How to request the ability to turn wireless charging on and off?

[mferring]

Not sure how you other folks feel about this, but with the nice big wireless charging tray on the R2, I would like the ability to turn off one or both of the charger pads so I don't have to be concerned about using that area to place anything I like including small metal objects. Don't know if the hardware design would allow a software ability to provide that option.

For my use case, I doubt my wife or I would really need to charge our phones very often unless we take the rare longer trip.

I tried to search for how to make requests like that, but at least for me, every option I tried to use did not appear obvious how to go about it.

Appreciate thoughts and comments.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

There are actual magnets built into the charging pad. You can’t turn them off. And unless you are placing things that are sensitive to magnetic fields—like credit cards or other cards having the black magnetic strip—directly on top, there is no potential for harm. The only way to “disable” the magnets is to physically and permanently remove them. And you can’t do that without pulling apart the charging pad and voiding factory warranty on it.

 

[mferring]

Thanks. I totally understand the magnet situation. But the R2 manual also states that small metal objects could become very hot to the point of burning someone, and also implied it could damage the car charger hardware. This is not due to the magnets but due to the electric field interacting with the metal pieces.

The manual further states that nothing should be placed on the charger area except phones......And I "know" my wife will use that nice big shelf to put all sorts of stuff.......

If you could disable the charging part of the pad, then you would only need to be concerned with the magnets.

 

[mkg3]

You can always get an insulating (e.g., rubber) mat to place over the charging area. It's easy enough to cut the non-conducting material to fit over the area. A side benefit is also the ease of keeping the area cleaner by being able to lift the charging pad cover and wash.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Don’t know if they can turn off via software. It may be part of a subsystem/circuit within that platform zone that is either on or off with vehicle. Since you are aware of guidance, just take the prescribed precautions? Not as if R2 has lack of storage options. I suppose you could modify the harness attached to it and splice in a switch. But that would affect both sides at once. Rivian isn’t going to devote resources to solve a fringe use case.

 

[mferring]

You can always get an insulating (e.g., rubber) mat to place over the charging area. It's easy enough to cut the non-conducting material to fit over the area. A side benefit is also the ease of keeping the area cleaner by being able to lift the charging pad cover and wash.

Good idea

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Or simply a microfiber towel, which you can also use to wipe finger prints off of screens.

 

[VSG]

But the R2 manual also states that small metal objects could become very hot to the point of burning someone, and also implied it could damage the car charger hardware. This is not due to the magnets but due to the electric field interacting with the metal pieces.

The charging pad is a Qi2 charger.
This standard, as well as other standards like the older Qi and MagSafe standards, has a feature called "foreign object detection" which is explicitly mean to detect metallic object and disable the charger when problematic objects are placed on the pad. I don't know why Rivian feels the need to warm you, because this is exactly the situation that the Qi2 design is supposed to prevent.

 

[Mos Eisley]

The charging pad is a Qi2 charger.
This standard, as well as other standards like the older Qi and MagSafe standards, has a feature called "foreign object detection" which is explicitly mean to detect metallic object and disable the charger when problematic objects are placed on the pad. I don't know why Rivian feels the need to warm you, because this is exactly the situation that the Qi2 design is supposed to prevent.

Because: lawyers. It's a pretty common disclaimer for charging pads.

 

[GregBOS]

It should be possible for Rivian to disable charging with a software update. I have a magnetic stand for my phone which doesn't provide power. Also, there are stands that do, but as long as you don't connect them to wall outlet, they simply won't charge your phone.
I would love Rivian to consider disabling them as I don't like using wireless chargers. I know, to each their own.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It should be possible for Rivian to disable charging with a software update. I have a magnetic stand for my phone which doesn't provide power. Also, there are stands that do, but as long as you don't connect them to wall outlet, they simply won't charge your phone.
I would love Rivian to consider disabling them as I don't like using wireless chargers. I know, to each their own.

Not if power to the pad is tied to vehicle power and power of entire zone the pad is a part of. And I have seen and handled the pad, detached from the vehicle. There aren’t separate power harness to each side of the pad. Only one, supplying power to both. For all gen2 there is another for the keycard reader, but that’s beside the point. The danger of burning is a nonissue. Rivian’s warning is a general CYA in case of freak accident. If the danger was readily present, the internet would be full of coverage on how Apple’s MagSafe and other wireless charging pads in cars, homes and offices have caused harm.

 

[slillie]

Not sure how you other folks feel about this, but with the nice big wireless charging tray on the R2, I would like the ability to turn off one or both of the charger pads so I don't have to be concerned about using that area to place anything I like including small metal objects. Don't know if the hardware design would allow a software ability to provide that option.

For my use case, I doubt my wife or I would really need to charge our phones very often unless we take the rare longer trip.

I tried to search for how to make requests like that, but at least for me, every option I tried to use did not appear obvious how to go about it.

Appreciate thoughts and comments.

This is a non-issue.

 

[kanefsky]

I would love Rivian to consider disabling them as I don't like using wireless chargers. I know, to each their own.

I guess you won't be buying the Cayenne Electric with the 11 kW wireless charging option for the main battery pack

--
Steve

 

[Jeff B.]

I assume the charing pad is as easy to lift up in R2 as it is in R1 vehicles. You could simply lift it up and unplug the connector if this is a big concern for you. Or create a small jumper using male and female molex connectors that are compatible to the charging pad and install an inline switch in the jumper to enable/disable the charing pad. You can hide the switch in the center console.

 

[Millbarge]

just put your phone somewhere else if you don't need it charged

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