Does the latest Ipod Classic use the same charging pins as the earlier versions?

Question

Does the latest Ipod Classic use the same charging pin positons as the earlier versions as I want to use it in my Audi where my 5th gen Nano will play but not charge as the pin configuration for charging changed from that of the earlier models.

Answer 1

If your 5th gen nano doesn't change, then a new iPod Classic will not either.
The "change" was that older iPods used firewire to charge the iPod. But that's 12volts (the same voltage as a car's battery). Then along came charging by USB, which is 5volts. So car manufacturers who were on the ball, introduced electronics to drop the 12v car battery voltage to 5v and put that 5v on the appropriate USB pins. (I would hope, that by now, every car manufacturer has sorted this out, but of course that doesn't help anyone with an older model car.)
The incredibly obvious - to anyone with technical knowledge - was that one day, Apple would stop the 12v charging method on newer models of iPod. But somehow, a lot of manufacturers of devices that charge iPods failed to see this. (It really was incredibly obvious, believe me!)
It wasn't just car manufacturers who were caught out by this, so were Docking Station devices. I know of one make, where the manufacturer recalled the ones still in shops so that they could re-work them to charge using the 5v USB pins.
In my car, made around 2006, I had an external device fitted so that I could plug my iPod into the car stereo through the Dock Connector. But hey, guess what? That device will charge my iPod Classic, but not my iPod Touch.
A long-ish answer, but hopefully it not only answers the question, but tells you why too.