com/premium-rivian-phone-charger/

Happy to answer questions.

A few things I want to highlight: You can purchase separate top plates if you would like to experiment with stains or sealers. Each complete kit includes a DC-DC buck charger that frees up the USB in the center console. (No more wires running there and it frees up the ports for other things). If you want to use your own Magsafe pucks... that's fine! Just order the premium charger without our charging pucks. I have been using the Apple Masgsafe chargers for the past few weeks with no issues; whereas @Wrinks has been using the Jaux ones. If you would like anything customized let us know in the notes, and we can let you know if its possible.

You can also see in the video that I ended up using some steel wool to remove the sheen. I think it does a good job, and I am really happy with the end result. This was a lot of work and I am hoping you are as happy with it as I am.

Just to clarify, the connectors under the platform are USB A or C? I ask because most apple MagSafe chargers now are USB C.

Sponsored